Credit: PixabayA new study of a 100-million-year-old fossil found in an Australian coastal rock suggests that echidnas may have descended from aquatic ancestors.This is rare—unlike most mammals that moved from land to water, echidnas seem to have gone the other way.Debate Over the Fossilized Arm Bone: Terrestrial Ancestor or Aquatic Monotreme?Since unearthing the fossilized...
Credit: PixabayDomestication has led to increased diversity in cats and dogs, yet they've also become surprisingly similar—something that could significantly impact their health and well-being, new research reveals.At first sight, Persian cats and pugs appear vastly different. One is a cat, the other a dog, with a 50 million-year evolutionary gap between them.However, when...
Credit: PixabayThere's a saying that theories are like toothbrushes—everyone has one, but no one wants to use someone else’s. It’s meant as a joke, but when it comes to studying consciousness—the mystery of how we experience anything subjectively—it’s surprisingly accurate.In 2022, British neuroscientist Anil Seth and I compiled a review identifying 22 brain-based theories...
Credit: PixabayThe concept of growing teeth in a lab might sound like something out of a horror movie, but it could actually have a practical, non-terrifying use—replacing cavities and damaged teeth. New research brings us one step closer to making this a reality.Researchers from King’s College London and Imperial College London have developed a...
Credit: DepositphotosWhen an uncommon total solar eclipse passes over North America next Monday, scientists will have the opportunity to collect invaluable information ranging from the Sun's atmosphere to peculiar animal behaviors, and even potential impacts on humans.During the Sun's near-peak activity in its 11-year solar cycle, an awe-inspiring sight awaits: the corona will illuminate...
Credit: PixaobayThe sensation of hairs standing on end, the cold sensation in the stomach, the rapid heartbeat triggered by a sudden movement in the shadows—these experiences evoke fear. Fear, while capable of causing distress and discomfort, can also be oddly exhilarating. However, it serves a crucial purpose as an instinctual reaction to danger, potentially...
Credit: PixaobayWe understand that diets rich in meat aren't environmentally friendly or healthy. How willing are you to adopt a more sustainable eating habit? Would you consider replacing your current choices with select cuts of python meat?A recent study conducted by an international team of researchers explored the viability of commercial-scale python farming and...
