Life
Biosignatures: Phony fossils complicate the hunt for life on Mars
Purely physical and chemical processes can deceive us into thinking that life is present, when it actually is not.
Why technology often fails to replicate the “natural services” of ecosystems
When we try to recreate simpler versions of natural ecosystems, we invariably make mistakes, argues author and biologist Rob Dunn.
How scientists and artists resurrected the scents of extinct flowers
Using DNA from samples of extinct flowers, synthetic biologists managed to approximate long-lost floral scents.
Mistletoe and other parasitic plants are ecosystem engineers
Parasites aren’t limited to just worms and ticks. Even some plants like to feed off others — and they perhaps could help fight invasive species.
Spider webs: How simple arachnids weave such complex structures
Despite the wide diversity of spider species, most orb-weavers seem to follow the same playbook when building their webs.
How a single protein can switch an ant from worker to queen
Social conflicts can leave molecular marks on animals, according to recent research on the ant species Harpegnathos saltator.
Could “virgin births” to fatherless chicks rescue an endangered condor?
Virgin birth – which involves the development of an unfertilised egg – has preoccupied humans for aeons. And although it can’t happen in mammals, it does seem to be possible in […]
Why do dogs tilt their heads? Smarter dogs do it more often.
It could be a sign that your dog is paying increased attention.
This singing lemur is the first known nonhuman mammal with “categorical rhythm”
A 12-year study shows that these large lemurs have a sophisticated sense of rhythm.
Sixth mass extinction: 23 more species declared extinct
The list includes eleven species of birds, eight species of freshwater mussels, two fish, a bat, and a plant from the mint family.
The unknown linguistic laws that apply to all life
Linguistic laws are remarkably versatile and have applications in ecology, microbiology, epidemiology, demographics, and geography.
Hunting dogs bark differently depending on the animals they see
A new study suggests that hunting dogs' barks convey emotional information about the animals they see.
The secret to how scorpions, spiders, and ants puncture tough skin
These animals to grow scalpel-sharp and precisely shaped tools that are resistant to breaking.
Terrifying proto-whale hunted on land and in the sea
Yet another ocean monster has been discovered.
Tornado detection: bringing Stone Age tech into the 21st century
Technology designed to listen for atomic bombs can also hear tornadoes.
Rhino mystery going back to Darwin solved
A recent study sheds light on the evolutionary history of rhinoceroses and their remarkably low levels of genetic diversity.
Clues in woolly mammoth tusk reveal a lifetime of travels
It walked enough miles to nearly circle the Earth twice.
Nightmarishly large bird-eating centipedes are propping up a whole island ecosystem
These enormous centipedes are straight out of science fiction.
Endosymbiotic theory: evolution is powered by innovation and thievery
Sometimes, new combinations of preexisting things revolutionize life.
A strange link between grizzly bear DNA and human language
A genetic study of British Columbia grizzly bears finds a weird link to local human languages.
Squirrel parkour: How leaping squirrels could inspire more nimble robots
While a squirrel's life may look simple to human observers – climb, eat, sleep, repeat – it involves finely tuned cognitive skills.
Is saving the panda a waste of time and money?
It is difficult to save a species that does not seem to care about saving itself.
Why did birds survive extinction while dinosaurs died out?
The brain of an ancient bird offers clues to the survival of its modern-day relatives.
28 ancient viruses unknown to science found in a Tibetan glacier
Scientists discover surviving viruses in 15,000-year-old glacier ice on the Tibetan Plateau in China.
Mammals dream about the world they are entering even before birth
A study finds that baby mammals dream about the world they are about to experience to prepare their senses.
Cockatoos teach each other the secrets of dumpster diving
Australian parrots have worked out how to open trash bins, and the trick is spreading across Sydney.
Dogs know when people are lying
A new study tested to what extent dogs can sense human deception.
CT scans of shark intestines find Nikola Tesla’s one-way valve
Evolution proves to be just about as ingenious as Nikola Tesla
Zoo ethics: free-range prisons or centers for global conservation?
The ethical debate over zoos is going to grow louder. There might be a solution that involves robots.