The discovery of Synemporion keana, an extinct Hawaiian bat, reveals a second native land mammal on the islands, which coexisted with the hoary bat for thousands of years. The species' extinction is linked to human colonization and invasive non-native species.
Researchers analyze Kolponomos fossils and compare them to those of Smilodon, finding similarities in jaw structure suitable for anchoring against prey. The study suggests that Kolponomos may have used an anchor-biting strategy to pry hard-shelled invertebrates from rocks.
Researchers have observed that three years after its explosion, the brightness of a type Ia supernova continues to shine brighter than expected. This finding suggests that the powerful explosions produce an abundance of heavy cobalt, which provides an extra energy boost.
New research reveals that dodos had a brain size comparable to pigeons, suggesting moderate intelligence. The study also found an enlarged olfactory bulb in the dodo's brain, indicating a reliance on smell for navigation.
Glyptodonts likely originated less than 35 million years ago from ancestors within modern armadillo families, contradicting previous assumptions. The close relatives of glyptodonts include giant armadillos and the four-ounce pink fairy armadillo, challenging existing concepts of their distinctiveness.
Scientists discovered advanced social behavior in 100-million-year-old amber, revealing that ants and termites had sophisticated caste systems tens of millions of years earlier than thought. The fossils preserved the presence of different castes, including queen ants and workers, as well as eusocial behaviors such as combat and foraging.
The researchers' findings could lead to more effective bedbug control and development of new insecticides. The study's data also provide insights into the genetic basis of bedbug adaptation to human environments.
A new species of leech from Australia has been named Chtonobdella tanae in recognition of best-selling author Amy Tan. Using computed tomography (CT) scanning, researchers were able to describe the internal anatomy of a soft-bodied animal for the first time.
A new study found that modern birds arose in what is now South America around 90 million years ago. The research suggests that birds survived the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event and then diversified during periods of global cooling, with diversification rates increasing as the climate cooled.
Researchers used fossil galls caused by tiny wasps to reconstruct the local habitats of Southern California at the end of the last Ice Age. The study indicates that many habitats, including coniferous forests and chaparral, were present in the region between 33,000 and 44,000 years ago.
A new study on Homo naledi foot bones reveals that the species was well adapted for standing and walking on two feet but also likely comfortable climbing trees. The analysis provides insight into the skeletal form and function that may have characterized early members of our genus.
New calculations indicate that polar bears can survive on land-based food sources, such as caribou and snow goose eggs, to avoid starvation due to ice melt. The research found that these alternative food sources provide enough calories for bears to sustain themselves during extended stays on land.
New research on Smilodon fatalis reveals that the saber-toothed cat's permanent upper canines didn't fully develop until about three years of age. The growth rate was double that of an African lion's teeth, at 6 millimeters per month.
Researchers created a visual atlas and dictionary of terms for camel spider jaws, revealing a single evolutionary origin of the flagellum. The flagellum plays a crucial role in reproduction and is found on the jaws of adult males in most species.
Researchers found that scarlet macaws were persistently traded hundreds of miles north from Mesoamerica starting in the early 10th century, suggesting that social and political hierarchies may have emerged earlier than thought. The discovery changes our understanding of the development of hierarchy in Pueblo society.
Researchers have demonstrated a new technique to non-invasively survey tigers using their scent sprays, which can be detected more frequently than traditional scat. This method shows promise for genetic monitoring of tiger populations and could increase the power of conservation surveys.
New biomechanical modeling reveals complex relationships between animal diets and skull shapes, with ancestry playing a stronger role than previously thought. The study distinguishes between hypercarnivores and generalists based on specific biomechanical attributes.
A new study reveals that extinct South American ungulates are closely related to groups that also gave rise to horses and rhinos. The research uses fossil protein sequences to show that these animals are part of the Laurasiatheria group, which includes perissodactyls.
A new study has uncovered seven different species of crocodiles co-existing in the same place and time, filling gaps in understanding the Amazon's rich biodiversity. The research suggests that a peak in mollusk diversity was correlated with the rise of 'durophagous' crocodiles, which went extinct when the mega-wetlands transformed.
A new study on echinoids shows that evolutionary rates were lowest at the group's onset and increased over time through bursts associated with changes in feeding strategies. This challenges traditional views of evolution, suggesting a more complex history for many clades.
Researchers found that modern human skeletons have significantly lower bone density than other animals and even ancient ancestors. The decrease is especially pronounced in lower limbs, suggesting a link to humans' shift from foraging to agricultural lifestyles.
New radiocarbon dates reveal American mastodons only lived in the Arctic and Subarctic for a limited time around 125,000 years ago. The results indicate that mastodons suffered local extinction several tens of millennia before human colonization or climate changes at the end of the ice age.
Scientists have discovered a 52-million-year-old beetle fossil in India that showcases the earliest known example of myrmecophily, or ant-loving behavior. The beetle's unique adaptations enable it to bypass ant nest defenses and integrate into colony life.
Researchers have found that stars that oscillate at the same frequency as gravitational waves can absorb energy from those waves and brighten temporarily. This effect could provide scientists with another method to indirectly detect gravitational waves.
The discovery of three new extinct squirrel-like species confirms that mammals originated at least 208 million years ago in the late Triassic period. The findings support earlier research suggesting a common ancestor for mammals existed during this time, and provide new insights into ancient mammalian evolution.
A new study reveals that tropical bird speciation is driven by movements of birds across physical barriers, contradicting the long-held view that it's linked to geological and climate changes. The research found most speciation occurred in the Pleistocene era, long after the origin of mountain ranges.
A novel First Nations-led study uncovers a previously undocumented grizzly bear 'highway' in coastal British Columbia, revealing nearly 60 individual bears aggregated in the Koeye River. The research also provides early evidence of declining bear populations linked to salmon scarcity.
Researchers have identified a new order of marine creatures among sea anemones, revealing a giant species that is actually an imposter. The study, published in PLOS ONE, presents the first tree of life for sea anemones and reshapes scientists' understanding of these poorly understood animals.
A 325-million-year-old shark fossil has provided new insights into the evolution of jaws in vertebrates, including humans. The study suggests that living sharks are more advanced than previously thought, with internal structures similar to those found in ancient bony fishes.
A newly discovered 305-million-year-old fossil fills in the evolutionary tree for primitive harvestmen, providing evidence that they once had two pairs of eyes. This rare find allows scientists to study the anatomy of ancient arachnids in unprecedented detail.
Researchers found that red panda skulls are better at distributing mechanical stress during chewing, while giant panda skulls can withstand greater forces. These differences reflect distinct bamboo feeding preferences, with the giant panda eating harder and larger pieces of bamboo.
A new study links bioluminescence with increased species diversity in the deep sea. Fish that use light for communication are diversifying faster than those using it for camouflage. Bioluminescent signaling may be critical to diversification of fishes in the deep sea.
A team of researchers has confirmed a long-standing puzzle about the birth of massive stars, showing that dense filamentary structures absorb ultraviolet radiation and shield surrounding gas. The findings provide new insights into how massive stars form and influence their host galaxies.
Researchers found that some polar bears in the western Hudson Bay population are using flexible foraging strategies, such as prey-switching and eating plants and animals. This behavior may help them survive in a rapidly changing environment where sea ice is melting earlier and freezing later.
A team of researchers has identified more than 180 species of fish that exhibit biofluorescence, a phenomenon where organisms absorb and emit light of different colors. The study reveals the widespread distribution of biofluorescence across marine fish species, indicating its potential use in communication and mating.
Researchers uncover a wide variety of malaria parasites in West African bats, including those closely related to rodent-infecting pathogens. The study reveals two bat-infecting parasites that made evolutionary jumps from rodents into bats and then likely back again.
A new study published in Nature reveals that at least a few non-avian dinosaurs had brains as large or larger than those of Archaeopteryx, indicating they may have had the neurological hardwiring necessary for flight. This challenges the idea that Archaeopteryx was uniquely transitional between feathered dinosaurs and modern birds.
The discovery of Archicebus achilles, a 55-million-year-old primate fossil, provides insights into the early evolution of humans and apes. The tiny skeleton, weighing around 20-30 grams as an adult, suggests that the earliest primates were small, day-dwelling tree-climbers.
Researchers have captured conclusive images of green alga consuming bacteria, providing evidence for a critical step in the evolution of photosynthetic algae and land plants. The discovery sheds light on an early evolutionary event that fundamentally changed the trajectory of plant and animal evolution.
Researchers predict a massive 'greening' of the Arctic due to rising temperatures, which could lead to an acceleration of climate warming. The models suggest that tree cover could increase by up to 50% over the next few decades, resulting in significant impacts on the global ecosystem.
Researchers collected the first chemical fingerprints of a distant solar system's four red exoplanets, revealing unique spectra and peculiar characteristics. The findings suggest that the planets are too toxic and hot to sustain life as we know it.
A new study reveals slight declines in bee species in the northeastern US over a 140-year period, with only three species of bumble bees experiencing rapid population collapse. Other bee species, such as the oil bee, show more gradual declines or increases in proportion.
A new study reconstructs the common ancestor of placental mammals using 'phylophenomics,' revealing they did not diversify into present-day lineages until after the K-Pg extinction event. The study combines genomic and phenomic data, visualizing a small, insect-eating animal as their common ancestor.
A new study on the Sutter's Mill meteorite suggests that asteroid surfaces are more complex than previously thought, with a diverse mixture of rocks and minerals. The research, published in Science, used advanced imaging techniques to analyze the meteorite's mineralogy and structure, revealing unexpected diversity and complexity.
A new study reveals that duck-billed dinosaurs had six types of dental tissues, four more than reptiles, allowing for advanced grinding capacity. Their teeth functioned perfectly if put back into a living dinosaur, opening doors for studying fossilized teeth.
Two groups of blind cave fishes from Australia and Madagascar are each other's closest relatives, descending from a common ancestor separated by continental drift nearly 100 million years ago. The study identifies new species that add to existing biological evidence for the existence of Gondwana.
A team of scientists has discovered the oldest record of arthropods, including insects and mites, preserved in 100 million-year-old amber. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provide new insights into the evolution of life on Earth.
Two new species of ancient South American rodents have been discovered in the Chilean Andes, providing evidence for the earliest known grasslands. The fossils, dated to around 32.5 million years ago, show high-crowned teeth that indicate an open and dry environment.
Intermediate-mass black holes can grow in galaxy gas disks through a mechanism similar to giant planet formation. The 'runaway growth' phenomenon allows stellar black holes to swallow stars and increase their mass, potentially creating an intermediate-mass black hole.
Project 1640 has achieved unprecedented high-contrast imaging, revealing celestial objects 1 million to 10 million times fainter than the star at its center. The instrument can darken speckles far beyond any previous capability, effectively carving a dark square in the speckle background centered on the star.