Medieval manuscripts may have described “new” whale feeding trick centuries ago
Old Norse hafgufa, medieval bestiaries seem to depict "trap feeding." Enlarge / A digital reconstruction of a humpback whale engaged in trap feeding. (credit: John McCarthy, Flinders University) About 10 years ago, marin.....»»
Study of gigantism in whales provides clues to genomic mechanism involved in tumor suppression
The functioning of certain regions of a few genes in cetaceans (whales, porpoises and dolphins) may explain why the Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) can reach lengths of up to 30 meters—almost 10 m more than a bus—while the Bottlenose dolphin (.....»»
Whale calves found stealing milk from other mothers
Research from The University of Western Australia has found some southern right whale calves are little "milk thieves.".....»»
Archaeologists discover intact medieval gauntlet at Kyburg Castle
The team also unearthed fragments of the glove's companion, worn on the opposite hand. Enlarge (credit: Canton of Zurich) Archaeologists announced this week that they have discovered an intact 14th-century medieval gaunt.....»»
China"s medieval Tang dynasty had a surprising level of social mobility, new study finds
In studying social mobility in today's industrialized nations, researchers typically rely on data from the World Economic Forum or, in the United States, the General Social Survey. But examining the same phenomena from past centuries is a more daunti.....»»
Webb spots oldest black hole ever discovered
In a galaxy far, far away, an intriguing cosmic object resides, feeding on the remnants of the galaxy GN-z11. Located roughly 13.4 billion light-years away, … The post Webb spots oldest black hole ever discovered appeared first on BGR......»»
Space travel taxes astronauts" brains. But microbes on the menu could help in unexpected ways
Feeding astronauts on a long mission to Mars goes well beyond ensuring they have enough nutrients and calories to survive their multi-year journey......»»
AI-enabled bio-loggers capture rare bird behavior
For centuries, naturalists have braved trackless forests, windy clifftops, and the cramped confines of blinds and submarines, hoping to capture rare behaviors that might reveal important aspects of animal biology and ecology. Takuya Maekawa and colle.....»»
Biodiversity study seeks to answer why more animal and plant species are found in the tropics
An international research group led by Tel Aviv University and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev tried to answer the centuries-long question: why there are more animal and plant species in the tropics?.....»»
During Pregnancy, the Placenta Hacks the Immune System to Protect the Fetus
Cells in the placenta have an unusual trick for activating gentle immune defenses and keeping them turned on when no infection is present. It involves crafting and deploying a fake virus......»»
Valve now allows the “vast majority” of AI-powered games on Steam
New reporting system will enforce "guardrails" for "live-generated" AI content. Can you tell which of these seemingly identical bits of Steam iconography were generated using AI (trick question, it's none of them). (credit: Auric.....»»
Psychoactive psilocybin"s evolution in magic mushrooms
Psilocybe fungi, known colloquially as "magic mushrooms," have held deep significance in Indigenous cultures of Mesoamerica for centuries. They captured the wider world's attention as a psychedelic staple in the 60s and 70s. Now, these infamous organ.....»»
Sperm whales found to live in large, matrilineally based clans
A sperm whale expert at Dalhousie University, in Canada, has found evidence showing that sperm whales form large matrilineally based clans that have their own coda dialect. In his paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, Hal Whitehe.....»»
Cerne Abbas Giant is a depiction of Hercules
It's "just the most visible of a whole cluster of early medieval features in the landscape." Enlarge / Behold, the "Rude Man" chalk giant carved on a hill above the village of Cerne Abbas in Dorset, England. (credit: Barry Batche.....»»
Reading genetic information of ancient Teotihuacans
Teotihuacan was one of the largest metropolitan centers in ancient Mesoamerica in the pre-Columbian era. Six ancient individuals unearthed from the Teotihuacan between the third and seventh centuries AD were examined in a study led by Dr. Fuzuki Mizu.....»»
How a sea animal with a "snot palace" could inspire better pumps
To build more efficient pumping systems, engineers might take inspiration from a tiny filter-feeding sea creature encased in a gelatinous structure known as a "mucus house" or "snot palace.".....»»
Evidence of ancient medieval feasting rituals uncovered in grounds of historic property
An early medieval cemetery has been discovered within the grounds of Fonmon Castle, near Barry, South Wales......»»
The strange story of the grave of Copernicus
Nicholas Copernicus was the astronomer who, five centuries ago, explained that Earth revolves around the sun, rather than vice versa. A true Renaissance man, he also practiced as a mathematician, engineer, author, economic theorist and medical doctor.....»»
When you sit down to build a sandcastle, take a look around you: The beach is already sculpting
Arenicola, or lugworms, make some of the most beautiful structures on the beach. Little piles of wet sand are cast in a swirl from their rear end as part of their feeding cycle......»»
The iPhone 15 Pro has a killer camera feature you’ll never use
For creatives, the ability to record Log videos is the best iPhone camera trick the iPhone 15 Pro has to offer. For an average user, it's just too much hassle......»»
How watching beavers from space can help drought-ridden areas bounce back
An algorithm can spot beaver ponds from satellite imagery. Enlarge / Where beavers set up home, the dams they build profoundly change the landscape. (credit: Troy Harrison) For the first time in four centuries, it’s g.....»»