Credit: PixabayA long-term study on little penguins in Australia has debunked the belief that these seabirds stay with one partner for life. The research uncovered a "divorce rate" nearly ten times higher than that of U.S. humans, with parenting success as the main factor behind separations.While some penguins, like Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae), are...
"I am your pillbug, Luke" – Bathynomus vaderi is named for the fact that its distinctive head resembles Darth Vader's flared helmetNguyen Thanh SonWhat has 14 legs, dwells on the ocean floor, and resembles Darth Vader? A newly discovered supergiant isopod species, which you can even try as a dish if you visit Vietnam.What...
Artist's impression of the brain's surprisingly slow speed of thoughtJieyu ZhengWe like to think of ourselves as quick thinkers, but new research from Caltech reveals that our brains process information at an astonishingly slow rate of about 10 bits per second. Despite our sensory systems gathering data 100 million times faster, this leisurely pace...
Credit: PixabayThroughout human history, twins have been rare and often considered extraordinary. Many cultures associate them with vitality or duality, symbolizing life and death or good and evil. Some mythologies even credit twins with founding nations or being deities.However, new research reveals that twins were once the evolutionary norm for our primate ancestors, challenging...
Dulcibella camanchaca, a newly identified amphipod from the Atacama Trench. (Johanna Weston/WHOI)Earth’s oceanic trenches, plunging as deep as 11 kilometers (6.8 miles), remain one of the planet’s most mysterious realms. Their pitch-black waters endure crushing pressures of up to 1,088 atmospheres (16,000 pounds per square inch), yet life somehow thrives in these extreme environments. Despite...
Credit: PixabayScientists have created a hybrid mouse by incorporating a gene that predates all animal life. In this groundbreaking study, the team replaced a single gene in the mouse stem cells with one from an ancient, single-celled ancestor and successfully grew healthy mice from it.Stem cells are known for their ability to differentiate into...
Credit: PixabayRecent research has detected fentanyl and other drugs in dozens of dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico, just months after cocaine was found in sharks off the coast of South America. This finding highlights the growing problem of pharmaceuticals infiltrating marine environments."Pharmaceuticals have emerged as micropollutants and are becoming a global concern, with...
A zebrafish embryo. (Dr. Deodatta Gajbhiye)Fish embryos in many species can control their hatching timing, effectively selecting their own birthdays. A study from Hebrew University of Jerusalem has uncovered the chemical and biological processes enabling this precise control, showing how embryos align their hatching with optimal environmental conditions.Researchers focused on zebrafish (Danio rerio) and discovered...
Skeletal muscle fibers (multinucleated cells) with their nerve connections. (Ed Reschke/Stone/Getty Images)We all wish for a longer life—at least, I know I do—but what about ensuring that we enjoy good health during the time we have?Over the past century, human life expectancy has significantly increased for several reasons, particularly advances in sanitation, public health, nutrition,...
The sensors are attached to the underside of the leaves (right) in order to ensure that the plant still receives enough sunlightKohzuma and MiyamotoMonitoring crop health from aerial images has its limits, as they can only provide a broad overview. Enter a groundbreaking spectral sensor designed to attach directly to the underside of individual...
