They may be separated by an ocean, but birds in the US and Europe are responding to climate change in a surprisingly similar way: winners are outperforming losers to a comparable degree. Some of the biggest winners in the US include Cassin’s kingbird, the Anhinga and the orchard oriole. Losers
[ read more ]
A new supercomputer simulation of blood moving around the entire human body compares extremely well with real-world flow measurements, researchers say. The software uses a 3D representation of every artery that is 1mm across or wider, scanned from a single person. Its accuracy passed a first key
[ read more ]
Sea anemones are a common sight on many coastlines, and despite their brightly coloured appearance it seems they may have a common ancestor with humans. What's more, researchers are wondering whether the creatures could hold the secret to eternal life, writes Mary Colwell. The wicked queen in the t
[ read more ]
It's hard to believe the mustached kingfisher is a real bird. First of all, it looks more like a Baltimore Orioles–themed stuffed toy than a bird. Second, it's only found on the remotest of mist-caressed islands, similar to the legendary Pokemon bird Articuno. Finally, it has long eluded human
[ read more ]
The mysterious human ancestor called Homo naledi was primed for success in a prehistoric triathlon, new research shows—if the challenges were walking upright, climbing trees, and handily wielding tools. Based on fossils retrieved from South Africa’s Rising Star cave, two teams reconstr
[ read more ]
Cancer is less prevalent in elephants than in humans, in part because the giant animals have more copies of a gene that suppresses tumor growth, a new study finds. Understanding how this gene evolved and works in elephants may help researchers develop ways to treat human cancer patients, the rese
[ read more ]
Scientists have discovered the strongest evidence yet that "flowing liquid water" exists on Mars, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said Monday morning.Imaging instruments aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter identified evidence of "hydrated minerals" called perchlorates that ha
[ read more ]
The way the body can track the passing of the seasons in a "chemical calendar" has been discovered by scientists. The team, reporting in Current Biology, found a cluster of thousands of cells that could exist in either a "summer" or "winter" state. They use the lengthening day to switch more of
[ read more ]
For centuries, a highly venomous snake has managed to slither under the scientific radar in the Australian bush. Now, scientists have finally identified the new species of death adder, Acanthophis cryptamydros, which lives in the northwestern corner of the continent.“It was a huge sur
[ read more ]
Being exposed to "good bacteria" early in life could prevent asthma developing, say Canadian scientists. The team, reporting in Science Translational Medicine, were analysing the billions of bugs that naturally call the human body home. Their analysis of 319 children showed they were at higher
[ read more ]
