What do infants see? What do they look at? The answers to these questions are very different for the youngest babies than they are for older infants, children and adults. Characterized by a few high-contrast edges in simple patterns, these early scenes also contain the very materials needed to build a strong foundation for human … Read more
Bioluminescence first evolved in animals at least 540 million years ago in a group of marine invertebrates called octocorals, according to the results of a new study from scientists with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. The results, published April 23, in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, push back the previous record for … Read more
Imagine you find the dried-up remains of a once green and lush philodendron on your bookshelf and realize you can’t remember the last time you watered your houseplants. You soak the soil with water, hoping you can breathe life back into its desiccated husk, but it is futile. The plant has been too dehydrated for … Read more
In the ancient depths of the Early Cambrian, a groundbreaking discovery has unveiled the existence of a formidable group of aquatic predators that prowled the waters over 518 million years ago. These newly identified creatures, named Timorebestia, meaning ‘terror beasts’ in Latin, are colossal worms with distinctive features such as fins along their body, elongated … Read more
A groundbreaking discovery has been unveiled by researchers at Anhui Normal University in Wuhu, China – a new species within the hedgehog genus Mesechinus. This distinctive hedgehog species, named Mesechinus orientalis, was identified through a comprehensive analysis of morphological and phylogenetic characteristics, setting it apart from other regional hedgehogs. Published in the open-access journal ZooKeys, … Read more
Mitochondria are dynamic and vital organelles found in the cells of eukaryotic organisms, playing a central role in energy production and numerous cellular processes. These double-membraned structures are often referred to as the “powerhouses of the cell” due to their primary function of generating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cellular currency for energy. However, their significance … Read more
For more than 20 years, a research team at Lund University in Sweden has studied the common bluetail damselfly. Females occur in three different color forms—one with a male-like appearance, something that protects them from mating harassment. In a new study, an international research team found that this genetic color variation that is shared among … Read more
On May 4, 2023, a study was published in Current Biology by researchers from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, revealing the dynamics of a new, young chromosome in fruit flies that is comparable to chromosomes found in humans. This chromosome is associated with treatment-resistant cancer and infertility, and understanding it may lead to the … Read more