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......»»
Dolphins and Whales Will Never Evolve Back into Land Animals
Scientists have discovered that once mammals, such as dolphins or orcas, have become fully aquatic, they pass a threshold that makes a return to terrestrial landscapes almost impossible.....»»
Mammals Preyed on Much Larger Dinosaurs, a Stunning New Fossil Reveals
An extraordinary fossil captures the moment when a hungry mammal attacked a dinosaur.....»»
Phylogenetic analysis suggests fully aquatic mammals are unlikely to evolve back into terrestrial creatures
A trio of biologists and environmental scientists, two with the University of Fribourg and the third with the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, has found that fully aquatic mammals, such as whales and porpoises, are very unlikely to evolve back into.....»»
Cicadas could hold the secret to self-cleaning surfaces—new study
Nature is inspiring scientists all the time. Some ideas are still in research, like beaver-inspired super-warm wetsuits. But others are already part of human life, like Velcro (based on burdock burrs) and the Japanese bullet train (modeled on kingfis.....»»
The Sims 4: Horse Ranch expansion is a warm slice of Western charm
The Sims 4: Horse Ranch delivers a Western-soaked world where players can get busy ranching and training and riding horses......»»
When charities engage in "brand activism", research shows they must demonstrate bravery to attract donations
Charities often rely on "warm and fuzzy" images and "poverty porn" tactics to attract donations. But in recent years, some UK not-for-profits have shifted towards activism-driven campaigns......»»
WHO worried bird flu might adapt to humans "more easily"
The World Health Organization warned Wednesday that the recent surge in bird flu outbreaks among mammals could help the virus spread more easily among humans......»»
Coffee or tea drinker? You need to see (and buy) this Prime Day deal
The Ember Smart Mug 2 is a "cool" (but hot) way to keep your drink warm — its on a super Prime Day sale!.....»»
Is distributed computing dying, or just fading into the background?
There seems to be much less excitement about distributed computing these days. Enlarge / This image has a warm, nostalgic feel for many of us. (credit: SETI Institute) Distributed computing erupted onto the scene in 199.....»»
Is distributed computing dying, or just fading into the backdrop?
There seems to be much less excitement about distributed computing these days. Enlarge / This image has a warm, nostalgic feel for many of us. (credit: SETI Institute) Distributed computing erupted onto the scene in 199.....»»
Study presents new database linking RNA editing and blood cell differentiation
The process of converting DNA to proteins through an RNA is far from straightforward. Of the several types of RNA involved in the process of protein synthesis, a few may be edited mid-way. In mammals, RNA editing mostly involves converting adenosine.....»»
Understanding the role of the sun in climate change
Although the sun provides nearly all the energy needed to warm the planet, its contribution to climate change remains widely questioned. Many empirically based studies claim that it has a significant effect on climate, while others (often based on co.....»»
Stressed rattlesnakes found to calm down in the company of a nearby "friend"
When a creature's stress levels decrease because of the presence of a companion, it is known as social buffering. In highly social animals, such as mammals and birds, this phenomenon is well studied. Now, researchers have examined social buffering in.....»»
Children"s nature drawings reveal a focus on mammals and birds, suggesting imbalances in ecological awareness
When asked to draw their local wildlife, 401 UK schoolchildren aged seven to 11 most commonly drew mammals and birds, while amphibians and reptiles appeared in the fewest drawings, suggesting imbalances in children's ecological awareness. Kate Howlet.....»»
Fish mercury found to peak in winter and near spawning, then reduce after growing season
The pronounced seasonal changes of warm open-water and cold ice-covered seasons dominate natural cycles in Finnish lakes......»»
This Hurricane Season Depends on a Showdown in the Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is extremely warm right now—fuel for gnarlier hurricanes. But will a burgeoning El Niño butt in and stop the storms before they start?.....»»
Humans" ancestors survived the asteroid impact that killed the dinosaurs, shows fossil record analysis
A Cretaceous origin for placental mammals, the group that includes humans, dogs and bats, has been revealed by in-depth analysis of the fossil record, showing they co-existed with dinosaurs for a short time before the dinosaurs went extinct......»»
In the mood for giving: Charitable donations may be more about how you feel before giving, not after
Conventional wisdom suggests that we give to charity at least partly because of post-donation warm and fuzzies that make us feel great inside. Turns out, it might be the other way around......»»
A jaw-dropping conundrum: Why do mammals have a stiff lower jaw?
From the 20-foot-long jawbones of the filter-feeding blue whale to the short, but bone-crushing, jaws of the hyena and the delicate chin bones of a human, the pair of lower jawbones characteristic of mammals have evolved with amazing variation......»»
Hurricanes push heat deeper into the ocean than scientists realized, new research shows
It's boosting long-term ocean warming. Enlarge / Satellite data illustrates the heat signature of Hurricane Maria above warm surface water in 2017 (credit: NASA) When a hurricane hits land, the destruction can be visible.....»»