The social life of a vampire bat
When one thinks of vampire bats, friendship and cooperation may not be among the qualities that come to mind for these blood-feasting creatures of the night. But maybe they should.Scientists have provided a deeper understanding of social relationship.....»»
Pathogens that cling to microplastics may survive wastewater treatment
Wastewater treatment fails to kill several human pathogens when they hide out on microplastics in the water, reports a study led by Ingun Lund Witsø of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, published November 6, 2024 in the open-access journal.....»»
"Shallow" sports and "deep" social hierarchies: Not all pecking orders are created equally
University of Michigan researchers have added a new dimension to the mathematics used to predict the outcomes of all manner of competitions, including sports, games and social hierarchies in both humans and animals......»»
Struggling with relationships? You may be too materialistic
Digital technology and social media have revolutionized communication, making people more connected than ever. Yet many developed nations are struggling with loneliness and data has shown that while we have more ways to connect with others, the quant.....»»
The high cost of complexity: New study explores energy needs of multicellular life
Between 1.8 billion and 800 million years ago, earthly life was in the doldrums. During this period, called the "boring billion," the complexity of life remained minimal, dominated by single-celled organisms with only sporadic ventures into multicell.....»»
Balancing quantity and quality: How X/Twitter"s algorithm influences our consumption of news
Are we only seeing the kind of news we want to see on social media? What effects do personalized algorithms have on our perception of news quality? Do algorithms help us serendipitously encounter information that we didn't expect? These are the quest.....»»
Vampire bats" metabolism mirrors that of blood-sucking insects, biologists find
A pair of biologists at the University of Toronto has found that vampire bats are able to burn amino acids as a fuel source similarly to blood-sucking insects. In their study published in the journal Biology Letters, Giulia Rossi and Kenneth Welch co.....»»
Gamma radiation converts methane into complex organic molecules and could explain the origin of life
Gamma radiation can convert methane into a wide variety of products at room temperature, including hydrocarbons, oxygen-containing molecules, and amino acids, according to a new article published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.....»»
Study shows commercial ties influence ESG ratings and highlights need for regulation
An analysis published in the Journal of Accounting Research uncovers evidence that conflicts of interest arising from commercial ties lead to bias in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings......»»
Downward mobility from top backgrounds in the UK is even rarer than previously thought
Only a tiny fraction of children from the most privileged backgrounds will end up in working class jobs, suggesting that social mobility in the UK may be even more limited than previously thought......»»
Testing thousands of RNA enzymes helps find first "twister ribozyme" in mammals
The "RNA world" hypothesis proposes that the earliest life on Earth may have been based on RNA—a single-stranded molecule similar in many ways to DNA—like some modern viruses. This is because, like DNA, RNA can carry genetic information, but, lik.....»»
Africa"s cities are growing chaotically fast, but there"s still time to get things right, say experts
Cities are vital engines of economic growth, innovation and social progress. They shape the futures of nations and the lives of millions......»»
Holiday gift guide 2024: best gifts for the Apple lovers in your life
Tis the season — if you're struggling to come up with great gifts for the Apple fanatic in your life, our helpful gift guide should put you on the right track.Image Credit: Ylanite on PixabayWith the holidays right around the corner, you're probabl.....»»
Boeing strike ends after workers vote to accept “life-changing” wage increase
Workers vow to restore Boeing's iconic legacy as costly strike ends. More than 33,000 Boeing workers reached a tentative agreement Monday night to end a weekslong strike that quic.....»»
Deaf male mosquitoes don"t mate, researchers discover
Romance is a complex affair in humans. There's personality, appearance, seduction, all manner of physical and social cues. Mosquitoes are much more blunt. Mating occurs for a few seconds in midair. And all it takes to woo a male is the sound of a fem.....»»
Best iPhone 16 Pro pictures I’ve seen yet
Last week, we invited the 9to5Mac community on social media to share their best iPhone 16 Pro shots with us. We received hundreds of awe-inspiring replies that showcased the camera system’s capability. Here’s a handful that stood out as the best.....»»
Guy makes “dodgy e-bike” from 130 used vapes to make point about e-waste
Most one-use vape batteries are actually rechargeable, and this guy has proof. Disposable vapes are indefensible. Many, or maybe most, of them contain rechargeable lithium-ion bat.....»»
Mathematical model illuminates how the environment impacts life choices of salmon
Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have created a mathematical model that models how the evolutionary strategies of organisms are affected by the environment. They studied salmonid fishes which choose either to migrate to the sea then ret.....»»
Multi-omics approach reveals nanoplastic toxicity in aquatic life
Plastic pollution has become a growing crisis for aquatic environments, with nanoplastics emerging as particularly hazardous due to their minuscule size and broad dispersal. Unlike larger plastic fragments, nanoplastics infiltrate cellular systems an.....»»
New book explores the relationship between beauty and crisis
Creating and nurturing beauty in dark times helps us endure another day. Beauty can help us appraise how we live and how we can build better lives. Its presence or absence is a critique of the social and political structures that are necessary to all.....»»
Guns, militia and social media amplify the risks of political violence during the US election
Political violence is hardly new to America. Since the country's inception, gunmen have shaped its political landscape, from the Civil War to the Ku Klux Klan, to high-profile assassinations and the bombing of federal buildings. Yet the threat of pol.....»»