Selfish daughters, not altruistic grandmothers, could explain the evolution of menopause. Surviving beyond the end of your reproductive life is a rare trait: only female humans, killer whales, and short-finned pilot whales are known to do it. The question is why? If the purpose of life is to pass on your genes, as evolutionary biologists suggest, then […]
evolution
Rattlesnakes silently shook their tails before evolving rattles
Shake, rattle and strike. It is possibly one of the most terrifying sounds in the animal kingdom, but how the rattlesnake evolved its chilling warning signal is a mystery. Now a study suggests the rattle evolved long after the tail-shaking behaviour. The evolution of the rattle has baffled scientists because, unlike other complex physical traits […]
Hawaiian crows can use sticks as tools but are nearly extinct
It’s certainly something to crow about. New Caledonian crows are known for their ingenious use of tools to get at hard-to-reach food. Now it turns out that their Hawaiian cousins are adept tool-users as well. Christian Rutz at the University of St Andrews in the UK has spent 10 years studying the New Caledonian crow […]
Smallest perching bird’s long-lost family revealed by genetics
The pygmy bushtit’s diminutive size makes it a superlative species, and it has a genus all to itself. But now genetics is showing that it’s not so special after all. The pygmy bushtit isn’t much to look at. It’s an inconspicuous dull grey, but it is absolutely tiny. So small in fact, that it is […]
Wild gorillas compose happy songs that they hum during meals
Gorillas sing and hum when eating, a discovery that could help shed light on how language evolved in early humans. Singing seems to be a way for gorillas to express contentment with their meal, as well as for the head of the family to communicate to others that it is dinner time. Read more in New Scientist.
Development Of Airplanes Is Like Biological Evolution, Engineer Says
Airplanes and birds may have followed similar pattern to increase efficiency. The development of passenger aircraft over the past century mirrors the evolution of flying animals, and shows that evolution is not just a biological phenomenon, according to a paper published today in the Journal of Applied Physics. Adrian Bejan, a mechanical engineer at Duke University […]
Fungi borrowed bacterial gene again and again
Multiple independent gene transfers gave fungi ability to colonize plant roots. A single gene from bacteria has been donated to fungi on at least 15 occasions. The discovery shows that an evolutionary shortcut once thought to be restricted to bacteria is surprisingly common in more complex, eukaryotic life. Bacteria frequently trade genes back and forth […]
Smelly microbes help hyenas to communicate
Bacteria in scent glands give information about hosts’ species, sex and reproductive state. The hordes of microbes that inhabit every nook and cranny of every animal are not just passive hitchhikers: they actively shape their hosts’ well-being and even behaviour. Now, researchers have found evidence that bacteria living in the scent glands of hyenas help […]
Amorous insects predict the weather
Changes in atmospheric pressure reduce mating in beetles, moths and aphids. People have long claimed that animals can predict the weather, for examply by curtailing their activity when rain threatens. Such theories have had little evidence to support them, but now, a team of scientists has found a concrete example: insects shy away from sex […]
Making the most of muscle oxygen
Animals have evolved a variety of ways to get oxygen under extreme conditions. Oxygen is vital for life, and animals have developed various ways to ensure they can access it under extreme conditions — deep under water, at high altitude or in times of stress. Three papers published today in Science examine the ways that different animals […]