Credit: PixaobayThe preserved specimens of amber display distinct mouthparts that are currently found only in female individualsA mosquito is probably female if you swat it on your arm or neck. Only female mosquitoes feed on blood, providing the protein they need to develop eggs. Males consume plant fluids and nectar as females' skin-piercing mouthparts...
Chimpanzees, as well as bonobos, recognize long-lost friends and family . Creditt: PixaobayApes outshine many of us as they promptly recognize family and friends even after a gap of over two decades, marking the longest-recorded "social memory" in a non-human species.Providing crucial understanding of the evolution of human social recognition, the Johns Hopkins University study...
A study has found that the discharge from an electric eel can transfer environmental DNA to nearby animalsDepositphotosA recent investigation indicates that the electrical discharge from an electric eel is potent enough to facilitate the transfer of genetic material from the surroundings into the cells of neighboring animals.In laboratory conditions, electroporation refers to applying...
Once thought to be vestigal, tiny pits on the snouts of dolphins have turned out to be an important part of how they sense the world. Credit: PixaobayResearch indicates that in addition to their impressive sonar system, dolphins develop an extra sensory ability in the region where their baby whiskers once existed as they...
Could nature be the solution to the world's impending food shortages?DepositphotosIn a highly encouraging development for securing and enhancing food production, a comprehensive field study has shown that treating farmland soil with mycorrhizal fungi can increase maize crop yields by 40%, all without the need for extra fertilizers or pesticides.In the study conducted in...
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%...
The struggle is real: Sugar and fat form a dangerous diet duoDepositphotosIt's not surprising that, overall, we consume excessive amounts of sugar. Researchers have discovered that when our craving for sweetness is satisfied, it is replaced by a sudden inclination for fatty foods, potentially disrupting metabolic functions and contributing to weight issues.Hormonal Mechanism Unveiled...
A study has associated higher consumption of ultra-processed foods with an increased risk of some cancersDepositphotosA comprehensive study has established a correlation between increased consumption of ultra-processed foods and a higher likelihood of developing cancers in the head, neck, and esophagus. Surprisingly, obesity, often resulting from excessive consumption of these foods, did not emerge...
Radiant Snares of the Predatory Fungus Arthrobotrys Oligospora. Credit: Hung-Che Lin CC-BY 4.0Think fungi can't be carnivorous? Think again. Arthrobotrys oligospora, a worm-eating species of fungus discovered in 1850, has proven capable of sensing, trapping, and consuming small animals, shedding light on the molecular changes facilitating predatory behavior.Worms on the MenuWhile A. oligospora isn't the...
Green light: It's not a silver bullet, but scientists say this study makes the case for keeping plants central in strategies to counter the impact of climate change. Credit: PixaobayIn the realm of climate change research and its extensive effects on the planet, positive findings are rare. However, an international team of scientists may...
