Brains are larger than they were in the 1930s. Credit: IdeogramLarger brain size indicates enhanced brain health and cognitive abilities. Since the 1930s, there has been a consistent increase in brain size. A recent study highlights the implications of this growth on the likelihood of developing dementia, specifically Alzheimer's disease.By 2020, more than 55...
Tails serve various purposes, yet unlike vervet monkeys seen in Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda, humans' nearest primate ancestors shed these appendages roughly 25 million years ago. ImageBROKER/ShutterstockHumans are special, but we're missing something common in many animals with spines: a tail. Why this is has been a bit of a mystery.Tails are helpful...
Credit: PexelsThe mystery of how living organism originated from non-living matter is still one of the most profound puzzles in science. Despite various theories, a definitive explanation remains elusive, which is not surprising given that these events took place three to four billion years ago in vastly different conditions on Earth.Justifying hypotheses with experimental...
A new study has offered challenging new insights into evolution and could revolutionize our approach to multiple real-world issues. Credit:Unsplash.Recent research challenges the notion that evolution is unpredictable, shedding light on how a genome's past influences its future trajectory. With implications ranging from synthetic biology to medicine and environmental science, this discovery offers new possibilities...
A recent Science publication suggests E. coli bacteria have greater potential for evolving antibiotic resistance than previously assumed. Led by SFI External Professor Andreas Wagner, researchers mapped over 260,000 potential mutations of an essential E. coli protein, crucial for bacterial survival against trimethoprim antibiotic exposure.During numerous digital simulations, the researchers discovered that approximately 75%...
Credit: PixaobayResearchers from multiple institutions in Hungary, including ethologists, natural scientists, and psychologists, have uncovered evidence indicating that the appeal of flat-faced dogs to humans may be linked to their greater inclination to seek assistance compared to other dog breeds.In a study featured in the journal Scientific Reports, the team conducted experiments involving two...
Credit: Lab managerA diverse group of mathematicians, engineers, physicists, and medical scientists has unveiled an unforeseen connection between fundamental mathematics and genetics, shedding light on neutral mutation structure and evolutionary patterns in organisms.Number theory, the exploration of positive integer properties, represents a quintessential form of mathematics. Its apparent abstraction may seem incompatible with the...
Credit: PixaobayThe possibility of using kangaroo tissue for knee reconstruction is nearing reality, as human trials are scheduled to begin in 2024."I've consistently maintained that kangaroos represent nature's most exceptional athletes," states Dr. Nick Hartnell, an orthopedic surgeon and one of the study's authors. "These creatures truly stand out with their remarkable abilities, capable...
Credit: Unsplash.What occurs when climate change is introduced into the equation is the potential for the emergence of new species worldwide, as various organism groups become distinct and follow separate evolutionary paths.In the publication "Contrasting effects of warming in diverging insects," which was recently released in Ecology Letters, Thomas H.Q. Powell, an assistant lecturer...
Astronaut in space. Credit: Unsplash.In the realm beyond Earth, the absence of gravity poses a significant hazard to the well-being of astronauts, particularly during extended missions. Gaining insights into the response of the human body to the space environment is essential for long-term space exploration and the development of countermeasures to safeguard astronaut health.Previous...
