Rising to power in the wake of the Classic Maya collapse, Chichén Itzá was among the largest and most influential cities of the ancient Maya, but much about its political connections and ritual life remain poorly understood. In a study in Nature, researchers discover a practice of ritual child sacrifice focused exclusively on males. Close … Read more
From ancient texts we know that—for their times—the ancient Egyptians were exceptionally skilled at medicine. For example, they could identify, describe, and treat diseases and traumatic injuries, build protheses, and put in dental fillings. Other conditions, like cancer, they couldn’t treat—but they might have tried. Examining the limits of traumatological and oncological treatments in ancient … Read more
Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine have discovered groundbreaking evidence that astrocyte receptors can have opposite effects on cognitive function in male and female preclinical models. This finding highlights the significant role of astrocytes—brain cells that support and regulate neurons—in sex-specific brain mechanisms. Traditionally, studies have focused on the behavioral effects of astrocytic receptors, predominantly in … Read more
Endocrinology is the branch of biology and medicine that deals with the study of hormones and the endocrine system. Hormones are chemical messengers produced by glands in the endocrine system, which regulate various physiological processes and maintain homeostasis in the body. The endocrine system consists of glands and organs that secrete hormones directly into the … Read more
Animal physiology is the branch of biology that focuses on understanding the biological functions and adaptations of animals, ranging from microscopic organisms to complex multicellular organisms. It encompasses a wide range of topics, including cellular processes, organ systems, homeostasis, metabolism, reproduction, behavior, and adaptations to diverse environments. By studying animal physiology, scientists gain insights into … Read more
Even though there is evidence of certain self-medication behaviors in animals, so far it has never been known that animals treat their wounds with healing plants. Now, biologists from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Germany and Universitas Nasional, Indonesia have observed this in a male Sumatran orangutan who sustained a facial wound. He … Read more
Human genetics is the branch of biology that focuses on the study of inherited traits, genetic variation, and genetic disorders in humans. It encompasses a wide range of topics, from the basics of inheritance and genetic inheritance patterns to the molecular mechanisms underlying genetic diseases. Human genetics plays a crucial role in understanding the genetic … Read more
Physiology is the branch of biology that focuses on the study of the functions and processes of living organisms and their parts. It encompasses various levels of organization, from cells and tissues to organs and organ systems, and examines how these components work together to maintain homeostasis and support life. In this discussion, we’ll delve … Read more
Heavy school bags, poor posture, one-handed sports are often blamed for the development of curved spine in teens. Known as adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), it affects those aged 10 to 19 but has no known cause. A team from Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) has now discovered that the answer to … Read more
Chimpanzees and bonobos are often thought to reflect two different sides of human nature—the conflict-ready chimpanzee versus the peaceful bonobo—but a new study published in Current Biology shows that, within their own communities, male bonobos are more frequently aggressive than male chimpanzees. For both species, more aggressive males had more mating opportunities. “Chimpanzees and bonobos … Read more
Scientists have discovered how female Diadem butterflies have evolved to look like African Queen butterflies to repel predators. African Queens are toxic, making them poor food for predators such as birds. Diadems are actually good prey for birds—but they have evolved colors and patterns that closely match those of African Queens, making them appear toxic. … Read more
When it comes to nurturing their young, mother chimpanzees go the extra mile, according to a new study. Using 10 years of observational data on wild chimpanzees, researchers found that while adults often play, and young chimps play a lot, when food gets scarce, the adults put mutual play aside and focus on survival. But … Read more
A new study by biologists at the University of Colorado reveals a surprising adaptation in dragonflies: a waxy coating that helps them thrive in hotter, drier environments. This finding, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, sheds light on how some species might be better equipped to handle climate change than previously … Read more
Scientists have discovered the specific enzyme that a species of sandfly uses to produce a pheromone attractant, which could lead to the creation of targeted traps to control them and reduce the spread of the potentially fatal disease, Leishmaniasis. The team from the University of Nottingham’s School of Chemistry analyzed the genome of the Lutzomyia … Read more
How frequent was violence in prehistoric human societies? One way to measure this is to look for trauma in prehistoric human remains. For example, a recent review of pre-Columbian remains found evidence of trauma from violence in 21% of males. So far, most studies of this kind have focused on skulls and other parts of … Read more
A widespread bacteria called Wolbachia and a virus that it carries can cause sterility in male insects by hijacking their sperm, preventing them from fertilizing eggs of females that do not have the same combination of bacteria and virus. A new study led by microbiome researchers at Penn State has uncovered how this microbial combination … Read more
The human body is colonized by a variety of different microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts and fungi. All these microbial co-inhabitants—known as the microbiome or microbiota—are important for our health: For example, the microbiome in the gut supports digestion and helps to make nutrients available. Although certain groups of bacteria dominate the human gut microbiome, … Read more
In 1934, American entomologist Elwood Zimmerman, then an undergraduate student at Berkeley, participated in the “Mangarevan expedition” to Polynesia. Among the samples he collected were three tiny (4 mm long), orange-brown solitary bees found on tahetahe flowers in the Tuamotu Archipelago. The specimens rested undisturbed in the Bernice P Bishop Museum of Honolulu until 1965 … Read more
A multinational team of animal behavior researchers has uncovered intriguing insights into the reproductive dynamics of glass frogs, shedding light on the intricate interplay between parental care and reproductive anatomy. Their groundbreaking study, published in the esteemed journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, unveils a compelling correlation between the involvement of male glass frogs … Read more