Marsupials might be the more evolved mammals
Mammal evolution has been flipped on its head, according to new research that suggests marsupials are the more evolved mammals......»»
Elephant seal numbers drop after avian flu outbreak: First report of transmission between marine mammals
The sounds of barking elephant seals are again in the air along the breeding grounds of Península Valdés, Argentina—but it's quieter. Almost exactly a year after a massive outbreak of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza killed more than 17,000.....»»
On-again off-again: Apple Ring project may not be dead
The long-rumored Apple Ring continues to generate buzz as industry insiders speculate on its potential to reshape health tech, despite uncertainty around its release.Samsung's Galaxy RingWearable technology has evolved rapidly, with smartwatches and.....»»
Biologists discover how plants evolved multiple ways to override genetic instructions
Biologists at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered the origin of a curious duplication that gives plants multiple ways to override instructions that are coded into their DNA. This research could help scientists exploit a plant's existin.....»»
Testing thousands of RNA enzymes helps find first "twister ribozyme" in mammals
The "RNA world" hypothesis proposes that the earliest life on Earth may have been based on RNA—a single-stranded molecule similar in many ways to DNA—like some modern viruses. This is because, like DNA, RNA can carry genetic information, but, lik.....»»
Atlas of the Human Planet: 50 years of population growth and urbanization trends uncovered
The new Atlas of the Human Planet reveals 50 years of global population growth and urbanization trends, providing insights into how cities and rural areas have evolved. This data offers vital tools for addressing future climate, social, and economic.....»»
Where did kissing come from? Study introduces the "groomer"s final kiss hypothesis"
A team at the University of Warwick is suggesting that human kissing evolved from grooming behaviors observed in ancestral great apes. In a study, "The Evolutionary Origin of Human Kissing," published in Evolutionary Anthropology, the researchers int.....»»
Study reveals the twists and turns of mammal evolution from a sprawling to upright posture
Mammals, including humans, stand out with their distinctively upright posture, a key trait that fueled their spectacular evolutionary success. Yet, the earliest known ancestors of modern mammals more resembled reptiles, with limbs stuck out to their.....»»
Unexpected pollinators: Forget cheese, these mice prefer nectar
The native banksias, with their colorful flowering spikes, were long thought to have been pollinated by honeyeater birds and marsupials, which are rewarded with large quantities of nectar......»»
Dolphins sense military sonar at much lower levels than regulators predict, study shows
For the first time ever, a team including several UC Santa Cruz scientists have directly measured the behavioral responses of some of the most common marine mammals to military sonar. And the finding that surprised them most was that these animals we.....»»
Insect and spider biodiversity increases organic nutrient availability across ecosystems, large-scale study shows
Insects and spiders are important elements in the food webs of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. With declines in their biodiversity, the food supply for birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals is not only becoming scarcer, but also poo.....»»
Higher oxytocin levels linked to reproductive success and better cooperation in house mice
Researchers have further advanced understanding of social relationships in female mammals, highlighting the critical role oxytocin plays......»»
Microbiome studies in humans and zoo animals pave the way for new drug development
Microorganisms do not just colonize the body of mammals during infections. Billions of microbes can be found on and in healthy humans and animals at any given time, communicating with each other via chemical signals and thus influencing their health......»»
Apple celebrates 10 years of Apple Pay with new features and more payment methods
Apple launched Apple Pay a decade ago. This payment platform integrates hardware and software and has evolved and expanded globally in the past ten years. … The post Apple celebrates 10 years of Apple Pay with new features and more payment meth.....»»
Hidden Patterns in Folk Songs Reveal How Music Evolved
Songs and speech across cultures suggest music developed similar features around the world.....»»
Ship-mounted camera systems help increase protections for marine mammals
Vessel strikes and entanglement are some of the leading causes of injury and death to marine animals such as whales. Increasingly urbanized waterways, warming oceans, changes in prey distribution—and in some cases, increasing species populations—.....»»
Is the physics of red blood cells in bats a key to "artificial hibernation" for humans?
The mechanical properties of red blood cells (erythrocytes) at various temperatures could play an important role in mammals' ability to hibernate. This is the outcome of a study that compared the thermomechanical properties of erythrocytes in two spe.....»»
Mountain chickadees songs provide real-time evidence for Darwin"s character displacement theory
Mountain chickadees in Boulder have evolved a different tune to avoid getting mixed up with their cousins, according to a new CU Boulder-led study published Oct. 9 in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology......»»
Evolution in real time: Scientists predict—and witness—evolution in a 30-year marine snail experiment
Snails on a tiny rocky islet evolved before scientists' eyes. The marine snails were reintroduced after a toxic algal bloom wiped them out from the skerry. While the researchers intentionally brought in a distinct population of the same snail species.....»»
Researchers find dragonfly species with darker wings have evolved to withstand heat and attract partners
Temperature determines where species can live and if they are threatened by a warming climate. So, for a long time, biologists studied how heat tolerance affects survival. Yet, less is known about how thermal traits influence reproduction, which is d.....»»
New book brings prehistoric mammals to life
After the extinction of dinosaurs came the age of mammals. A new book brings readers into this world with well-researched species profiles by Aaron Woodruff, collection manager for vertebrate paleontology at the Florida Museum of Natural History. The.....»»