A team of scientists and philosophers identifies a new law of nature that governs the evolution of complex systems, including plants, animals, stars, and minerals. The law states that complex systems evolve to states of greater patterning, diversity, and complexity, regardless of whether they are living or nonliving.
SourceCarnegie Science Earth and Planets Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateOct 16, 2023
Researchers discovered early Cambrian microfossils preserving introvert musculature of cycloneuralians, a group of animals that include roundworms and horsehair worms. The preserved musculature consists of four groups of muscles, differing from basal animals in terms of topology.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateOct 10, 2023
A new study by James Stroud at Georgia Tech and Jonathan Losos at Washington University in St. Louis found that natural selection varies massively through time among four different species of anoles living together on a small island. Despite this variation, the species remained remarkably similar across the entire time period.
SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateOct 9, 2023
A long-term study by Georgia Tech's James Stroud found that natural selection varies massively through time, canceling out any stabilizing effect. Species remained remarkably similar across the entire three-year period, contradicting the idea of constant evolution.
SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 9, 2023
GoPro HERO13 Black
GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.
A study by Annika Avedik and Marcus Clauss found that hippos' prominent tusks and wide gaping mouths restrict grinding jaw movements, making chewing inefficient. This limitation may have restricted common hippos to a semi-aquatic lifestyle.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateOct 4, 2023
A team of paleontologists has discovered the oldest record of sea turtle DNA in a fossil shell from Panama's Caribbean coast. The findings, published in Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, date back approximately 6 million years to the upper Miocene Epoch.
SourceSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute·JournalJournal of Vertebrate Paleontology·DateSep 28, 2023
Researchers found a correlation between skeleton complexity and bird diversity, with less complex birds having higher species richness. Birds with more complex skeletons are more ecologically specialised, occupying fewer habitats and foraging in fewer ways, making them more vulnerable to environmental changes.
SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 25, 2023
Caribbean box jellyfish have demonstrated complex learning capabilities, including associative learning and memory formation, despite having only one thousand nerve cells. This discovery sheds new light on the evolutionary success of jellyfish and raises questions about the universality of advanced learning mechanisms in animals.
SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 22, 2023
A new study has found that bats' extraordinary ability to host and survive infections may be linked to their low cancer rates. Researchers sequenced the genomes of two bat species and compared them to other mammals, discovering genetic adaptations that allow bats to tolerate viral infections.
SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalGenome Biology and Evolution·TypeContent analysis·DateSep 20, 2023
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
A 455-million-year-old fossil fish provides a new perspective on how vertebrates evolved to protect their brains. The ancient jawless fish has a unique skull with separate cartilages encasing the brain, filling a gap in the evolutionary history of the vertebrate skull.
SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature·DateSep 20, 2023
Researchers found that specialized placozoan cells share similarities with neurons and may have given rise to them in more complex animals. The study sheds light on the evolution of neurons, focusing on the unique characteristics of these ancient creatures.
SourceCenter for Genomic Regulation·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 19, 2023
A new study reveals that long-lived lakes played a crucial role in the evolutionary history of freshwater snails. These ancient ecosystems allowed species to 'experiment' over millions of years, resulting in unique morphological changes and special ecological adaptations.
SourceStaatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns·JournalBiological Reviews·DateSep 14, 2023
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.
A recent study classified clubmosses into seven primary clades and nineteen genera, with twelve newly described genera. This classification offers advantages for analysis, communication, and conservation of these ancient vascular plants.
SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalPlant Diversity·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 13, 2023
A new study by Flinders University researchers has discovered an ancient relative of the koala, Lumakoala blackae, which lived around 25 million years ago. The discovery fills a 30-million-year-old gap in Australian marsupial evolution and provides insights into the early evolution of diprotodontian mammals.
SourceFlinders University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateSep 6, 2023
A new species, Fujianvenator prodigiosus, exhibits a bizarre assembly of morphologies shared with other avialans, troodontids, and dromaeosaurids. The discovery provides insight into the early evolution of birds and their ecological adaptations.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature·DateSep 6, 2023
A study by Dartmouth researchers reveals that human shoulders and elbows evolved to facilitate 'downclimbing' - the process of descending from trees without dying. This adaptation allowed early humans to navigate their environment safely, gathering food and deploying tools for hunting and defense.
SourceDartmouth College·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·TypeObservational study·DateSep 5, 2023
Researchers found that over 80% of the bamboo's flowering culms did not produce viable seeds, indicating a lack of sexual regeneration via germination. This may lead to widespread ecological changes and loss of a valuable resource.
SourceHiroshima University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 1, 2023
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.
Research confirms the EIH hypothesis on a global scale using extensive data, showing that plants from vast, species-rich regions are most successful at naturalizing. Additionally, economic plants from these regions also show similar patterns of invasion and cultivation, suggesting interactions between biological and cultural systems.
SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateAug 31, 2023
A team of researchers from Göttingen University has identified seven new species of leaf insects, showcasing their unique camouflage abilities. The discovery highlights the importance of protecting these distinct species from extinction.
SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalZooKeys·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 28, 2023
Researchers found that mothers' social environment predicts their sons' reproductive tactics, such as sneaking or guarding females. A biased female sex ratio in the maternal generation leads to increased male-male competition, resulting in more males and intense mating behaviors.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateAug 27, 2023
Two new species of primitive carnivorous dinosaurs, belonging to the Abelisauridae family, have been discovered in Morocco. The findings suggest that dinosaurs thrived in North Africa until their mass extinction by an asteroid 66 million years ago, providing a diverse picture of African dinosaurs from the end of the age of dinosaurs.
SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalCretaceous Research·DateAug 23, 2023
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
The invasive orange pore fungus has won the third BMC Ecology and Evolution image competition, highlighting its potential threats to Australian ecosystems. The winning image depicts bright orange fruiting bodies growing on deadwood in the Australian rainforest.
SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Ecology and Evolution·DateAug 17, 2023
Proeboscideans evolved tooth changes in response to vegetation changes and climate change in East Africa. The earliest true elephants developed highly specialized high-crowned molar teeth around 7 million years ago, adapted to grass-rich diets.
Researchers at NUS and Imperial College London have discovered a new way bacteria share genes, enabling rapid evolution. Lateral cotransduction enables SaPIs to transfer themselves intact with bacterial DNA, making them potent transducing agents.
SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalCell·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 3, 2023
A study analyzing genomic data from 34 fossils, including the famous sambaquis shell mounds, found that Luzio, São Paulo's oldest skeleton, was a descendant of the ancestral population that settled the Americas at least 16,000 years ago. The research also revealed differences between coastal and inland communities, suggesting two disti...
SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateJul 31, 2023
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.
Researchers found that fork-tailed drongos use unique egg 'signatures' to identify cuckoo eggs, rejecting 93.7% of 'forgeries'. This defence mechanism may help explain why African cuckoos remain common in Africa despite high mortality rates among young birds.
SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateJul 25, 2023
Researchers discovered unprecedented snake venom resistance in caecilians, highlighting the species' ability to evolve under severe selective pressure. The study found that caecilians deployed three distinct biological methods to resist elapid snake venom, including changing receptor shape and deploying an electromagnetic 'weapon'.
SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences·DateJul 23, 2023
A team of scientists has identified an orphan gene in seahorses linked to the unique function of their brood pouch. The proline-glycine rich (pgrich) gene is expressed in flame cone cells, which are distinctive epithelial cells on the outer epithelium of the brood pouch.
SourceSophia University·JournalCell and Tissue Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 23, 2023
A new species of ancient alligator, Alligator munensis, is described from a fossilized skull in Thailand. The species is closely related to the Chinese alligator and has unique features such as a broad snout and large tooth sockets, suggesting it ate hard-shelled prey.
SourceScientific Reports·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 13, 2023
Researchers found that the annulated sea snake possesses four intact copies of the opsin gene SWS1, two with ancestral ultraviolet sensitivity and two with evolved sensitivity to longer wavelengths. This suggests that sea snakes have regained color discrimination to distinguish predators, prey, and mates in their marine habitats.
SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalGenome Biology and Evolution·TypeContent analysis·DateJul 12, 2023
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.
A new study found that larger group size and polygynous mating systems are linked to deeper male voices in primates. This sex difference is thought to influence mating success through attracting mates or intimidating competitors.
SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 10, 2023
Researchers reveal that climate adaptations played a crucial role in shaping the uneven distribution of Asian and Australian faunal representatives. The tropical climate of Indonesian islands favored species with wide climatic tolerances, allowing them to colonize New Guinea and northern Australia.
A 500-million-year-old tunicate fossil named Megasiphon thylakos has provided unprecedented insights into the early evolutionary history of this enigmatic group. The fossil's unique morphology and soft tissue preservation suggest that ancestral tunicates were stationary, filter-feeding adults with a non-moving lifestyle.
SourceHarvard University, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 6, 2023
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.
A team of researchers at Indiana University created a synthetic cell with only 493 genes, essential for life. The cell evolved rapidly over 300 days, adapting to its environment and recovering fitness lost due to genome streamlining.
Scientists at ETH Zurich and University of Geneva investigate how concentrated urea solutions react to ionizing radiation, revealing fast proton transfer that may have led to emergence of RNA and DNA. The new method allows for high temporal resolution observations of chemical reactions in liquids, relevant to understanding life's origins.
SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 28, 2023
Researchers confirm Bachman's warbler as a distinct species by sequencing its genome from museum specimens. The study reveals a new candidate gene involved in feather pigmentation in the group. Comparing the genomes of the extinct warbler with living sister species highlights the crucial role of museum collections in science.
SourcePenn State·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 23, 2023
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.
A study on the glass sponge Aphrocallistes vastus genome provides insights into silica biomineralization and its evolutionary history. The compact genome identified genes connected to mineral skeleton growth, suggesting independent development in different sponge classes.
SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateJun 22, 2023
Researchers have discovered that eukaryotes, including plants, animals, and fungi, share a common ancestor among the Asgards. The team identified a newly described order called the Hodarchaeales as the closest microbial relative to all complex life forms on the tree of life.
SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 22, 2023
A biologist at Binghamton University has developed a new method to uncover the parent species of hybrid plants and animals. By examining genomic patterns within these hybrids, researchers can identify distinct ancestries and determine the order in which chromosomes were inherited from their progenitor species.
SourceBinghamton University·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 13, 2023
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.
A new study reveals a previously unknown way the immune system detects certain viruses, including SARS-Cov-2, using the inflammasome protein CARD8. Researchers found that CARD8 functions differently among various species and even varies between individuals in the human population.
SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 8, 2023
The discovery of the Protosterol Biota, dated to at least 1.6 billion years ago, reveals a previously unknown 'lost world' of complex eukaryotes that thrived in ancient oceans and lakes. These microscopic creatures are believed to have been the first predators on Earth, playing a pivotal role in shaping ecosystems.
SourceAustralian National University·JournalNature·DateJun 7, 2023
Researchers from Japan discovered that firebrats, an old insect lineage, have a midgut epithelium derived solely from yolk cells. This finding suggests the involvement of bipolar formation likely originated in Pterygota rather than Dicondylia.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalArthropod Structure & Development·DateJun 1, 2023
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.
Researchers studied bivalve evolution during the Cambrian Explosion and found they branched out slowly compared to other groups. The study suggests that the slow start may have been due to the absence of a key adaptation, such as an enlarged gill, which allowed them to filter out plankton from water.
SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalBiology Letters·DateMay 30, 2023
A study published in PLOS Biology found that polar fish reproduce later and produce more eggs than tropical fish, confirming model predictions. As a result, polar fishes tend to produce more eggs than tropical fishes.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 25, 2023
A study suggests that river erosion can drive biodiversity in geologically quiet environments, such as the Appalachian Mountains. The research found that changing landscapes pushed a species of fish into different tributaries, leading to distinct genetic lineages.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience·DateMay 25, 2023
African spiny mice have been found to produce bone plates similar to those of armadillos, a discovery that challenges previous understanding of mammalian armor. The plates, known as osteoderms, provide protection and are distinct from scales found in other animals.
SourceFlorida Museum of Natural History·JournaliScience·DateMay 24, 2023
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.
A study by Lund University researchers reveals that visual perspective taking, a crucial social skill, originated in the dinosaur lineage around 60 million years ago. This finding challenges the prevailing view that mammals drove the evolution of complex cognition.
SourceLund University·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 22, 2023
A new spinosaurid dinosaur species, Protathlitis cinctorrensis, has been identified in Spain, revealing insights into the evolutionary history of medium-to-large bodied spinosaurids. The discovery estimates the specimen to be around 10-11 meters long and suggests that spinosaurids may have originated in Europe before migrating to Afric...
SourceScientific Reports·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 18, 2023
A study published in Nature provides clear evidence that comb jellies are the sister group to all other animals, based on the mapping of gene linkages. This finding will lay the foundation for a better understanding of animal evolution and the development of key features such as the nervous system and digestive tract.
SourceMonterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute·JournalNature·DateMay 17, 2023
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.
Researchers have identified a new group of mitochondrial viruses confined to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Glomeromycotina, which may represent an ancestral lineage of mitoviruses. These large duamitoviruses possess distinct characteristics and are globally distributed in ecological niches occupied by glomeromycotinian fungi.
SourceHokkaido University·JournalmBio·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 11, 2023
Researchers evolved single-celled snowflake yeast into massive multicellular organisms over 3,000 generations. The yeast grew larger and stronger, with novel material properties, due to a unique biomechanical mechanism of entanglement where cells wrapped around each other.
SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 10, 2023
A study from Dartmouth College found that athletes' physique is adapted to shedding or retaining heat in certain climates, affecting their performance in Ironman events. Taller, leaner runners excel in warm climates, while stockier builds fare better in colder climates.
SourceDartmouth College·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 10, 2023
A new Adelphi University study provides insights into how sauropod dinosaurs achieved their record-breaking sizes over time. Researchers found that sauropods reached their exceptional sizes early in their evolution and that with each new sauropod family to evolve, one or more lineages independently reached superlative status.
SourceAdelphi University·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 8, 2023
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.
A study by the University of Zurich found that chimpanzees understand and respond strongly to combined calls, which they use to recruit group members in threatening situations. This discovery sheds light on the potential evolutionary origins of language's compositional structure, suggesting it may be at least 6 million years old.
SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateMay 4, 2023
A multi-institutional study found that dengue virus sequences have evolved dramatically in India, with different serotypes deviating from their ancestral sequences. Dengue 2 has become more dominant across the country, while Dengue 4 is making a niche for itself in South India.
SourceIndian Institute of Science (IISc)·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateMay 1, 2023
Researchers have created a new manual to study human diseases, using evolutionary genomics to analyze genetic risk. The manual reveals the importance of highly constrained genes that unite mammals, providing insights into neurological disorders and psychiatric conditions.
SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalScience·DateApr 27, 2023
Researchers at Lund University studied green algae in Swedish lakes to understand how multicellularity evolved. They found that multicellular groups form as a by-product of single-celled strategies to reduce environmental stress, challenging the idea that multicellularity is inherently beneficial.
SourceLund University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateApr 24, 2023
A new study on nematode worms reveals that they react to cannabinoids in the same way as humans, increasing hunger for favorite foods and decreasing hunger for non-favored foods. The discovery emphasizes the commonality of cannabinoid effects across species.
SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 20, 2023
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.
The study reveals that the African penguin's geographical range has shrunk significantly over the past 22,000 years due to rising sea levels, leaving only a few small islands as suitable nesting habitats. This decline has been exacerbated by human pressures such as climate change, habitat destruction, and competition for food.
SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalAfrican Journal of Marine Science·DateApr 20, 2023
Research reveals eastern wolves are genetically distinct from grey wolves and coyotes, suggesting a separate evolutionary origin around 67,000 years ago. The study also indicates hybridization between coyotes and eastern wolves has occurred at least twice, in the Great Lakes region.
SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·TypeSystematic review·DateApr 13, 2023