Long-fingered bats that normally have an exclusively insect-based diet may catch fish in certain regions, a new study found. Researchers studied two groups of long-fingered bats – those known to catch fish and others that were exclusively insectivorous – to see their reactions to insect-like and fish-like prey. Although both groups could attack the fish-like […]
Biological pacemakers out of stem cells 
The sinoatrial node (SAN) is the heart’s primary pacemaker. The failure of its functions causes multiple cardiac problems, such as a lower heart rate and decreased blood circulation. These issues are typically addressed with a mechanical pacemaker. But a new study describes how a biological pacemaker can be developed out of pluripotent stem cells. Such […]
Shape of bird wings determines their habitat
Flying might give birds more mobility and freedom than some animals on the ground, but a new study shows the extent of that freedom is determined by the bird’s wing shape. Long pointy wings allow their owners to travel longer distances, while shorter, rounder wings restrict the birds’ habitat to a smaller area. Additionally, the […]
Mummy DNA shows origins of smallpox more recent than initially thought
Prevalent theories place the origin of the deadly smallpox virus in ancient Egypt, India and China. But a recent analysis of smallpox DNA from a 17th-century mummy tells a different story. Researchers compared the strain with its modern variants, dating up to 1970s, and discovered evidence that the evolution of the modern form of virus […]
As levels of sea-ice decline, so do polar bear populations
The Arctic sea-ice is vital to polar bears’ hunting and breeding habits. So it comes as no surprise that the decline in sea-ice as a result of anthropogenic climate change has a great effect on the polar bear populations. An international team of researchers further demonstrated this vital relationship by calculating probability in population decrease […]
Baby soothers shown to contain harmful BPA compounds
Endocrine-disrupting compounds, such as BPA, parabens, and some antimicrobials, have been shown to negatively influence hormones and produce harmful developmental effects. As such, these compounds have been banned from most baby products, such as sippy cups and baby bottles. But a new study recently found BPA, as well as other parabel and antimicrobial compounds, in […]
Our brains are wired to figure out social rank
New fMRI data shows specific brain mechanisms are involved in finding out who’s boss. In the study, subjects were asked to determine social hierarchy at a fictional organization by observing and evaluating interactions between pairs of employees. The participants also determined social rank both for a company they’d supposedly work for, or that which employs […]
Sleep deprivation makes for dangerous drivers
Drivers receive plenty of warning against getting behind the wheel while tired, but a recent study shows just how detrimental lack of sleep can be to traffic safety. Drivers who get less than four hours of sleep per night are 11.5 times more likely to crash than those who sleep for the recommended duration of […]
Syrian community the first to domesticate cereals – 11,000 years ago
Oldest evidence for domestication of three types of cereal – barley, spelt and farrow – was recently found at an archaeological site in Syria. Researhers say Neolithic Syrians were the first to gather wild cereals and attempt to domesticate them. They collected wild cereal grains, sowed them in autumn and harvested grain crops in late […]
Feathered dinosaur tail discovered in a piece of amber
Scientific discoveries often come from unexpected places – like a Myanmar amber market, which is where a researcher from Dexu Institute of Palaeontology found an item that offers unique insights into feather evolution in dinosaurs. Browsing through the goods of an amber vendor, researcher Lida Xing found what turned out to be a part of […]
Bird feeders, nests, predators and the complex relationship in bird-human environments
Are bird feeders helpful or harmful for your neighborhood’s birds? Recent study shows that the answer to that question is more complex than a simple “yes” or “no”. The four-year study analyzed connections between songbird nests, bird feeders, and predators in Columbus, Ohio. Results varied: for example, in neighborhoods with large crow populations, bird feeders […]
Seafood consumption 15 times higher in Indigenous communities than national average
For the first time ever, a global analysis has the numbers to demonstrate the importance of seafood to the diet and culture of Indigenous people. Authors estimate that members of coastal Indigenous communities, on average, consume 15 times more seafood per person than non-Indigenous people in the same country. The study collected data from 1900 […]
Exploring the 1430s, the coldest decade of the millennium
Many of the 1430s winters and some springs were extremely cold in several parts of Europe. Researchers analyzed climate archives to reconstruct the climate at the time and figure out its impact on societies. The climate models showed that the harsh conditions were due to natural variations in the climate system, a combination of natural factors […]
‘Lucy’ may have been an avid tree climber, bone analysis suggests
New study gives insight into the lifestyles of early humans – with the help of ‘Lucy’, the famous 3.18 million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis fossil discovered in Africa. Bone analysis of Lucy’s upper arm and upper leg bones reveals that the relative strength of the Australopithecus limbs was between that of humans and chimpanzees. These findings also […]
What it takes to fly: Sparrows’ muscles change to prepare for migration
Evolution might give some birds a much-needed boost for long-distance migrations, a new study suggests. Every year in spring, white-crowned sparrows complete a long journey from their wintering spots to summer breeding grounds. Researchers analyzed a chain of proteins in the sparrows’ muscles during wintering and after the arrival to the late-spring breeding spot. Their […]
A good night’s sleep can make it harder to suppress negative memories
Sleep to forget? Apparently not, when it comes to negatively charged memories you’re actively trying to suppress. New research found that negative associations were easier to recall after a good night’s sleep, even if the individual has been actively trying to suppress those memories. In the study, subjects were given memory suppression tasks which involved […]
