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.....»»
Kangaroo Island ants "play dead" to avoid predators
They're well known for their industrious work, but now a species of ant on Kangaroo Island is also showing that it is skilled at "playing dead," a behavior that University of South Australia researchers believe is a recorded world first......»»
Chimpanzees combine calls to communicate new meaning
A key feature of human language is our ability to combine words into larger compositional phrases, where the meaning of the whole is related to the meaning of the parts. Where this ability came from or how it evolved, however, is less clear......»»
Study shows cigarette butts leak deadly toxins into the environment
Cigarette filters are the world's most common form of litter. Researchers from the University of Gothenburg can now show that the filters leak thousands of toxins and plastic fibers that are toxic to aquatic larvae. The researchers are therefore call.....»»
Nokia’s new phone is so tough, you can almost pressure wash it
The Nokia XR21 goes beyond an IP68 rating, and also claims an IP69K rating, where it can withstand high pressure streams of water. Here's what it's all about......»»
Fossil find in California shakes up the natural history of cycad plants
Cycads, a group of gymnosperms which can resemble miniature palm trees (like the popular sago palm houseplant) were long thought to be "living fossils," a group that had evolved minimally since the time of the dinosaurs. Now, a well-preserved 80-mill.....»»
Enigmatic human fossil jawbone may be evidence of an early Homo sapiens presence in Europe
Homo sapiens, our own species, evolved in Africa sometime between 300,000 and 200,000 years ago. Anthropologists are pretty confident in that estimate, based on fossil, genetic and archaeological evidence......»»
Protein from a round worm may unlock a cellular "fountain of youth"
Working with tiny, nematode worms called C. elegans, a USask research team has identified a pair of genes responsible for clearing cells of the toxins which accumulate in the body and are responsible for aging. By inactivating genes called CCF-1 and.....»»
Researchers uncover new mechanisms regulating plant response to temperature
Have you ever wondered why you get tired when the sun goes down? Why some flower petals open during the day and close at night? Or even how monarch butterflies know when to migrate south? Life on Earth has evolved to predict what time it is. This mec.....»»
Prevalence of transposable elements may provide clues to worldwide mammal biodiversity
An international scientific project that compares the genomes of 240 living species of mammals has identified transposable elements (TEs)—genes that can change their position within a genome, creating or reversing mutations and thus altering a cell.....»»
New Zealand fights to save its flightless national bird
New Zealand's treasured kiwi birds are shuffling around Wellington's verdant hills for the first time in a century, after a drive to eliminate invasive predators from the capital's surrounds......»»
Math unlocks molecular interactions that open window to how life evolved
A "window to evolution" has opened after mathematicians uncovered the universal explanatory framework for how molecules interact with one another to adapt to new and variable conditions while maintaining tight control over key survival properties......»»
Brain circuits for locomotion evolved long before appendages and skeletons, finds new study
Hundreds of millions of years before the evolution of animals with segmented bodies, jointed skeletons or appendages, soft-bodied invertebrates like sea slugs ruled the seas. A new study finds parallels between the brain architecture that drives loco.....»»
A healthy but depleted herd: Predators decrease prey disease levels but also population size, study finds
Nature documentaries will tell you that lions, cheetahs, wolves and other top predators target the weakest or slowest animals and that this culling benefits prey herds, whether it's antelope in Africa or elk in Wyoming......»»
Animals learn survival tricks from others, even if they live alone, finds researcher
Many animals live in groups. One of the main benefits of this is shared knowledge. This information can help animals tackle problems such as where to find food and mates, how to follow migration routes and how to avoid predators......»»
Researchers identify a new genetic culprit in canine bladder cancers
Researchers have identified new genetic mutations linked to a subset of canine bladder cancers. Their findings have implications both for early cancer detection and for targeted treatments in dogs and humans. The study is published in the journal PLO.....»»
Meet the world’s lightest champagne bottle
Champagne bottles are notoriously thick to ensure they can withstand immense pressure from the bubbles inside. A new bottle by French champagne house Telmont is thinner, lighter, and ultimately, more sustainable. In 2020, Ludovic du Plessis, then ne.....»»
A blinking fish reveals clues to how our ancestors evolved from water to land
An unusual blinking fish, the mudskipper, spends much of the day out of the water and is providing clues as to how and why blinking might have evolved during the transition to life on land in our own ancestors. New research shows that these amphibiou.....»»
How New Zealand’s Pesky Pigs Turned Into a Cash Cow
The animals evolved into ultra-resilient, disease-free predators while isolated on Auckland Island. Now people want to breed them for organ transplants......»»
Why Are Killer Whales Ripping Livers Out of Their Shark Prey?
Killer whales rip open the bellies of sharks to snag the liver. Other predators also have dietary preferences for organs, brains and additional rich body parts.....»»
Trait adaptations in a Tibetan saber-toothed cat
Published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, a new study details unique findings, analysis and interpretation of saber-toothed cat fossils, offering a glimpse into how the fierce apex predators operated on the high plains of its native enviro.....»»