Life
-
Animals
Lemurs’ group size predicts social intelligence
Primates that live with many others know not to steal food when someone is watching.
-
Animals
Elephant diets changed millions of years before their teeth
The animals fed on grasses long before their molars could grind the tough plants.
By Erin Wayman -
Life
Brain cell insulators are short-timers
Limited myelin production time may make it harder to repair nerve casings damaged by multiple sclerosis.
-
Life
Cabbage circadian clocks tick even after picking
Daily cycles in vegetables help ward off hungry caterpillars.
-
Life
On the trail of a new virus
Map of MERS infection finds microbe spread through hospital dialysis units.
-
Animals
In dark fishing spiders, males’ postmating nap is permanent
Species prepares for two pairings but goes into a fatal coma after a single encounter.
By Susan Milius -
Animals
Oysters may struggle to build shells as carbon dioxide rises
Ocean acidification could hamper larvae's growth.
By Erin Wayman -
Animals
Butterflies’ tidy drinking tricks
The long tube of the insects' mouthparts is fluid friendly only at the tip.
By Susan Milius -
Life
Leprosy bacterium changed little in last millennium
Genome alterations probably not responsible for decline in disease prevalence.
-
Life
Primitive fish could nod but not shake its head
Ancient fossils reveal surprises about early vertebrate necks, abdominal muscles.
By Erin Wayman -
Animals
In the Eye of the Tiger
Global spread of Asian tiger mosquito could fuel outbreaks of tropical disease in temperate regions.
-
Life
In the real world, cheetahs rarely go all out
Famous for speed, the big cats actually rely on acceleration and maneuverability to capture prey.
By Susan Milius