Monarchs evolved mutations to withstand milkweed toxins; so did their predators
Monarch butterflies and their close relatives thrive on poisonous milkweed, thanks to genetic mutations that block the effects of the plant's toxins while allowing the poisons to accumulate in the caterpillar or adult insects as deterrents to hungry.....»»
Mixed forests protect coastal areas from tsunami impacts better than monoculture forests, finds study
Coastal forests in Japan had predominantly been afforested with black pine (Pinus thunbergii), a shade-tolerant tree species that can withstand dry land ecosystems and harsh coastal environments......»»
Genome database for desiccation-tolerant plants released
Desiccation is typically fatal for plant vegetative tissues, but a small number of land plants have evolved vegetative desiccation tolerance (VDT), allowing them to dry without dying through a process called anhydrobiosis......»»
Australian fossil suggests photosynthesis evolved at least 1.75 billion years ago
The oldest evidence of photosynthetic structures reported to date has been identified inside a collection of 1.75-billion-year-old microfossils, a Nature paper reveals. The discovery helps to shed light on the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis......»»
New evidence that insect wings may have evolved from gills
How did insect wings originate? This is a question that represents an unsolved mystery of insect evolution. Despite many years of research, it is still not entirely clear from which body structure insect wings actually evolved and what their original.....»»
Researchers improve seed nitrogen content by reducing plant chlorophyll levels
Chlorophyll plays a pivotal role in photosynthesis, which is why plants have evolved to have high chlorophyll levels in their leaves. However, making this pigment is expensive because plants invest a significant portion of the available nitrogen in b.....»»
"Giant" predator worms more than half a billion years old discovered in North Greenland
Fossils of a new group of animal predators have been located in the Early Cambrian Sirius Passet fossil locality in North Greenland. These large worms may be some of the earliest carnivorous animals to have colonized the water column more than 518 mi.....»»
Male southern elephant seals are picky eaters, study suggests
As one of the top predators roaming Antarctica, the sizeable southern elephant seal has its fair selection of the menu. But it turns out they don't just want to eat anything and everything......»»
Hackers employ nuanced tactics to evade detection
Threat actors evolved tactics, opting for a more nuanced approach that spread attacks across a broader timeframe to blend in with legitimate traffic and evade detection during peak holiday shopping times, according to Cequence Security. 2023 holiday.....»»
"What"s on today"s menu?": Why it"s important to study the trophic behavior of local predators
Trophic ecology is the study of the food chain. On Tenerife in the Canary Islands, feral cats feast chiefly on rabbits, mice, rats, and native birds and reptiles. But new research shows that since 1986, the island's wild cats have experienced a signi.....»»
Amber analyses show that insects already had a variety of defense strategies in the Cretaceous
Analyses of amber show that insect larvae were already using a wide variety of tactics to protect themselves from predators 100 million years ago......»»
A 19-million-year-old fossil jaw bone hints the biggest whales first evolved somewhere unexpected
Baleen whales are the titans of the ocean, the largest animals to have ever lived. The record holder is the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), which can reach lengths of up to 30 meters. That's longer than a basketball court......»»
Protein allows poison dart frogs to accumulate toxins safely, shows study
Scientists have identified the protein that helps poison dart frogs safely accumulate their namesake toxins, according to a study published today in eLife. The findings solve a long-standing scientific mystery and may suggest potential therapeutic st.....»»
Antarctic krill head south: Scientists fear the movement will have a negative impact on predators
Some populations of Antarctic krill are shifting south, closer to Antarctica, as ocean warming and sea-ice changes alter their habitat. Scientists fear the movement of krill will have a negative impact on predators like whales, seals and penguins, an.....»»
Better fossil dating could help to clear up human evolution
Timing is crucial when it comes to understanding the origins of humanity. Developing better dating techniques to discover the ages of key fossils will help scientists to discover how Homo sapiens and our relatives evolved......»»
Plant metabolism proves more complicated than previously understood
Plants have evolved fiendishly complicated metabolic networks. For years, scientists focused on how plants make secondary metabolites, the compounds that plants produce to enhance their defense and survival mechanisms......»»
Hotter weather caused by climate change could mean more mosquitos, according to study
A warmer environment could mean more mosquitos as it becomes harder for their predators to control the population, according to a recent study led by Virginia Commonwealth University researchers......»»
How Microsoft’s cybercrime unit has evolved to combat increased threats
Microsoft has honed its strategy to disrupt global cybercrime and state-backed actors. Microsoft's Cybercrime Center. (credit: Microsoft) Governments and the tech industry around the world have been scrambling in recent.....»»
Reindeer vision may have evolved to spot favorite food in the snowy dark of winter
When Santa's exhausted reindeer finally set down their sleigh in the deep snow of the North Pole early Christmas morning, it's not Rudolph's radiant red nose that will help them find sustenance in the barren landscape......»»
Petri dish poultry and test tube turkey: Researcher explores Christmas dinners of the future with lab-grown meat
Christmas Dinners are one of the UK's most cherished traditions, and Christmas menus have evolved greatly over the years. Today, turkey is the typical meat of choice; going back 500 years, it was beef, venison, and wild boar in Henry VIII's festive f.....»»
CIOs shape long-term success with GenAI expertise
Today’s CIOs have evolved from managing IT infrastructure and ensuring systems’ efficiency to becoming key business strategists, according to IDC. They stand at the intersection of technology and business, leveraging innovations to shape.....»»