Animal growth is much more constricted in water than it is on land, a factor that explains why whales and other large sea life have not evolved to be bigger than they are. For years, researchers wondered why whales, despite their huge size, stopped growing larger over time. To shed light on that, a group of researchers from Stanford University studied both whales and elephant … [Read more...] about Aquatic Life Can Only Grow So Big
Science
Amazon May Be Much More Densely Populated Than Previously Believed
The discovery of 81 new archaeological sites across the Amazon basin suggest that nearly a million previously unaccounted for people once called the region home. For over 10 years researchers have tried to study mysterious ancient trenches cut through the soil of the Amazon. The unique lines are organized in range of shapes shapes, including rings, squares, and hexagons. The … [Read more...] about Amazon May Be Much More Densely Populated Than Previously Believed
Ceratops Did Not Evolve Horns for Species Recognition
It is unlikely that dinosaur frills and horns evolved as a way for different species to recognize one another, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. This finding -- which comes from researchers at Queen Mary University of London -- challenges classic assumptions that certain species in the same location can evolve specific features to … [Read more...] about Ceratops Did Not Evolve Horns for Species Recognition
Babies Can Reason Before They Can Talk, Study Reports
Though one-year-old babies are not able to speak, they can think logically, according to a new study in the journal Science. This new research -- which comes from researchers at John Hopkins University -- shows the earliest known evidence of human's ability to reason. While scientists previously believed that humans developed the ability much later in life, the team behind the … [Read more...] about Babies Can Reason Before They Can Talk, Study Reports
Ancient Fossil Could Show How Birds Evolved
A newly discovered fossil could help shed light on avian evolution, a recent study published in the journal Nature reports. The remains come from an ancient bird group known as Enantiornithes. The specimen in the study is 127 million years old and is one of the smallest bird skeletons on record. The species, like the dinosaurs, died off roughly 65 million years ago at the end … [Read more...] about Ancient Fossil Could Show How Birds Evolved
Dolphins Plan Their Dives, Study Reports
As new research in the Journal of Experimental Biology suggests, dolphins carefully plan their hunting dives to make sure they do not run out of oxygen while exploring the ocean’s depth. While dolphins are incredibly resilient creatures, they need to carefully plan their oxygen levels when going on hunts. That is because, if they are not careful they can easily drown while on … [Read more...] about Dolphins Plan Their Dives, Study Reports
Third Sixgill Shark Species Discovered in Atlantic Ocean
Researchers from the Florida Institute of Technology have found a brand new shark species -- a third type of sixgill shark -- swimming in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean, according to a new study published in the journal Marine Biodiversity. Before this discovery, researchers knew about two types of sixgill sharks that lived in the Indian and Pacific Oceans: the … [Read more...] about Third Sixgill Shark Species Discovered in Atlantic Ocean
There Are No More Truly Wild Horses, Study Reports
Przewalski's horses -- a unique equine species from Mongolia -- are not as wild as scientists previously thought they were, according to a new study published in the journal Science. Previously, scientists believed that Przewalski's horses were the last truly wild horse on Earth. However, it turns out that they are the descendants of the first horses humans … [Read more...] about There Are No More Truly Wild Horses, Study Reports
Ancient Beaker Folk Took Over Early Britain
A large DNA study on the people of ancient Britain shows that a wave of migrants known as the Beaker Folk forever changed the genetic makeup of the country.The Beaker Folk -- who originated from central Europe and the Steppes -- came to England roughly 4,500 years ago. When they arrived, they brought new customs, burial practices, and unique bell-shaped pottery. However, … [Read more...] about Ancient Beaker Folk Took Over Early Britain
Ground-Running Birds Could Shed Light on Dinosaur Locomotion
Modern birds could help scientists better understand the way dinosaurs managed to shift and move their massive bodies as they ran, according to recent research published in the journal PLOS One. Though the age of the dinosaurs ended some 60 million years ago, their legacy lives on through modern birds. The feathered animals are direct descendants of the ancient reptiles, … [Read more...] about Ground-Running Birds Could Shed Light on Dinosaur Locomotion
Triplefin Fish is Able to Reflect Light From Around Its Eyes
Researchers at the University of Tübingen found that a type of fish known as a triplefin is able to control light reflected from special organs next to its pupils, according to a new paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. This unique process is a never before seen form of photolocation, which acts much like echolocation except it uses light … [Read more...] about Triplefin Fish is Able to Reflect Light From Around Its Eyes
Nobody Knows How Rabbits Became Domesticated, Study Reports
Though there is a lot of data on how animals first became domesticated, nobody is quite sure when rabbits were first domesticated, according to a review published in Trends in Ecology and Evolution. In the research, scientists from the University of Oxford found that historical, archaeological, and genetic records all suggest rabbits were first domesticated at different … [Read more...] about Nobody Knows How Rabbits Became Domesticated, Study Reports
Lizards Have Been Bipedal for Millions of Years, Study Reports
Researchers have found fossil evidence that suggests bidpedalism in lizards is not a new trait. In fact, it has been around for 110 million years. Many modern lizard species -- including Mexico’s Jesus lizard, the spiny-tailed iguana, and the bearded dragon -- have the unique ability to instantly switch from four legs to two. As they run, they pop up and leave their front limbs … [Read more...] about Lizards Have Been Bipedal for Millions of Years, Study Reports
Large Body Size Lowers Extinction Risk, Study Reports
Scientists at the Santa Fe Institute have discovered that increased body size may help certain species avoid extinction, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Communications. Almost all current extinction models are simple in that they only compare reproductive rates to the amount of available resources. The team in the new study expanded on that by … [Read more...] about Large Body Size Lowers Extinction Risk, Study Reports
Red-fronted Lemurs Can Point Out Their Species in Photographs
A surprising find reveals that wild red-fronted lemurs (Eulemur rufrifrons) have the unique ability to recognize members of their own species, according to research in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology. This discovery comes from an international team of researchers, who discovered that red-fronted lemurs spent much more time looking at pictures of their own kind than at … [Read more...] about Red-fronted Lemurs Can Point Out Their Species in Photographs
Marbled Crayfish Are Using Self-Cloning to Spread Ccross the World
A unique species of all-female crayfish is rapidly spreading into, and taking over, ecosystems across the world, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. The marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis) is a ten-legged creature that, unlike most species, does not need males to reproduce. Rather, the entire population -- which … [Read more...] about Marbled Crayfish Are Using Self-Cloning to Spread Ccross the World
Some Deep Sea Animals Use Hydrothermal Vents to Incubate Their Eggs
Researchers from the University of Rhode Island and the Charles Darwin Research Station have discovered that deep sea skates incubate their eggs next to hydrothermal vents in order to get them to hatch faster, according to a study in Scientific Reports. The team first made note of this strange behavior during a expedition to the Galapagos Islands in 2015. They … [Read more...] about Some Deep Sea Animals Use Hydrothermal Vents to Incubate Their Eggs
Praying Mantises See the World in a Unique Way
Researchers from Newcastle University have found that praying mantises have a previously unknown type of 3D vision, according to a study published in the journal Current Biology. 3D vision -- also known as stereo vision -- is important because it helps human add distance to the things we see. Each of our eyes has a slightly different view of the world, and our brain uses … [Read more...] about Praying Mantises See the World in a Unique Way
Cheetah’s Evolved Ears Help Them Hunt
Cheetahs are successful hunters, not just because of their blinding speed, but because of a special organ inside their ear, according to new research in the journal Scientific Reports. While cheetahs are known for their ability to outrun prey, they can also sprint without moving their head. That helps them track as they chase, a unique trait that comes from their … [Read more...] about Cheetah’s Evolved Ears Help Them Hunt
Norway Rats Exchange Goods in the Same Way Humans Do
For the first time in history, scientists have recorded evidence of non-human animals exchanging commodities for different types of favors, a new study in Current Biology reports. The human ability to trade different goods is considered one of the core traits of our species. However, the new study -- conducted by researchers at University of Bern -- shows it is not unique to … [Read more...] about Norway Rats Exchange Goods in the Same Way Humans Do
Skeletons in Ancient Grave Arranged in Odd Spiral Formation
Archaeologists working in Mexico have unearthed a peculiar ancient grave that has 10 ancient skeletons arranged in a spiral formation with their bodies interlocked. Modern-day Mexico City is constructed over centuries of previous settlements. As a result, ancient tombs are often found beneath the buildings. Researchers from the National Institute of Anthropology and History … [Read more...] about Skeletons in Ancient Grave Arranged in Odd Spiral Formation
Ancient ‘Crayon’ May Have Been Used to Color Hides
An ancient human artifact discovered near Lake Flixton in Great Britain could be the world’s oldest crayon, according to recent research published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. The 10,000-year-old relic is made from ocher, a natural clay-earth pigment used by hunter-gatherers for tens of thousands of years. The substance had a wide range of properties, from insect … [Read more...] about Ancient ‘Crayon’ May Have Been Used to Color Hides
Mosquitoes Can Remember People Who Swat at Them
Researchers from the University of Washington have discovered that mosquitoes can remember and avoid people who swat at them, according to a recent study in the journal Current Biology. Scientists have long known that mosquitos are able to remember how people smell, which is how they develop preference for certain individuals. However, the new findings show that mosquitoes … [Read more...] about Mosquitoes Can Remember People Who Swat at Them
Mantis Shrimp Could Inspire Ultra-Strong Materials
The unique features of mantis shrimp may have implications for new ultra-strong materials, according to a new paper outlined in the journal Advanced Materials. Mantis shrimp are fierce underwater predators that are commonly called smashers because of the way they use their club-like arms to break open hard-shelled prey. However, while the impact of slamming into a hard … [Read more...] about Mantis Shrimp Could Inspire Ultra-Strong Materials
Holding Back a Sneeze Can Lead to a Ruptured Throat, Study Reports
Stifling a sneeze can lead to a ruptured throat, according to a new report published in the journal BMJ Case. This research comes from an odd situation in England, where a 34-year-old man ruptured his throat while trying to stop a sneeze by holding his nose and shutting his mouth. The event left him hospitalized and barely able to speak or swallow. After covering his face, … [Read more...] about Holding Back a Sneeze Can Lead to a Ruptured Throat, Study Reports
Social Marmots Die Faster Than Isolated Ones
Large ground squirrels known as yellow-bellied marmots tend to live longer the less social and more isolated they are, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. This study comes researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, who analyzed 66 adult female marmots from 2002 to 2015 at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in … [Read more...] about Social Marmots Die Faster Than Isolated Ones
Small Genomes Helped Flowering Plants Expand Across Earth
Researchers from San Francisco State University and Yale University may have finally discovered how flowering plants were able to quickly dominate ecosystems across the world, a new study in PLOS Biology reports. The rapid spread of flowering plants across the world is something Charles Darwin -- who referred to it as an “abominable mystery” -- struggled to understand during … [Read more...] about Small Genomes Helped Flowering Plants Expand Across Earth
Bonobos Prefer to Associate With Bullies, Study Reports
Researchers at Duke University have discovered that bonobos -- one of mankind's closest relatives -- prefer to socialize with bullies rather than with kinder individuals, a new study published in the journal Current Biology reports. This finding follows up on a 2007 study that showed human babies are not only able to figure out who around them is helpful and who is … [Read more...] about Bonobos Prefer to Associate With Bullies, Study Reports
Aztec Shrine May Have Reflected Mythical Universe
A group of archaeologists working in Mexico have uncovered an ancient stone shrine that depicts what they believe to be an Aztec design of the universe. The scientists found the sanctuary at Nahualac, a site at the foothills of the Iztaccihuatl volcano. Along with the shrine, they also discovered ceramic fragments, lithic materials, lapidaries, and organic remains in the … [Read more...] about Aztec Shrine May Have Reflected Mythical Universe
Ancient Infant DNA Reveals How Humans First Moved to the Americas
DNA taken from the skull of an ancient, six-week-old baby could help shed light on how early humans first populated the Americas, a new study published in the journal Nature reports. The remains come from an 11,500-year-old child, who researchers unearthed from a burial pit in central Alaska. The girl -- known as “sunrise girl-child” -- is significant because she belonged to … [Read more...] about Ancient Infant DNA Reveals How Humans First Moved to the Americas
Common Ancestor of Sharks and Humans Existed 440 Million Years Ago, Study Reports
Though humans and sharks are incredibly different creatures, both shared a common ancestor roughly 440 million years ago, a recent study published in the journal Royal Society B: Biological Sciences reports. This discovery comes from a group of researchers at the University of Chicago, who analyzed fossils from a shark that lived during the Devonian … [Read more...] about Common Ancestor of Sharks and Humans Existed 440 Million Years Ago, Study Reports
Photosynthesis first occurred 1.25 billion years ago, study reports
Scientists at McGill University have found evidence that the first instance of photosynthesis happened roughly 1.25 billion years ago, according to new research outlined in the journal Geology. In the study, the team analyzed the remains of Bangiomorpha Pubescens, an ancient algae that is believed to be the oldest known ancestor of modern plants and animals. Previous studies … [Read more...] about Photosynthesis first occurred 1.25 billion years ago, study reports
Hybrid bird species uncovered in the Amazon
For the first time in history, researchers have uncovered a hybrid bird species in the Amazon jungle. The unique creature is known as the golden-crowned manakin, and it is the offspring of both the snow-capped manakin -- known for its crown of snow-white feathers -- and the Opal-crowned manakin, which has a similar crown of bright, luminous feathers. The mixing of the two … [Read more...] about Hybrid bird species uncovered in the Amazon
Ancient plesiosaur uncovered in Antarctica
A group of paleontologists from the University of La Matanza have discovered a 150-million-year-old plesiosaur under Antarctica's frozen ice. Plesiosaurs are giant, extinct marine carnivores that once hunted in waters all across the Earth . They had four fins, a small head, and a long, streamlined neck. The specimen found in the study measures 12 feet long and existed during … [Read more...] about Ancient plesiosaur uncovered in Antarctica
Fungal infection threatening global snake populations
A fungal infection caused by a pathogen known as Ophidiomyces ophidiodiicola is threatening snakes all across the world, according to a new study published in Scientific Advances. This discovery comes from scientists at the American Museum of Natural History, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the University of Maryland, who found that snake fungal disease (SFD) can infect almost … [Read more...] about Fungal infection threatening global snake populations
500-Million-Year Old Hunter Sheds Light on Arthropod Evolution
Archaeologists have discovered new details about Habelia optata, a small, extinct aquatic predator first found by scientists over 100 years ago. The 508-million-year-old creature measured just 2 centimeters long. It had a segmented body with an external skeleton, jointed limbs, and a long tail. The odd animal was a chelicerate, which means it was an arthropod like spiders, … [Read more...] about 500-Million-Year Old Hunter Sheds Light on Arthropod Evolution
Gulf Corvina’s Mating Call is Almost as Loud as a Rock Concert, Study Finds
The Gulf Corvina is the loudest fish on Earth, according to a new study published in The Royal Society: Biology Letters. Gulf Corvina -- which swim to spawning grounds along the Colorado River Delta each year -- are known for the loud, chattering sounds they make when they gather. However, that noise is not just loud, it is deafening. The noise the Corvina's make is the loudest … [Read more...] about Gulf Corvina’s Mating Call is Almost as Loud as a Rock Concert, Study Finds
Special Protein Helps Ground Squirrels Resist the Cold
The ground squirrel has adapted to be less sensitive to cold than its non-hibernating cousins, according to a new study published in the journal Cell Reports. This new finding comes from researchers at Yale University, who found that the unique tolerance is linked to a specific cold-sensing protein in the sensory nerve cells of the ground squirrels and another hibernator, the … [Read more...] about Special Protein Helps Ground Squirrels Resist the Cold
Ancient ‘Microfossils’ May Be the Oldest Evidence of Life on Earth
A group of scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Wisconsin may have found the oldest evidence for life on Earth, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This team found the evidence in samples of microorganisms on a tiny, nearly 3.5-billion-year-old piece of rock uncovered in … [Read more...] about Ancient ‘Microfossils’ May Be the Oldest Evidence of Life on Earth
‘Extinct’ Marsupial Reemerges in Southwestern Australia
Researchers working in the Australian state of New South Wales have rediscovered a small carnivorous marsupial thought to be extinct in the region for over 100 years. The tiny mammal is known as the crest-tailed mulgara, and it is one of the two mulgara species on Earth. It dwells is long burrow networks beneath hot sand dunes, and emerges at night to hunt prey. While the … [Read more...] about ‘Extinct’ Marsupial Reemerges in Southwestern Australia