A live recreation of the Ngamugawi wirngarri coelacanth in its natural habitat. P3D graphic credit: Katrina Kenny. Credit: Illustration Katrina Kenny (courtesy Flinders University)"Groundbreaking" new fossil research reveals that climate change, asteroids, and plate tectonics are interconnected with the origins and extinction of animals, highlighting the significant evolutionary role of these factors.A recent study...
The dye that gives foods, drugs, and cosmetics a lemon yellow color can also make mice transparent, as illustrated in this generative imageResearchers at Stanford University have found that applying a common food dye to the skin of mice enables biologists to see through to the animals' internal organs and structures, enhancing their research...
A drug already used to treat Alzheimer's could find a second use in inducing a hibernation-like state, to save lives during medical emergencies. Credit: PixabayIn a medical emergency, timely treatment is essential. However, a commonly used drug could be repurposed to induce a hibernation-like state, slowing organ damage and extending the time available to...
Scientists have discovered why humans no longer have tails© iStockAbout 25 million years ago, an evolutionary divergence happened between our ancestors—the early humans and apes—and monkeys, leading to the loss of tails in our lineage. The specific genetic mutation behind this change, however, has been unknown until recently.In a recent study published in Nature, scientists...
A new study shows that different people transfer different amounts of genetic material to items that they touchDepositphotosIf you’ve ever watched CSI, you know that suspects often leave incriminating DNA traces at crime scenes. However, a recent study suggests that the amount of this genetic material could also indicate a person’s guilt or innocence....
Cilantro seedlings grown in a medium consisting of 100% recycled glass particlesAndrea QuezadaGlass-fragment waste usually ends up in landfills, but that might not always be necessary. A recent study suggests that mixing ground glass particles with soil can create a plant growth medium that outperforms soil on its own.While larger glass items can be...
An orb-weaving spider wraps up a male firefly, getting him ready to attract his buddies to the web tooXinhua FuCertain species have a remarkable ability to exploit others for their benefit. Scientists have recently uncovered a fascinating example: some spiders manipulate the flashing of fireflies to lure more insects into their webs.While fireflies’ enchanting...
Credit: DepositphotosDid you know that the bananas we eat now differ from those consumed a few generations ago?Today's common banana is the Cavendish variety, while the Gros Michel variety, which was widely available until the 1950s, was decimated by a disease known as Fusarium wilt of banana (FWB).The Fusarium wilt that devastated the...
This generative image illustrates the discovery that the brain stores memories in three parallel copiesSimilar to a computer system with built-in redundancies, a study has discovered that the brain uses three distinct sets of neurons to store a single memory. This finding might eventually aid in alleviating painful memories for those who have experienced...
One of the almost-thornless roses (left) alongside an unmodified plantMohammed Bendahmane/INRAE, CNRS, Université de Lyon, FranceEveryone adores roses, but they’d be even more enjoyable without their sharp thorns. Scientists have now developed a way to grow thornless roses, which could simplify crop harvesting.It’s worth noting that some rose varieties are naturally thornless.However, most plants don’t...
