91av - Life 91av - Life / 91av - Life /build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png daily 1 The surprising silver lining to the recent boom in invertebrate pets /article/mg26635480-100-the-surprising-silver-lining-to-the-recent-boom-in-invertebrate-pets/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 18 Jun 2025 19:00:00 +0100 From spiders to scorpions, some 1000 different invertebrate species are traded globally as pets. This is bad for biodiversity – but there is an upside, says Graham Lawton mg26635480-100-the-surprising-silver-lining-to-the-recent-boom-in-invertebrate-pets|2484224 Australian moths use the stars as a compass on 1000-km migrations /article/2484724-australian-moths-use-the-stars-as-a-compass-on-1000-km-migrations/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 18 Jun 2025 17:00:00 +0100 Bogong moths are the first invertebrates known to navigate using the night sky during annual migrations to highland caves 2484724-australian-moths-use-the-stars-as-a-compass-on-1000-km-migrations|2484724 Ancient monstersaur had 'goblin-like' teeth and sheddable tail /article/2484652-ancient-monstersaur-had-goblin-like-teeth-and-sheddable-tail/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 18 Jun 2025 01:01:35 +0100 The discovery of a prehistoric tail-shedding reptile reveals more about large lizard life and lineage during the Late Cretaceous Epoch 2484652-ancient-monstersaur-had-goblin-like-teeth-and-sheddable-tail|2484652 Cryopreserved sea star larvae could enable vital species to recover /article/2483376-cryopreserved-sea-star-larvae-could-enable-vital-species-to-recover/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 17 Jun 2025 21:00:26 +0100 Sea star larvae have been stored at -200°C and thawed for the first time, a step towards restoring populations that have been ravaged by disease 2483376-cryopreserved-sea-star-larvae-could-enable-vital-species-to-recover|2483376 Biotech firm aims to create ‘ChatGPT of biology’ – will it work? /article/2484323-biotech-firm-aims-to-create-chatgpt-of-biology-will-it-work/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 17 Jun 2025 21:13:20 +0100 A UK biotech firm spent years gathering genetic data that has uncovered 1 million previously unknown microbial species and billions of newly identified genes – but even this trove of data may not be enough to train an AI biologist 2484323-biotech-firm-aims-to-create-chatgpt-of-biology-will-it-work|2484323 91av recommends the British Library’s Unearthed exhibition /article/mg26635470-600-new-scientist-recommends-the-british-librarys-unearthed-exhibition/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Jun 2025 19:00:00 +0100 The books, TV, games and more that 91av staff have enjoyed this week mg26635470-600-new-scientist-recommends-the-british-librarys-unearthed-exhibition|2483478 Inside Europe's largest jellyfish farm /article/mg26635470-300-inside-europes-largest-jellyfish-farm/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Jun 2025 19:00:00 +0100 Images from a jellyfish-breeding facility in Germany showcase the luminous invertebrates' environmental challenges and medical promise mg26635470-300-inside-europes-largest-jellyfish-farm|2483475 Sauropod dinosaur's last meal reveals that it didn't bother to chew /article/2483275-sauropod-dinosaurs-last-meal-reveals-that-it-didnt-bother-to-chew/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 09 Jun 2025 17:00:01 +0100 A sauropod dinosaur fossil has been found with preserved stomach contents for the first time, providing insights into what they ate and how 2483275-sauropod-dinosaurs-last-meal-reveals-that-it-didnt-bother-to-chew|2483275 Dazzling oak leaf prints merge science and nature /article/mg26635463-300-dazzling-oak-leaf-prints-merge-science-and-nature/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 04 Jun 2025 19:00:00 +0100 Artist Clare Hewitt uses fallen oak leaves and sunlight to create her works of art before returning the leaves to the forest mg26635463-300-dazzling-oak-leaf-prints-merge-science-and-nature|2482647 Worms team up to form tentacles when they want to go places /article/2482950-worms-team-up-to-form-tentacles-when-they-want-to-go-places/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 05 Jun 2025 17:00:23 +0100 Thousands of tiny nematode worms can join up to form tentacle-like towers that can straddle large gaps or hitch rides on larger animals 2482950-worms-team-up-to-form-tentacles-when-they-want-to-go-places|2482950 Why avoiding a sixth mass extinction is easier than it sounds /article/mg26635463-500-why-avoiding-a-sixth-mass-extinction-is-easier-than-it-sounds/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 04 Jun 2025 19:00:00 +0100 Putting an end to a mass extinction sounds like an impossible task, but some researchers argue that doing so would be setting our ambitions too low mg26635463-500-why-avoiding-a-sixth-mass-extinction-is-easier-than-it-sounds|2482766 There’s growing evidence the big five mass extinctions never happened /article/2481371-theres-growing-evidence-the-big-five-mass-extinctions-never-happened/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 02 Jun 2025 14:00:25 +0100 Surprising new fossil evidence undermines the idea that there was ever a mass extinction on land – and may force us to reframe the current biodiversity crisis 2481371-theres-growing-evidence-the-big-five-mass-extinctions-never-happened|2481371 Crafty cockatoos learn to use public drinking fountains /article/2482652-crafty-cockatoos-learn-to-use-public-drinking-fountains/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 04 Jun 2025 01:01:25 +0100 Sulphur-crested cockatoos are waiting in line at public drinking fountains in Sydney to have their daily drinks of water in the latest example of cultural evolution in urban birds 2482652-crafty-cockatoos-learn-to-use-public-drinking-fountains|2482652 Dinosaur's water-loving nature brought to life in BBC show /video/2482874-dinosaurs-water-loving-nature-brought-to-life-in-bbc-show/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 03 Jun 2025 18:40:23 +0100 Palaeontologists are finding more dinosaur remains than ever before, and with new technology they can now peer inside these creatures' brains, understand their sensory anatomy and reconstruct whole skeletons from fragmentary remains. Applying novel techniques to a single Spinosaurus skeleton discovered in Morocco, researchers have revealed that this dinosaur was perfectly adapted to an aquatic … 2482874-dinosaurs-water-loving-nature-brought-to-life-in-bbc-show|2482874 Super-invasive termites could spread from Florida around the world /article/2482851-super-invasive-termites-could-spread-from-florida-around-the-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 03 Jun 2025 18:32:04 +0100 Two of the most destructive invasive termite species are interbreeding in the US – they can survive a wider range of temperatures and could easily spread across the globe 2482851-super-invasive-termites-could-spread-from-florida-around-the-world|2482851 Does the old concept of companion planting have any science behind it? /article/mg26635450-900-does-the-old-concept-of-companion-planting-have-any-science-behind-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 28 May 2025 19:00:00 +0100 The belief that adding certain plants around crops will boost their growth is an old one, but will your tomatoes' yield and flavour really be improved by growing tasty herbs alongside them? James Wong investigates mg26635450-900-does-the-old-concept-of-companion-planting-have-any-science-behind-it|2481582 Italian festival of the snake-catchers revealed in colourful photos /article/mg26635450-300-italian-festival-of-the-snake-catchers-revealed-in-colourful-photos/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 28 May 2025 19:00:00 +0100 The village of Cocullo celebrates a festa dei serpari every May – and scientists are getting in on the action mg26635450-300-italian-festival-of-the-snake-catchers-revealed-in-colourful-photos|2481566 First evidence of ancient birds nesting above the Arctic circle /article/2482217-first-evidence-of-ancient-birds-nesting-above-the-arctic-circle/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 29 May 2025 20:00:32 +0100 Tiny bone fragments from Alaska suggest birds started breeding and nesting in the Arctic 30 million years earlier than previously thought 2482217-first-evidence-of-ancient-birds-nesting-above-the-arctic-circle|2482217 Fossils show puzzling lack of evolution during last ice age peak /article/2481751-fossils-show-puzzling-lack-of-evolution-during-last-ice-age-peak/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 28 May 2025 15:00:12 +0100 Thousands of fossils from the La Brea tar pits in California show no signs of mammals and birds evolving in response to shifting temperatures over the past 50,000 years 2481751-fossils-show-puzzling-lack-of-evolution-during-last-ice-age-peak|2481751 We’re getting close to recreating the first step in evolution of life /article/2482049-were-getting-close-to-recreating-the-first-step-in-evolution-of-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 28 May 2025 11:00:51 +0100 Life is thought to have begun when RNA began replicating itself, and researchers have got close to achieving this in the lab 2482049-were-getting-close-to-recreating-the-first-step-in-evolution-of-life|2482049 Why birds decorate their nests with weird and unnatural objects /article/2481300-why-birds-decorate-their-nests-with-weird-and-unnatural-objects/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 23 May 2025 14:00:04 +0100 Puzzlingly, many birds add human-made material to their nests with no obvious function – now there is evidence that these home improvements might ward off predators 2481300-why-birds-decorate-their-nests-with-weird-and-unnatural-objects|2481300 Flash floods sweep through vital sanctuary for Australian animals /article/2481536-flash-floods-sweep-through-vital-sanctuary-for-australian-animals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 23 May 2025 11:46:07 +0100 Wildlife carers fostering some of Australia’s most precious animals have had to rescue them one by one from rising waters and are now racing to repair fencing that keeps feral predators away 2481536-flash-floods-sweep-through-vital-sanctuary-for-australian-animals|2481536 Giant ground sloths evolved three different times for the same reason /article/2481349-giant-ground-sloths-evolved-three-different-times-for-the-same-reason/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 22 May 2025 20:00:48 +0100 An analysis of the sloth family tree suggests three different groups of the animals evolved to gigantic sizes in response to cold and dry conditions 2481349-giant-ground-sloths-evolved-three-different-times-for-the-same-reason|2481349 Penguin poo helps keep Antarctica cool /article/2481436-penguin-poo-helps-keep-antarctica-cool/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 22 May 2025 17:00:28 +0100 Huge colonies of penguins in Antarctica fill the air with ammonia, which boosts particles in the atmosphere that allow climate-cooling clouds to form 2481436-penguin-poo-helps-keep-antarctica-cool|2481436 Colossal scientist now admits they haven’t really made dire wolves /article/2481409-colossal-scientist-now-admits-they-havent-really-made-dire-wolves/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 22 May 2025 15:33:55 +0100 Despite a huge media fanfare in which Colossal Biosciences claimed to have resurrected the extinct dire wolf, the company's chief scientist now concedes that the animals are merely modified grey wolves 2481409-colossal-scientist-now-admits-they-havent-really-made-dire-wolves|2481409 The first teeth were sensory organs on the skin of ancient fish /article/2481186-the-first-teeth-were-sensory-organs-on-the-skin-of-ancient-fish/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 May 2025 17:00:37 +0100 Teeth are good for chewing and biting, but they are also sensitive – and that may have been their original function hundreds of millions of years ago 2481186-the-first-teeth-were-sensory-organs-on-the-skin-of-ancient-fish|2481186 Supergiant crustaceans could live across half the deep-sea floor /article/2480859-supergiant-crustaceans-could-live-across-half-the-deep-sea-floor/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 May 2025 01:01:05 +0100 The enigmatic crustacean Alicella gigantea is the world’s largest amphipod, but like all deep-sea creatures it hasn’t proved easy to find 2480859-supergiant-crustaceans-could-live-across-half-the-deep-sea-floor|2480859 Capuchin monkeys are stealing howler monkey babies in weird fad /article/2480552-capuchin-monkeys-are-stealing-howler-monkey-babies-in-weird-fad/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 19 May 2025 17:00:33 +0100 A group of white-faced capuchins on a remote island have started stealing infants from another primate species, and researchers don’t know why 2480552-capuchin-monkeys-are-stealing-howler-monkey-babies-in-weird-fad|2480552 Remarkable photos highlight the haunting resilience of nature /article/2479524-remarkable-photos-highlight-the-haunting-resilience-of-nature/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 May 2025 19:00:26 +0100 Acclaimed photographers Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier showcase a changing planet as part of the Photo London photography fair 2479524-remarkable-photos-highlight-the-haunting-resilience-of-nature|2479524 Grisly new book reveals what zombie insects can teach us /article/mg26635430-400-grisly-new-book-reveals-what-zombie-insects-can-teach-us/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 May 2025 19:00:00 +0100 In Rise of the Zombie Bugs, Mindy Weisberger zooms in on how parasites hijack the brains of their tiny host animals mg26635430-400-grisly-new-book-reveals-what-zombie-insects-can-teach-us|2479641 Robert Macfarlane is wrong to cast rivers as life forms in new book /article/mg26635410-200-robert-macfarlane-is-wrong-to-cast-rivers-as-life-forms-in-new-book/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0100 We should protect Earth's rivers and forests with laws. But it is another matter to claim them as living beings, as Robert Macfarlane does in his new book Is a River Alive? mg26635410-200-robert-macfarlane-is-wrong-to-cast-rivers-as-life-forms-in-new-book|2478020 Exquisite new-to-science frog species has golden legs and odd habits /article/2479613-exquisite-new-to-science-frog-species-has-golden-legs-and-odd-habits/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 May 2025 20:00:05 +0100 A newly described poison dart frog, which is about the size of a thumbnail, has been found in the forests of the Juruá river basin in Brazil 2479613-exquisite-new-to-science-frog-species-has-golden-legs-and-odd-habits|2479613 Fossil tracks rewrite history of animals leaving water to live on land /article/2479817-fossil-tracks-rewrite-history-of-animals-leaving-water-to-live-on-land/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 May 2025 17:00:45 +0100 The footprints of a reptile-like creature appear to have been laid down around 356 million years ago, pushing back the earliest known instance of animals emerging from the water to live on land 2479817-fossil-tracks-rewrite-history-of-animals-leaving-water-to-live-on-land|2479817 All living things emit an eerie glow that is snuffed out upon death /article/2479590-all-living-things-emit-an-eerie-glow-that-is-snuffed-out-upon-death/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 09 May 2025 15:52:44 +0100 Our bodies emit a stream of low-energy photons, and now experiments in mice have revealed that this ghostly glow is cut off when we die 2479590-all-living-things-emit-an-eerie-glow-that-is-snuffed-out-upon-death|2479590 Chimps share 'building blocks of musical rhythm' with humans /article/2479462-chimps-share-building-blocks-of-musical-rhythm-with-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 09 May 2025 17:00:56 +0100 Just like humans, chimps have rhythm when drumming, which suggests that the trait evolved in our common ancestor 2479462-chimps-share-building-blocks-of-musical-rhythm-with-humans|2479462 Is the fungal science in The Last of Us going off the rails? /article/2479490-is-the-fungal-science-in-the-last-of-us-going-off-the-rails/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 09 May 2025 13:00:01 +0100 With season 2 unfolding, the science of the fungal horror drama is becoming shakier. It is a pity that the creators haven’t thought about terrifying scenarios of real-life infection, says Corrado Nai 2479490-is-the-fungal-science-in-the-last-of-us-going-off-the-rails|2479490 What if we could experience life as another species? /article/mg26635420-100-what-if-we-could-experience-life-as-another-species/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 May 2025 19:00:00 +0100 In this latest instalment of our speculative column Future Chronicles, an imagined history of future inventions, Rowan Hooper explores the pros (and cons) of networking our brains with those of other animals mg26635420-100-what-if-we-could-experience-life-as-another-species|2478907 The birds upending our idea of shared parenting /article/2479275-the-birds-upending-our-idea-of-shared-parenting/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 May 2025 17:00:44 +0100 Superb starlings appear to swap between parent and ‘nanny’ roles to help raise chicks over their lifetimes, even when they aren’t related to them 2479275-the-birds-upending-our-idea-of-shared-parenting|2479275 Strange microbes give clues to the ancestor of all complex life /article/2479335-strange-microbes-give-clues-to-the-ancestor-of-all-complex-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 May 2025 17:00:32 +0100 The origin of complex eukaryotic cells, of the type found in all plants and animals, is shrouded in mystery. Now, strange microbes from wetlands in China are helping us to understand when they first emerged, and what they were like 2479335-strange-microbes-give-clues-to-the-ancestor-of-all-complex-life|2479335 England has just given the thumbs up to gene-edited plants. Hooray! /article/2479154-england-has-just-given-the-thumbs-up-to-gene-edited-plants-hooray/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 May 2025 11:00:24 +0100 A UK parliamentary committee has greenlit gene-edited plants. This is great news, as it will boost food production and reduce waste, says Michael Le Page 2479154-england-has-just-given-the-thumbs-up-to-gene-edited-plants-hooray|2479154 Best evidence yet that dolphin whistles are like a shared language /article/2478894-best-evidence-yet-that-dolphin-whistles-are-like-a-shared-language/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 02 May 2025 15:00:33 +0100 While dolphins are known to transmit information in their whistles, until now it hasn't been clear whether the marine mammals used the same sounds to indicate a shared understanding of a concept 2478894-best-evidence-yet-that-dolphin-whistles-are-like-a-shared-language|2478894 91av recommends Ocean with David Attenborough /article/mg26635410-400-new-scientist-recommends-ocean-with-david-attenborough/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0100 The books, TV, games and more that 91av staff have enjoyed this week mg26635410-400-new-scientist-recommends-ocean-with-david-attenborough|2478022 Welcome to a great, straightforward guide to the tree of life /article/mg26635410-300-welcome-to-a-great-straightforward-guide-to-the-tree-of-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0100 Max Telford's new book, The Tree of Life, is a millennia-spanning exploration of the history – and future – of evolutionary relationships mg26635410-300-welcome-to-a-great-straightforward-guide-to-the-tree-of-life|2478021 How Greenland sharks live for hundreds of years without going blind /article/2478628-how-greenland-sharks-live-for-hundreds-of-years-without-going-blind/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 01 May 2025 16:00:33 +0100 Greenland sharks show no signs of retinal degeneration despite living for up to 400 years, and scientists have identified genetic adaptations that may explain how 2478628-how-greenland-sharks-live-for-hundreds-of-years-without-going-blind|2478628 Let's remember that extraordinary claims need extraordinary evidence /article/mg26635412-800-lets-remember-that-extraordinary-claims-need-extraordinary-evidence/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0100 Several recent scientific findings, including signs of life on an exoplanet and 'de-extinction' of the dire wolf have caused a stir but when a claim seems too good to be true it probably is mg26635412-800-lets-remember-that-extraordinary-claims-need-extraordinary-evidence|2478263 Should you water your orchid with ice cubes? /article/mg26635400-900-should-you-water-your-orchid-with-ice-cubes/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 23 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0100 There's a fierce debate raging in the horticulture world over whether adding ice cubes to your orchid is beneficial or damaging for this tropical plant. James Wong investigates mg26635400-900-should-you-water-your-orchid-with-ice-cubes|2477146 Can a strange state of matter explain what life is – and how it began? /article/mg26635401-500-can-a-strange-state-of-matter-explain-what-life-is-and-how-it-began/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 22 Apr 2025 17:00:00 +0100 Laboratory experiments have coaxed simple molecules into states that naturally become more complex, hinting at the origins of evolution itself mg26635401-500-can-a-strange-state-of-matter-explain-what-life-is-and-how-it-began|2477153 Chronicling nature activism in a coastal corner of India /article/mg26635400-700-chronicling-nature-activism-in-a-coastal-corner-of-india/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 23 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0100 Intertidal is Yuvan Aves's extraordinary, personal exploration of the rich wildlife offsetting the urbanity of Chennai, India. While its focus is a small strip of Indian coast, its issues are global mg26635400-700-chronicling-nature-activism-in-a-coastal-corner-of-india|2477134 'Bone collector' caterpillar wears dead insect body parts as disguise /article/2477925-bone-collector-caterpillar-wears-dead-insect-body-parts-as-disguise/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 24 Apr 2025 20:00:52 +0100 A carnivorous caterpillar species camouflages itself with dead insects so it can live safely alongside spiders, stalking their webs and stealing their prey 2477925-bone-collector-caterpillar-wears-dead-insect-body-parts-as-disguise|2477925 Oldest ant fossil ever found shows how ants took over the world /article/2477845-oldest-ant-fossil-ever-found-shows-how-ants-took-over-the-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 24 Apr 2025 17:00:28 +0100 A fossilised 113-million-year-old hell ant from Brazil adds to the evidence that the first ants evolved in the southern hemisphere before moving north – and beyond 2477845-oldest-ant-fossil-ever-found-shows-how-ants-took-over-the-world|2477845 Dire wolf 'de-extinction' criticised by conservation group /article/2477747-dire-wolf-de-extinction-criticised-by-conservation-group/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 23 Apr 2025 17:51:15 +0100 The attempted creation of dire wolves could undermine conservation efforts by making people think extinct species can be revived, says the International Union for Conservation of Nature 2477747-dire-wolf-de-extinction-criticised-by-conservation-group|2477747 Bats that walk backwards have developed unusual navigation strategy /article/2477402-bats-that-walk-backwards-have-developed-unusual-navigation-strategy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 23 Apr 2025 13:00:57 +0100 Greater mouse-tailed bats crawl backwards over cave walls, and it seems they use their long tails to help feel their way 2477402-bats-that-walk-backwards-have-developed-unusual-navigation-strategy|2477402 Giant coral colony discovered in Red Sea tourism hotspot /article/2477277-giant-coral-colony-discovered-in-red-sea-tourism-hotspot/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 22 Apr 2025 19:00:32 +0100 A huge colony of Pavona coral near the coast of Saudi Arabia is thought to be the largest living example found in the Red Sea 2477277-giant-coral-colony-discovered-in-red-sea-tourism-hotspot|2477277 Stone Age dog skeleton hints at complex early relationship with pets /article/2477380-stone-age-dog-skeleton-hints-at-complex-early-relationship-with-pets/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 21 Apr 2025 11:00:40 +0100 A nearly complete skeleton found in a cave in France belonged to a group known as the Palaeolithic dogs and its skeleton suggests it had a confusing relationship with humans 2477380-stone-age-dog-skeleton-hints-at-complex-early-relationship-with-pets|2477380 Images capture the timeless beauty of America's ancient forests /article/mg26635390-600-images-capture-the-timeless-beauty-of-americas-ancient-forests/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 16 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0100 Photographer Mitch Epstein's years-long project highlights the majesty and vulnerability of old growth forests across the US mg26635390-600-images-capture-the-timeless-beauty-of-americas-ancient-forests|2476250 Living material made from fungus could make buildings more sustainable /article/2476888-living-material-made-from-fungus-could-make-buildings-more-sustainable/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:00:48 +0100 Researchers have used a fungus and bacteria to create rigid, living structures similar to bone and coral, which could one day be used as a self-repairing building material 2476888-living-material-made-from-fungus-could-make-buildings-more-sustainable|2476888 First ever confirmed image of a colossal squid in the deep ocean /article/2476783-first-ever-confirmed-image-of-a-colossal-squid-in-the-deep-ocean/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 15 Apr 2025 22:00:39 +0100 The colossal squid is the largest invertebrate on the planet, but it is also surprisingly elusive. An image of a 30-centimetre-long juvenile is our first glimpse of the animal in its natural habitat 2476783-first-ever-confirmed-image-of-a-colossal-squid-in-the-deep-ocean|2476783 Puppy intelligence tests can predict how dogs will turn out as adults /article/2476398-puppy-intelligence-tests-can-predict-how-dogs-will-turn-out-as-adults/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 14 Apr 2025 18:00:49 +0100 Puppies’ performance in cognitive tests at 3 to 7 months old can give a strong indication of their personalities and trainability as adults 2476398-puppy-intelligence-tests-can-predict-how-dogs-will-turn-out-as-adults|2476398 What the surprising lives of solitary animals reveal about us /article/mg26635380-100-what-the-surprising-lives-of-solitary-animals-reveal-about-us/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 09 Apr 2025 17:30:00 +0100 A new understanding of why some animals evolved to be loners, and the benefits that brings, shows that a social lifestyle isn’t necessarily superior mg26635380-100-what-the-surprising-lives-of-solitary-animals-reveal-about-us|2474981 Dolphins are dying from toxic chemicals banned since the 1980s /article/2476080-dolphins-are-dying-from-toxic-chemicals-banned-since-the-1980s/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 11 Apr 2025 11:00:33 +0100 Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are commonly found in the bodies of short-beaked common dolphins that get stranded on UK beaches, and are linked to the animals’ risk of infectious diseases 2476080-dolphins-are-dying-from-toxic-chemicals-banned-since-the-1980s|2476080 Rethink of fossils hints dinosaurs still thrived before asteroid hit /article/2475463-rethink-of-fossils-hints-dinosaurs-still-thrived-before-asteroid-hit/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 08 Apr 2025 17:00:20 +0100 The number of dinosaurs may have been stable before the asteroid impact, despite evidence that species were getting less diverse 2475463-rethink-of-fossils-hints-dinosaurs-still-thrived-before-asteroid-hit|2475463 No, the dire wolf has not been brought back from extinction /article/2475407-no-the-dire-wolf-has-not-been-brought-back-from-extinction/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 07 Apr 2025 20:45:32 +0100 Colossal Biosciences claims three pups born recently are dire wolves, but they are actually grey wolves with genetic edits intended to make them resemble the lost species 2475407-no-the-dire-wolf-has-not-been-brought-back-from-extinction|2475407 The animals revealing why human culture isn't as special as we thought /article/mg26635374-000-the-animals-revealing-why-human-culture-isnt-as-special-as-we-thought/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 01 Apr 2025 17:00:00 +0100 Even animals with very small brains turn out to have cultural traditions, which poses a puzzler for biologists wondering what makes human culture unique mg26635374-000-the-animals-revealing-why-human-culture-isnt-as-special-as-we-thought|2474490 Cannibal spiders have strange trick to stop their siblings eating them /article/2475097-cannibal-spiders-have-strange-trick-to-stop-their-siblings-eating-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 04 Apr 2025 21:00:27 +0100 A spider species eat their siblings as soon as they die but tolerate each other when they are alive, suggesting a mysterious signal helps them to determine when to dine on a nest mate 2475097-cannibal-spiders-have-strange-trick-to-stop-their-siblings-eating-them|2475097 Largest ever US honeybee die-off has destroyed 1.6 million colonies /article/2475203-largest-ever-us-honeybee-die-off-has-destroyed-1-6-million-colonies/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 04 Apr 2025 20:00:29 +0100 Beekeepers often experience some seasonal losses, but this past winter, more than half of all US honeybee colonies died off, potentially the largest loss in US history 2475203-largest-ever-us-honeybee-die-off-has-destroyed-1-6-million-colonies|2475203 Bonobos use a kind of syntax once thought to be unique to humans /article/2474993-bonobos-use-a-kind-of-syntax-once-thought-to-be-unique-to-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 03 Apr 2025 20:00:06 +0100 The way bonobos combine vocal sounds to create new meanings suggests the evolutionary building blocks of human language are shared with our closest relatives 2474993-bonobos-use-a-kind-of-syntax-once-thought-to-be-unique-to-humans|2474993 Plant skin grafts could result in new kinds of vegetables /article/2474681-plant-skin-grafts-could-result-in-new-kinds-of-vegetables/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:00:26 +0100 A company in the Netherlands says it has perfected a way to create "graft chimeras" with the skin of one plant and the innards of another 2474681-plant-skin-grafts-could-result-in-new-kinds-of-vegetables|2474681 Monkeys use crafty techniques to get junk food from tourists /article/2474184-monkeys-use-crafty-techniques-to-get-junk-food-from-tourists/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 01 Apr 2025 13:02:32 +0100 At the Dakshineswar temple complex in India, Hanuman langurs beg for food by grabbing visitors’ legs or tugging on their clothes – and they don’t stop until they get their favourite snacks 2474184-monkeys-use-crafty-techniques-to-get-junk-food-from-tourists|2474184 Cave spiders use their webs in a way that hasn't been seen before /article/2474403-cave-spiders-use-their-webs-in-a-way-that-hasnt-been-seen-before/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 31 Mar 2025 18:00:13 +0100 Cave-dwelling orb spiders have adapted their webs so they act as tripwires for prey that crawl on the walls of the caves 2474403-cave-spiders-use-their-webs-in-a-way-that-hasnt-been-seen-before|2474403 Stunning new animated series tells the story of a cure-all mushroom /article/mg26535360-600-stunning-new-animated-series-tells-the-story-of-a-cure-all-mushroom/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 26 Mar 2025 18:00:00 +0000 A naturalist finds a hallucinogenic mushroom with the power to cure all ailments in the animated series Common Side Effects. Big Pharma is hot on his trail in this beautifully made show, says Bethan Ackerley mg26535360-600-stunning-new-animated-series-tells-the-story-of-a-cure-all-mushroom|2473209 The anus may have evolved from a hole originally used to release sperm /article/2473713-the-anus-may-have-evolved-from-a-hole-originally-used-to-release-sperm/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 28 Mar 2025 13:00:29 +0000 The long-standing question of how animals came to have an anus may have been solved by studies of which genes are active during development in various animals 2473713-the-anus-may-have-evolved-from-a-hole-originally-used-to-release-sperm|2473713 Camera trap spots endangered elephant mother and calf on the move /article/mg26535360-200-camera-trap-spots-endangered-elephant-mother-and-calf-on-the-move/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 26 Mar 2025 18:00:00 +0000 A weatherproof box and motion-trigger camera help photographer Will Burrard-Lucas capture images of rarely seen African elephants mg26535360-200-camera-trap-spots-endangered-elephant-mother-and-calf-on-the-move|2473205 Ancient wasp may have used its rear end to trap flies /article/2473810-ancient-wasp-may-have-used-its-rear-end-to-trap-flies/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 27 Mar 2025 01:00:48 +0000 Bizarre parasitic wasps preserved in amber about 99 million years ago had trap-like abdomens that they may have used to immobilise other insects 2473810-ancient-wasp-may-have-used-its-rear-end-to-trap-flies|2473810 Why do giraffes have spots? Not for the reason you might think /article/2473915-why-do-giraffes-have-spots-not-for-the-reason-you-might-think/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:00:25 +0000 The size and shape of a giraffe’s spots seem to influence how well the animals survive when temperatures get hotter or colder than normal 2473915-why-do-giraffes-have-spots-not-for-the-reason-you-might-think|2473915 Sharks aren’t silent after all /article/2473690-sharks-arent-silent-after-all/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 25 Mar 2025 23:01:29 +0000 A species of houndshark called Mustelus lenticulatus makes sharp clicking noises when handled. Until now, sharks as a group were thought to be universally quiet 2473690-sharks-arent-silent-after-all|2473690 Bizarre fossil may have been an entirely new type of life /article/2473272-bizarre-fossil-may-have-been-an-entirely-new-type-of-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:00:26 +0000 Chemical analysis suggests the 400-million-year-old fossil Prototaxites was neither plant, animal or fungus – hinting at a mysterious life form that went extinct long ago 2473272-bizarre-fossil-may-have-been-an-entirely-new-type-of-life|2473272 Why you don't need to worry about 'over-potting' your plants /article/mg26535350-800-why-you-dont-need-to-worry-about-over-potting-your-plants/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 19 Mar 2025 18:00:00 +0000 Traditional advice tells us to only move growing plants to a pot one size larger. The science shows that you don't need to bother with this slow transition, says James Wong mg26535350-800-why-you-dont-need-to-worry-about-over-potting-your-plants|2472359 What the extraordinary medical know-how of wild animals can teach us /article/mg26535350-700-what-the-extraordinary-medical-know-how-of-wild-animals-can-teach-us/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:00:00 +0000 Birds do it, chimps do it, even monarch butterflies do it – and by paying more attention to how animals self-medicate, we can find new treatments for ourselves mg26535350-700-what-the-extraordinary-medical-know-how-of-wild-animals-can-teach-us|2472358 Monkeys choose babysitters based on who has more parenting experience /article/2473124-monkeys-choose-babysitters-based-on-who-has-more-parenting-experience/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:00:54 +0000 Young female black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys often want to hold other females’ infants, but mothers are much more permissive of experienced caregivers 2473124-monkeys-choose-babysitters-based-on-who-has-more-parenting-experience|2473124 Two-fingered dinosaur used its enormous claws to eat leaves /article/2473027-two-fingered-dinosaur-used-its-enormous-claws-to-eat-leaves/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:00:41 +0000 A dinosaur fossil discovered in Mongolia boasts the largest ever complete claw, but the herbivorous species only used it to grasp vegetation 2473027-two-fingered-dinosaur-used-its-enormous-claws-to-eat-leaves|2473027 Budgie brains have a map of vocal sounds just like humans /article/2472913-budgie-brains-have-a-map-of-vocal-sounds-just-like-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 19 Mar 2025 16:00:32 +0000 Recordings of brain activity in budgerigars reveal sets of brain cells that represent different sounds like keys on a keyboard – a structure never seen before in any bird brain 2472913-budgie-brains-have-a-map-of-vocal-sounds-just-like-humans|2472913 The surprising new idea behind what sparked life on Earth /article/2472382-the-surprising-new-idea-behind-what-sparked-life-on-earth/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 14 Mar 2025 18:00:49 +0000 We may be starting to get a grasp on what kick-started life on Earth – and it could help us search for it on other planets 2472382-the-surprising-new-idea-behind-what-sparked-life-on-earth|2472382 We may have discovered how dark oxygen is being made in the deep sea /article/2472416-we-may-have-discovered-how-dark-oxygen-is-being-made-in-the-deep-sea/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 14 Mar 2025 17:00:02 +0000 A newly discovered mechanism could explain the shock finding last year that oxygen is produced by metallic nodules on the seafloor – and it might be happening on other planets, too 2472416-we-may-have-discovered-how-dark-oxygen-is-being-made-in-the-deep-sea|2472416 Fossils reveal what the fur of early mammals looked like /article/2472027-fossils-reveal-what-the-fur-of-early-mammals-looked-like/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:00:46 +0000 A study of the fossilised fur of six mammals from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods has found they were all greyish-brown in colour, which would have helped them hide from dinosaurs 2472027-fossils-reveal-what-the-fur-of-early-mammals-looked-like|2472027 Dozens of dinosaur footprints found in rock at Australian school /article/2471777-dozens-of-dinosaur-footprints-found-in-rock-at-australian-school/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 12 Mar 2025 10:53:12 +0000 Palaeontologists have discovered 66 three-toed dinosaur footprints in a slab of rock that has been on display for 20 years at a school in Queensland 2471777-dozens-of-dinosaur-footprints-found-in-rock-at-australian-school|2471777 H5N1 flu is now killing birds on the continent of Antarctica /article/2471611-h5n1-flu-is-now-killing-birds-on-the-continent-of-antarctica/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 11 Mar 2025 14:03:54 +0000 A highly pathogenic strain of bird flu is spreading south along the Antarctic Peninsula and could devastate populations of penguins and other seabirds 2471611-h5n1-flu-is-now-killing-birds-on-the-continent-of-antarctica|2471611 Male octopus injects female with venom during sex to avoid being eaten /article/2471120-male-octopus-injects-female-with-venom-during-sex-to-avoid-being-eaten/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 10 Mar 2025 15:00:42 +0000 Some male octopuses tend to get eaten by their sexual partners, but male blue-lined octopuses avoid this fate with help from one of nature’s most potent venoms 2471120-male-octopus-injects-female-with-venom-during-sex-to-avoid-being-eaten|2471120 Sex may have evolved as a way to pool resources during tough times /article/2470085-sex-may-have-evolved-as-a-way-to-pool-resources-during-tough-times/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 07 Mar 2025 12:00:21 +0000 How sexual reproduction came about has long been a mystery, but an evolutionary model suggests it could have started with cells fusing to increase their food reserves 2470085-sex-may-have-evolved-as-a-way-to-pool-resources-during-tough-times|2470085 The secret of how Greenland sharks can live cancer-free for 400 years /article/2470736-the-secret-of-how-greenland-sharks-can-live-cancer-free-for-400-years/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 04 Mar 2025 15:00:53 +0000 We are starting to understand how Greenland sharks can live for centuries without commonly developing tumours 2470736-the-secret-of-how-greenland-sharks-can-live-cancer-free-for-400-years|2470736 Birds' nests in Amsterdam are made up of plastic from 30 years ago /article/2470646-birds-nests-in-amsterdam-are-made-up-of-plastic-from-30-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 06 Mar 2025 15:00:19 +0000 Coots' nests in Amsterdam are built using discarded plastic, providing a time capsule into the material's use over the past few decades 2470646-birds-nests-in-amsterdam-are-made-up-of-plastic-from-30-years-ago|2470646 Chimps and bonobos relieve social tension by rubbing their genitals /article/2470794-chimps-and-bonobos-relieve-social-tension-by-rubbing-their-genitals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 05 Mar 2025 00:01:12 +0000 When competition for food is high, both chimps and bonobos sometimes rub their genitals together to cope 2470794-chimps-and-bonobos-relieve-social-tension-by-rubbing-their-genitals|2470794 Can genetically engineered 'woolly' mice help bring back the mammoth? /article/2470694-can-genetically-engineered-woolly-mice-help-bring-back-the-mammoth/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 04 Mar 2025 13:00:41 +0000 Colossal Biosciences has altered several genes in mice to make them look more mammoth-like, but the company is far from its goal of fully resurrecting woolly mammoths by 2028 2470694-can-genetically-engineered-woolly-mice-help-bring-back-the-mammoth|2470694 Permafrost mummies are unlocking the secrets of prehistory /article/mg26535320-900-permafrost-mummies-are-unlocking-the-secrets-of-prehistory/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 25 Feb 2025 16:00:00 +0000 The frozen remains of animals like mammoths, wolves and cave lions offer the most detailed picture yet of the last glacial period mg26535320-900-permafrost-mummies-are-unlocking-the-secrets-of-prehistory|2469497 Stone tools help monkeys thrive in hostile habitats /article/2470260-stone-tools-help-monkeys-thrive-in-hostile-habitats/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 28 Feb 2025 16:00:09 +0000 Golden-bellied capuchins are usually found in humid forests, but some populations appear to have adapted to life in drier habitats with the help of stone tools 2470260-stone-tools-help-monkeys-thrive-in-hostile-habitats|2470260 Incredible close-up images of insects scoop photo contest honours /article/mg26535320-300-incredible-close-up-images-of-insects-scoop-photo-contest-honours/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 26 Feb 2025 18:00:00 +0000 A “smiling” damselfly and shimmering beetle captivated judges in the Royal Entomological Society’s 2024 Photography Competition mg26535320-300-incredible-close-up-images-of-insects-scoop-photo-contest-honours|2469481 Gripping account of how plants and animals shaped each other /article/mg26535320-400-gripping-account-of-how-plants-and-animals-shaped-each-other/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 26 Feb 2025 18:00:00 +0000 Palaeontologist Riley Black is back with a thrilling guide to how animals and plants co-evolved over millennia mg26535320-400-gripping-account-of-how-plants-and-animals-shaped-each-other|2469482 How to think about the most contentious ideas in science /article/mg26535322-200-how-to-think-about-the-most-contentious-ideas-in-science/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 26 Feb 2025 18:00:00 +0000 When faced with real-life controversy over the thorniest of research topics, we can seek guidance from fiction mg26535322-200-how-to-think-about-the-most-contentious-ideas-in-science|2469836 Palaeontologist reviews the most memorable moments in dinosaur movies /video/2469779-palaeontologist-reviews-the-most-memorable-moments-in-dinosaur-movies/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:00:13 +0000 Dinosaurs have been stars in Hollywood since the earliest days of cinema, captivating audiences throughout. But just how accurate are these portrayals, especially given what we now understand about dinosaur physiology and behaviour? Palaeontologist Dave Hone at Queen Mary University of London is a big fan of dinosaur films, particularly those created using stop-motion animation … 2469779-palaeontologist-reviews-the-most-memorable-moments-in-dinosaur-movies|2469779 Black squirrels may be evolving due to roadkill in cities /article/2469771-black-squirrels-may-be-evolving-due-to-roadkill-in-cities/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 25 Feb 2025 15:00:25 +0000 Grey squirrels can actually come in black morphs, which are doing well in one US city because they're less likely to become roadkill 2469771-black-squirrels-may-be-evolving-due-to-roadkill-in-cities|2469771 Big animals have higher cancer risk – but also evolved better defences /article/2469720-big-animals-have-higher-cancer-risk-but-also-evolved-better-defences/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 24 Feb 2025 20:00:41 +0000 A comparison of 263 species supports the idea that large animals have higher rates of cancer than smaller ones. But the increase is less than expected, suggesting they have evolved ways to lower their risk 2469720-big-animals-have-higher-cancer-risk-but-also-evolved-better-defences|2469720