Primitive fish fossils reveal developmental origins of teeth
Teeth and hard structures called dermal odontodes are evolutionarily related, arising from the same developmental system, a new study published today in eLife shows......»»
The fish with the genome 30 times larger than ours gets sequenced
Every 10 million years, lungfish have added a human genome's worth of junk DNA. Enlarge / The African Lungfish, showing it's thin, wispy fins. (credit: feathercollector) When it was first discovered, the coelacanth cause.....»»
Fish in Greenland consume more jellyfish than previously assumed, researchers discover
For a long time, scientists assumed that jellyfish were a dead-end food source for predatory fish. However, a team from the Alfred Wegener Institute together with the Thünen Institute has now discovered that fish in Greenland waters do indeed feed o.....»»
Stonehenge"s Altar Stone origins reveal advanced ancient Britain
New research led by Curtin University has revealed Stonehenge's monumental six-ton Altar Stone, long believed to originate from Wales, actually hails from Scotland. The study titled "A Scottish Provenance for the Altar Stone of Stonehenge" was publis.....»»
International team sequence the world"s largest animal genome: Data help explain tetrapod evolution
Join us as we travel back in time. We have arrived in the Devonian period, some 420 to 360 million years ago. In a shallow area near the water's edge, something happened that would forever change life on our planet: a fish from the class of lobe-finn.....»»
AI, computation, and the folds of life: Supercomputers help train a software tool for the protein modeling community
Form follows function, and this is especially true for life's building blocks—proteins. The folds and shape of molecular proteins reveal their function in supporting life......»»
Findings reveal eurypterids evolved giant size independently at least nine times
Sea scorpions, ancient predators that patrolled Earth's marine and freshwater habitats hundreds of millions of years ago, are the focus of a sizable scientific mystery......»»
Cricket physics: Wind tunnel experiments reveal why bowling with a near horizontal arm makes for tough batting
Key to winning a cricket match is tricking the other team's batters—no small feat, as bowlers bowl cricket balls nearly 100 miles per hour. In recent years, a bowling technique that has become popular involves keeping the arm almost entirely horizo.....»»
New technology offers a better look at tardigrade fossils embedded in amber
A trio of evolutionary biologists at Harvard University's Museum of Comparative Zoology has learned more about the evolutionary history of tardigrades by studying two fossils embedded in amber. In their study, published in Communications Biology, Mar.....»»
The biggest-ever sample of core material from Earth"s mantle could have valuable clues into the origins of life
If you were to slice through it, you would see the Earth is divided into distinct layers. On top is the relatively thin crust where we live. Beneath that is the 2,900 km thick mantle layer. Then, enclosed within the mantle is the innermost metallic c.....»»
Neutrons reveal the existence of local symmetry breaking in a Weyl semimetal
The first materials scientists might have been early humans who—through trial-and-error experiments—discovered the first "cutting-edge" technologies. They found that the best arrowheads and other tools could be made from certain types of natural,.....»»
520-million-year-old larva fossil reveals the origins of arthropods
Early arthropod development illuminated by a microscopic fossil. Enlarge / The fossil in question, oriented with its head to the left. (credit: Yang Jie / Zhang Xiguang) Around half a billion years ago, in what is now th.....»»
Recovery of rocks that originated in Earth"s mantle could reveal secrets of planet"s history
Scientists have recovered the first long section of rocks that originated in the Earth's mantle, the layer below the crust and the planet's largest component......»»
Our lakes are teeming with parasites. Why that"s good… and bad
If you're a fishing enthusiast, you may have already noticed abnormalities or parasites in the wild fish you catch. In fact, the fish we commonly find in our lakes, such as bass or trout, harbor several species of parasites. Although parasites are a.....»»
NASA Losing VIPER Rover Defangs the Science from Planned Moon Landings
A former space agency official argues that cutting a robotic explorer pulls the scientific teeth from the Artemis program.....»»
Love the Ocean? Thank a Shark
Sharks provide multiple benefits for ocean ecosystems: their declining numbers threaten habitats for baby fish.....»»
Using dental growth rings scientists reveal differences in growth patterns between ancient and modern mammals
A study published in Science Advances reveals how early mammals grew and developed during their pivotal Jurassic radiation. Using a technique called synchrotron X-ray tomography to image growth rings in fossilized tooth roots, the researchers were ab.....»»
Study finds discrepancies between intended and actual use of certain areas aboard the International Space Station
An archaeological strategy adapted for space used daily photos to reveal how astronauts actually use areas aboard the International Space Station—and how this differs from intended uses. Justin Walsh of Chapman University, California, and colleague.....»»
Impact of drought on drinking water contamination: Disparities found affecting Latino/a communities
Long-term exposure to contaminants such as arsenic and nitrate in water is linked to an increased risk of various diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, developmental disorders and birth defects in infants......»»
Tahiti"s rahui tradition has helped revive ecosystems—including near the Olympics surfing venue
During their days on Tahiti's turquoise ocean some years ago, fishers noticed their catches—and the fish inside—were getting smaller......»»
A linguist explores what Kamala Harris"s voice and speech reveal about her identity
Every now and then, a scholar's niche expertise lines up with a cultural or political moment and finds an audience hungry for the details. Nicole Holliday is having one of those moments......»»