Perfection: The enemy of evolution
Scientists are often trained to seek out the absolute best solution to a given problem. On a chalk board, this might look something like drawing a graph to find a function's minimum or maximum point. When designing a turbojet engine, it might mean tw.....»»
Case study: The evolution of a series of participant-centered workshops
Ludmila Tyler, senior lecturer in the biochemistry and molecular biology (BMB) department, is co-first author of a paper in the journal Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education that reflects on the lessons learned from the first full year of Incl.....»»
Passing stars altered orbital evolution of Earth and other planets, astronomers find
Stars that pass by our solar system have altered the long-term orbital evolution of planets, including Earth, and, by extension, modified our climate......»»
New evidence changes key ideas about Earth"s climate history
A new study published in Science resolves a long-standing scientific debate, and it stands to completely change the way we think about Earth's climate evolution......»»
It began with a bite: Five dazzling new species of eyelash vipers discovered in Colombia and Ecuador
A group of scientists led by researchers of from the Khamai Foundation discovered five dazzling new species of eyelash vipers in the jungles and cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador. This discovery was made official in a study published in Evolution.....»»
Canada declares Flipper Zero public enemy No. 1 in car-theft crackdown
Canada declares Flipper Zero public enemy No. 1 in car-theft crackdown.....»»
Canada declares Flipper Zero public enemy No. 1 in crackdown on car theft
Canada declares Flipper Zero public enemy No. 1 in crackdown on car theft.....»»
Researchers present near-complete genome version of spreading earth moss
The model organism spreading earth moss (Physcomitrium patens, formerly: Physcomitrella patens) has contributed significantly to a better understanding of plant evolution and development. Nevertheless, the currently known genome of Physcomitrium pate.....»»
Simulations provide potential explanation for mysterious gap in size distribution of super-Earths
Ordinarily, planets in evolved planetary systems, such as the solar system, follow stable orbits around their central star. However, many indications suggest that some planets might depart from their birthplaces during their early evolution by migrat.....»»
Is there a typical rate of cultural evolution?
Are cultural evolution rates similar across human societies? The emerging field of Cliodynamics uses mathematical models to study history......»»
Innovation in stone tool technology involved multiple stages at the time of modern human dispersals, study finds
A study led by researchers at the Nagoya University Museum in Japan may change how we understand the cultural evolution of Homo sapiens at the time of their dispersal across Eurasia about 50,000 to 40,000 years ago. These findings challenge tradition.....»»
Microfluidic environments alter microbe behaviors, opening potential for engineering their social evolution
Microbes are social beings. Much like humans, they communicate and cooperate with each other to solve problems bigger than themselves. In a microbial community, there will even be free riders and others that police them......»»
Report: Mac security threats on the rise, here’s what to watch out for
Malwarebytes has released its latest report digging into the state of malware to start 2024. The findings include which countries see the most ransomware attacks, the evolution of malware over the last year, how Mac threats are growing, which Mac th.....»»
How food availability could catalyze cultural transmission in wild orangutans
The proverb "necessity is the mother of invention" has been used to describe the source from which our cultural evolution springs. After all, need in times of scarcity has forced humans to continually invent new technologies that have driven the rema.....»»
New E. coli strain will accelerate evolution of the genes of your choice
Strain eliminates the trade-offs of a high mutation rate. Enlarge (credit: Rodolfo Parulan Jr.) Genetic mutations are essential for innovation and evolution, yet too many—or the wrong ones—can be fatal. So researcher.....»»
The surprisingly simple recipe for starting to grow a limb
How do organisms form limbs in the womb? Scientists have been striving to answer this question not only to deepen our understanding of evolution and embryonic development, but also to help make the dream of regenerating partial or entire limbs a real.....»»
Smells like evolution: Fruit flies reveal surprises in chemical sensing
A new study in Nature Communications unveils the hidden world of sensory evolution in fruit flies. By delving into the genes and cells behind their delicate noses and tongues, researchers have discovered surprising secrets about how these tiny insect.....»»
AI helps reveal the ancient origin story of floral colors
New research led by Monash University experts used computer simulations to reveal the ancient link between bees and the evolution of colors in flowers. The research, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, simulated the landscape of the firs.....»»
Fruit flies give further insight into evolution of male genitalia driven by sexual selection
Fruit flies have provided scientists with new insight into the genetic basis for the rapid evolution of male external genitalia driven by sexual selection......»»
Tracing the evolution of sign languages using computer modeling
An international team of linguistics experts has traced the origins of the most common modern sign languages using a computer model to compare them against one another. The research is published in the journal Science......»»
Scientists pinpoint growth of brain"s cerebellum as key to evolution of bird flight
Evolutionary biologists at Johns Hopkins Medicine report they have combined PET scans of modern pigeons along with studies of dinosaur fossils to help answer an enduring question in biology: How did the brains of birds evolve to enable them to fly?.....»»