Mammals were not the first to be warm-blooded
Endothermy, or warm-bloodedness, is the ability of mammals and birds to produce their own body heat and control their body temperature......»»
How fruit flies use internal representations of head direction to support goal-directed navigation
Animal behavior is known to rely on transforming sensory information into motor commands, often influenced by an animal's internal needs. While in mammals and other large animals this process is supported by complex brain processes, simpler versions.....»»
Ocean heat is changing marine food webs—with far-reaching consequences for NZ fisheries and sea life
The global ocean continues to warm at a concerning rate......»»
Rare whale species observed during recent Antarctic expedition
Research by Wageningen Marine Research and partners on the relationship between sea ice and the Southern Ocean food web investigates various components of that food web, including the so-called "top predators," or seabirds and marine mammals. To map.....»»
What the unique shape of the human heart tells us about our evolution
Mammals, from the mighty blue whale to the tiny shrew, inhabit nearly every corner of our planet. Their remarkable adaptability to different environments has long fascinated scientists, with each species developing unique traits to survive and thrive.....»»
Unveiling the hottest period in a million years: The MIS 11c paradox
The hottest warm period in the past million years is believed to have occurred about 400,000 years ago. During this time, the Northern Hemisphere had less ice than today, and sea levels were about 10 meters higher. Surprisingly, solar radiation, a ke.....»»
Some solitary mammals have surprisingly social lives: What one researcher has learned from a tiny south African rodent
We probably all know someone who lives a solitary life. But not everyone realizes that there are solitary individuals in the animal kingdom, too. Examples of solitary species are some shrews, and large predators, such as black bears (Ursus americanus.....»»
Study reveals mechanism used by tegu lizard to raise own temperature
A group of scientists has revealed the mechanism whereby Salvator merianae—the black and white tegu, also called the Argentine giant tegu—is able to keep warm by raising its own body temperature during the reproductive season even while it is in.....»»
Model suggests spewing metal nanorods into Mars" atmosphere could warm the planet by 30 K
A small team of engineers and geophysicists from Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Central Florida has found, via modeling, that creating millions of metal nanorods from material on the Martian surface and then.....»»
Using dental growth rings scientists reveal differences in growth patterns between ancient and modern mammals
A study published in Science Advances reveals how early mammals grew and developed during their pivotal Jurassic radiation. Using a technique called synchrotron X-ray tomography to image growth rings in fossilized tooth roots, the researchers were ab.....»»
Plants offer fruit to insects to disperse dust-like seeds, botanist discovers
Fruit exist to invite animals to disperse the swallowed seeds. A Kobe University research team found that plants targeting insects rather than birds or mammals for this service are more common than previously thought. These plants produce dust-like s.....»»
"Baby talk:" Decoding how children"s vocal and cognitive cues sway adults
Compared to other mammals, human children are dependent on their caregivers for a remarkably long time. Throughout the ages, they have developed "psychological tactics" to endear themselves to adults and thus enhance their chances of survival. This p.....»»
Antarctic heat, wild Australian winter: What"s happening to the weather, what it means for the rest of the year
Australia's south and east have seen freezing temperatures and wild weather this winter. At the same time, the continent as a whole—and the globe—have continued to warm......»»
The major Atlantic current that keeps Northern Europe warm could have new variations and tipping points
Northern Europe is relatively warm given its place on the globe. For example, although north of most major Canadian cities, London is warmer than all of them (even Vancouver in British Columbia). But this warmth could disappear by the turn of the cen.....»»
Timber plantations near urbanized areas support the movement of small and medium-sized terrestrial mammals
In the fight to mitigate climate change and deforestation in the tropics, timber plantations have emerged as a promising strategy for reforesting degraded land and connecting patches of natural forest. Often, these are species with commercial value f.....»»
The Galapagos Islands and many of their unique creatures are at risk from warming waters
Warm morning light reflects from the remains of a natural rock arch near Darwin Island, one of the most remote islands in the Galapagos. In clear, deep blue water, thousands of creatures—fish, hammerhead sharks, marine iguanas—move in search of f.....»»
Bearded fireworm stalks shallows as Mediterranean warms
The fish in Alfonso Barone's net are hauled aboard off Sicily half- eaten, ravaged by bearded fireworms, a voracious predator flourishing in the increasingly warm Mediterranean sea......»»
Climate is most important factor in where mammals choose to live, study finds
While human activity has had a massive effect on the natural world, a new study from North Carolina State University finds that climate is still the most influential factor in determining where mammals can thrive. The work sheds light on how climate.....»»
New study disputes Hunga Tonga volcano"s role in 2023–24 global warm-up
New research from a collaborative team featuring Texas A&M University atmospheric scientist Dr. Andrew Dessler is exploring the climate impact of the 2022 Hunga Tonga volcano eruption and challenging existing assumptions about its effects in the proc.....»»
Study shows egg-laying mammals are unique, inside and out
The identification of a key gene in monotremes has increased our understanding of why the stomachs of platypuses and echidnas are atypically small, non-acidic, and, in the instance of platypuses, lack a pyloric sphincter......»»
Don"t underestimate the increasingly warm summer temperatures, says Swiss expert
What's happened to the summer? I've been asked this question a lot over the past few weeks. Just like May, June was changeable, wet and lacking in sunshine. But it wasn't too cold. According to MeteoSwiss, the average daily temperature in June was st.....»»