Researchers propose that fireside storytelling was critical to the evolution of sophisticated language, allowing humans to extend social time and create a deep sense of social connection. The unique properties of firelight, including its flickering and infra-red emission, may have played a key role in this process.
Researchers recorded a bycatch event of harbour porpoises entangled in a fishing net, gaining unprecedented insight into their behaviour. The incident showed the animals could avoid nets but made a rare mistake, leading to entanglement.
Researchers discovered that sperm whales release gas bubbles to regulate their buoyancy while resting in a unique vertical position just below the ocean surface. This behavior allows them to counteract expanding diving gas and achieve near-neutral buoyancy.
A groundbreaking study quantified CO2 emissions from acid mine drainage neutralization in metal mining, finding it releases a similar amount of CO2 as conventional copper production. The long-term impact is concerning, as the process can continue for centuries, making it a significant challenge for decarbonizing the industry.
A team of astronomers used the James Webb Space Telescope to study the exoplanet WD 1856 b and its unusual orbit around a white dwarf. The research found that the planet is significantly warmer than expected, with a temperature of about 400 Kelvins, indicating it must have been heated in the past.
Researchers captured cultural evolution of new dialects in sperm whales living in eastern Mediterranean. Whales developed a new form of vocal dialect used by western basin animals, showing progressive occupation from west to east.
A new global study reveals a strong link between decreasing local prevalence of species and higher global extinction risk, using the comprehensive BioTIME database. The analysis found that complex links exist between local temporal trends and extinction risk categories, highlighting the importance of assemblage-level monitoring in cons...
Researchers discovered that male katydids' leafy structures not only conceal themselves but also enhance the attractiveness of their acoustic signals to females. This synergy allows males to increase their reproductive success while minimizing predation risks.
Researchers precisely dated an eruption from Newberry Volcano, discovering its ash spread over 5,000 km globally, posing significant risks. The study highlights the importance of understanding past eruptions and their hazards for disaster response management.
Researchers at the University of St Andrews have confirmed that sperm whales engage in headbutting behavior, using their heads to push and strike objects, including ships. The study, published in Marine Mammal Science, shows that sub-adult whales are involved in this activity, challenging previous hypotheses about its function.
Researchers found that as humpback whale populations recovered from whaling, the age structure shifted towards a more even distribution among older and younger males. Older males became increasingly successful at siring offspring compared to younger males, suggesting they need time to refine their singing and competitive tactics.
Researchers have discovered a crucial pattern of gene evolution that appears significant for the origin and diversification of vertebrates. The study found diverse protein variations in sea squirts, lampreys, and frogs, which shed light on how animals with backbones evolved.
Researchers found that the spread of group bubble-net feeding amongst humpback whales is crucial to the success of the population's ongoing recovery. The technique has been seen in Alaskan waters and is now spreading into the Canadian Pacific population, likely due to immigrant whales bringing the knowledge with them.
Researchers from the University of St. Andrews have developed an AI tool called PoseR that reads animal movement from video and provides clear, human-readable descriptions. This breakthrough removes a bottleneck in neuroscience, psychology, and biology, enabling larger, faster, and more reproducible studies.
Scientists at the University of St Andrews have discovered a long-elusive molecular 'reshuffle,' unlocking an 80-year-old chemical puzzle. This breakthrough tackles one of chemistry's most persistent challenges, enabling faster, cleaner, and more selective ways to manufacture complex molecules with a single handedness.
Researchers at the University of St. Andrews have discovered a way to turn household PET waste into the building block for anti-cancer drugs through a ruthenium-catalysed semi-hydrogenation process. This breakthrough offers substantial environmental benefits and has potential to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
Research from the University of St Andrews found that increases in women's parliamentary representation are related to enhanced public trust in national parliament. The study, which analyzed data from 107 countries, suggests that broad representation within parliament drives trust-building effects.
Researchers created comprehensive maps of grey and harbour seal distributions in Northwest Europe, encompassing most seal populations on the continental shelf. The study found that seals routinely cross international borders while foraging at sea, often overlooked in environmental impact assessments.
New research from the University of St Andrews discovered a direct causal effect between social isolation and faster cognitive decline in later life. Reducing social isolation has a protective effect on cognitive function for all subpopulations, regardless of gender, race, or educational level.
Researchers from the University of St. Andrews have discovered how Incas used Andean balance scales and ancient string knot writing known as 'khipus' to achieve balance and harmony in their society. These scales were tied to notions of wellbeing that prioritized balance in social, economic, and moral affairs.
A new study found that Critically Endangered African penguins are more likely to forage in areas with commercial fishing vessels during years of low fish abundance, increasing competition and pressure on the species. The research introduces a novel metric called
New research reveals that oceanic upwelling systems amplify acidification, posing existential threats to fisheries and coastal economies. The study used historic coral samples and regional ocean models to predict future changes.
Scientists at the University of St Andrews propose that solar flare ions reach over 60 million degrees, contradicting the long-held assumption of equal ion and electron temperatures. This discovery could provide an unexpected solution to a decades-long astrophysics mystery about the enigmatic line widths of solar flare spectra.
Researchers found that African apes regularly 'scrump' fermented fruits from the forest floor, which explains their ability to digest alcohol efficiently. This behavior may also influence social relationships in other apes.
Researchers at the Organic Semiconductor Centre have proposed a new approach to designing efficient light-emitting materials. The guidelines developed by the team will help OLED researchers develop materials that maintain high efficiency at high brightness, enabling brighter, more colourful displays and lighting.
A recent experiment found that increasing knowledge of PAYG pension systems and demographic trends improves attitudes toward migrants only for those who don't support populist parties. The study aimed to understand the relationship between education and xenophobia in Italy and Spain.
Africa's birds of prey are experiencing unprecedented declines, with nearly 90% of 42 species examined declining in population. The study highlights the need for strengthened protection of natural habitats to mitigate these threats.
A mathematical framework for evo-devo dynamics integrates age progression, explicit development, and evolutionary dynamics to describe the evolution of developmental phenotypes. The framework recovers evolutionary dynamic equations in gradient form, showing that genotypic and phenotypic evolution must be followed simultaneously.
Scientists at the University of St Andrews have developed an electrically driven organic semiconductor laser, overcoming a decades-long challenge. This breakthrough has significant implications for various industries, including communication, medicine, and manufacturing.
A new study reveals that a massive galaxy cluster collision at half the Universe's current age is inconsistent with the standard Lambda-cold dark matter (ΛCDM) model. The El Gordo cluster, with a mass 2000 trillion times that of the Sun, challenges the theory's predictions for structure formation and galaxy evolution.
Researchers have developed a new way to improve image contrast at depth using spatially offset optical coherence tomography, enabling better diagnosis of diseases such as cancer and eye disorders. This breakthrough could lead to significant advancements in biomedical imaging.
Researchers at the University of St Andrews have developed an anti-biofilm cyclic peptide that targets a secreted aminopeptidase from P. aeruginosa, offering a novel strategy to combat bacterial biofilms and improve treatment of infections.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that a heart injury biomarker, cardiac troponin, can identify low-risk COVID-19 patients who have normal troponin levels, potentially helping doctors send them home safely. The study suggests that elevated troponin levels may not accurately predict individual patient risk of death.
Scientists have developed a way to modify OLED emission spectra without sacrificing efficiency, enabling greater colour saturation and brightness. The new technology utilises strong coupling between light and matter to create hybrid polariton particles, improving colour purity and stability.
A new AI model developed by St Andrews researchers can accurately classify endometrial biopsy whole slide images as malignant or benign, allowing pathologists to prioritize their workload and reduce diagnosis time. The final model achieved 97% accuracy in detecting malignant slides and 90% accuracy overall.
Conflicts between divergent goals can continue indefinitely through evolutionary time, causing devastating damage to complex organisms and social structures. Modular design is a crucial enabler of complex adaptation and transformative changes in social organisation.
Researchers discovered that wild chimpanzees exhibit facial similarities with their family members, especially as they age. The study found that adult chimpanzees were the easiest to match, while younger infants and males were more challenging, suggesting different pressures on biological family resemblance in these species.
Researchers observed chimpanzees exhibiting unintentional synchronisation in their steps when walking next to each other, suggesting a shared human trait. The study found that chimps showed inter-individual coordination in walking, with 79% of cases mirroring each other's movements within 0.5 seconds.
A surge in travel activity beyond pre-pandemic levels, known as 'anthropulse', is imminent, posing risks to the environment. Researchers are eager to study and document these impacts to inform sustainable future planning.
New Caledonian crows manufacture hooked stick tools to outsmart hidden food, extracting it 2-10 times faster with improved efficiency. The study reveals that even small tool design changes can significantly boost foraging performance.
New Caledonian crows manufacture hooks from plant stems, with techniques influenced by material properties and cutting methods. Deeper hooks are more efficient, but experienced birds may avoid making them due to increased time and effort required.
Researchers observed 'striking' fickleness in male monkeys when copying the behaviour of others in new groups. The study provides rare experimental proof of cultural transmission in wild primates and sheds light on the evolution of human desire to seek out local knowledge.
A study found that humpback whales can learn new feeding techniques by observing others, with a new technique called lobtail feeding spreading to 40% of the population. This demonstrates the importance of cultural transmission in shaping whale behavior and cognition.