New Scientist - Life https://www.newscientist.com/ https://www.newscientist.com/build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png https://www.newscientist.com daily 1 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2378866-ancient-reptiles-long-necks-made-them-vulnerable-to-decapitation/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 19 Jun 2023 17:00:23 +0100 Extremely long necks probably helped ancient marine reptiles ambush prey in murky waters, but also made them easy targets for decapitation by predators 2378866-ancient-reptiles-long-necks-made-them-vulnerable-to-decapitation|2378866 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834440-800-how-a-radical-redefinition-of-life-could-help-us-find-aliens/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 19 Jun 2023 17:00:00 +0100 Sara Imari Walker, who developed Assembly Theory with chemist Lee Cronin, explains how the theory's definition of life might help us find it on other planets mg25834440-800-how-a-radical-redefinition-of-life-could-help-us-find-aliens|2378843 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834430-900-why-used-coffee-grounds-may-be-doing-your-plants-more-harm-than-good/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Jun 2023 19:00:00 +0100 We are often told to add used coffee grounds to garden soil to perk up plants. But the science doesn’t support this, says James Wong mg25834430-900-why-used-coffee-grounds-may-be-doing-your-plants-more-harm-than-good|2377907 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2377896-male-flies-are-better-at-mating-after-fighting-off-a-robotic-rival/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sat, 17 Jun 2023 09:00:02 +0100 Lab-reared insects sometimes struggle to compete for mates with wild males, but an encounter with a robotic replica seems to improve their performance 2377896-male-flies-are-better-at-mating-after-fighting-off-a-robotic-rival|2377896 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2378656-weird-stink-bug-with-forked-horns-and-tusks-discovered-in-australia/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 16 Jun 2023 12:50:41 +0100 A multicoloured stink bug found in Western Australia has forked horns for camouflage, mysterious patches of matted hair and the males have peculiar tusks that may be used to win over females 2378656-weird-stink-bug-with-forked-horns-and-tusks-discovered-in-australia|2378656 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2378570-strange-spiny-beetle-discovered-in-japan/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 16 Jun 2023 09:00:48 +0100 A new-to-science species of beetle is marked by a distinct yellow band on its shoulders, long hair-like scales all over its body and legs, and the unique shape of its torso 2378570-strange-spiny-beetle-discovered-in-japan|2378570 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2378500-reef-sharks-are-being-wiped-out-by-overfishing-so-rays-are-taking-over/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 15 Jun 2023 20:00:36 +0100 A global survey reveals that common species of coral reef shark are in sharp decline, and rays are more abundant in reefs where sharks have been depleted 2378500-reef-sharks-are-being-wiped-out-by-overfishing-so-rays-are-taking-over|2378500 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2378234-ancient-plants-leaves-didnt-follow-golden-rule-as-modern-ones-do/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 15 Jun 2023 20:00:31 +0100 Most modern plants grow leaves in a pattern that follows the Fibonacci sequence, but a reconstruction of a 400-million-year-old plant reveals that its leaves grew much more chaotically 2378234-ancient-plants-leaves-didnt-follow-golden-rule-as-modern-ones-do|2378234 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2378197-are-big-cats-like-black-panthers-and-leopards-really-roaming-the-uk/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Jun 2023 09:00:14 +0100 Despite numerous people claiming to have seen big cats in the UK, there is no hard evidence they exist 2378197-are-big-cats-like-black-panthers-and-leopards-really-roaming-the-uk|2378197 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2377854-male-harbour-seals-may-learn-vocalisations-years-before-they-need-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Jun 2023 08:00:16 +0100 Male harbour seals use vocalisations to woo females and they appear to learn these songs years before they need them 2377854-male-harbour-seals-may-learn-vocalisations-years-before-they-need-them|2377854 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2378036-extinct-lizard-was-a-bizarrely-supersized-version-of-modern-skinks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Jun 2023 01:01:41 +0100 Tiliqua frangens, a giant, armoured skink that lived over 40,000 years ago, is the latest bizarre megafauna species to be discovered in Australia 2378036-extinct-lizard-was-a-bizarrely-supersized-version-of-modern-skinks|2378036 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2378079-flies-die-sooner-if-they-see-dead-flies/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 13 Jun 2023 20:00:39 +0100 Genetic experiments have identified a small group of neurons in the brain of fruit flies that respond to the sight of fly corpses and trigger accelerated ageing 2378079-flies-die-sooner-if-they-see-dead-flies|2378079 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2378121-dehorning-may-affect-how-rhinos-interact-and-establish-territory/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 13 Jun 2023 15:39:53 +0100 Black rhinos are commonly dehorned to prevent poaching, but monitoring data suggests the practice may have an impact on their social interactions 2378121-dehorning-may-affect-how-rhinos-interact-and-establish-territory|2378121 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2377870-microbe-map-reveals-how-hundreds-of-insects-got-their-diets/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 13 Jun 2023 08:00:26 +0100 The microbes that insects harbour may have played a key role in shaping the diets and driving the diversification of insect species 2377870-microbe-map-reveals-how-hundreds-of-insects-got-their-diets|2377870 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2373850-zebrafish-produce-sunscreen-to-protect-their-embryos-from-uv-light/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 12 Jun 2023 17:22:31 +0100 Zebrafish eggs contain a compound called gadusol that acts as a sunscreen to protect the developing embryos from the sun’s rays 2373850-zebrafish-produce-sunscreen-to-protect-their-embryos-from-uv-light|2373850 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2377755-life-extending-parasite-makes-ants-live-at-least-three-times-longer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 12 Jun 2023 09:00:23 +0100 Ants infected by the parasite don't work, are cared for by uninfected workers and live much longer than usual 2377755-life-extending-parasite-makes-ants-live-at-least-three-times-longer|2377755 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2377581-alligators-create-hotspots-for-life-by-digging-holes-with-their-snouts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sun, 11 Jun 2023 10:00:50 +0100 Alligator ponds have a greater diversity and abundance of plants and animals compared with the surrounding marsh, and offer aquatic refuge in dry months 2377581-alligators-create-hotspots-for-life-by-digging-holes-with-their-snouts|2377581 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2376789-wiggly-worms-and-quantum-objects-follow-surprisingly-similar-equations/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sat, 10 Jun 2023 08:00:17 +0100 An equation developed to describe the motion of undulating animals and robots looks like the famous Schrödinger equation from quantum mechanics 2376789-wiggly-worms-and-quantum-objects-follow-surprisingly-similar-equations|2376789 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2377762-losing-a-leg-in-youth-changes-how-male-harvestmen-woo-females/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 09 Jun 2023 17:00:18 +0100 Harvestmen can shed legs when attacked by predators, but this survival tactic may have lifelong ramifications for the future sexual strategies of young males 2377762-losing-a-leg-in-youth-changes-how-male-harvestmen-woo-females|2377762 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2377527-octopuses-edit-their-own-genetic-code-to-adapt-to-colder-water/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 08 Jun 2023 17:00:09 +0100 When the temperature drops, octopuses recode their RNA in thousands of places to alter the proteins made in their nerve cells 2377527-octopuses-edit-their-own-genetic-code-to-adapt-to-colder-water|2377527 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2376806-newt-sniffing-dog-called-freya-is-helping-to-locate-elusive-amphibians/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Jun 2023 20:00:45 +0100 Great crested newts live mostly underground, so they’re tricky to find – a researcher trained her dog, Freya, to detect the threatened amphibians deep in the soil with more than 87 per cent accuracy 2376806-newt-sniffing-dog-called-freya-is-helping-to-locate-elusive-amphibians|2376806 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2377272-1-6-billion-year-old-steroids-may-be-traces-of-earliest-complex-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Jun 2023 17:00:16 +0100 Primitive steroids found in ancient Australian rocks may have been made by the earliest complex cells before they evolved into animals, plants, fungi and algae 2377272-1-6-billion-year-old-steroids-may-be-traces-of-earliest-complex-life|2377272 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2377320-male-masturbation-in-primates-evolved-to-cut-chance-of-catching-stis/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Jun 2023 14:02:07 +0100 Masturbation in male primates seems to have evolved to boost reproductive success and cut the chance of getting a sexually transmitted infection, but the picture isn’t so clear for females 2377320-male-masturbation-in-primates-evolved-to-cut-chance-of-catching-stis|2377320 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2377168-crocodiles-can-reproduce-without-males-and-maybe-dinosaurs-could-too/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Jun 2023 01:01:14 +0100 An egg laid by a female American crocodile with no access to males developed into a fully formed fetus in the first known case of "virgin birth" in a crocodilian 2377168-crocodiles-can-reproduce-without-males-and-maybe-dinosaurs-could-too|2377168 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2377074-one-off-injection-may-provide-lifetime-contraception-for-female-cats/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 06 Jun 2023 17:00:58 +0100 The long-pursued goal of a permanent, one-dose contraceptive may have been achieved in female cats and it should work in other species too 2377074-one-off-injection-may-provide-lifetime-contraception-for-female-cats|2377074 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2376827-underground-fungi-absorb-up-to-a-third-of-our-fossil-fuel-emissions/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 05 Jun 2023 17:00:22 +0100 Researchers estimate that plants transfer more than 13 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide each year to mycorrhizal fungi, which grow around their roots 2376827-underground-fungi-absorb-up-to-a-third-of-our-fossil-fuel-emissions|2376827 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2376494-weve-been-drastically-underestimating-earths-microbial-diversity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 01 Jun 2023 17:00:23 +0100 A survey of bacteria and archaea living in 99 coral reefs across the Pacific Ocean found these ecosystems may contain more microbes than current estimates for the whole planet – suggesting everywhere else on Earth does too 2376494-weve-been-drastically-underestimating-earths-microbial-diversity|2376494 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2376283-whale-shark-seen-bottom-feeding-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 01 Jun 2023 09:00:41 +0100 An ecotourism guide in Mexico filmed a whale shark gulping down material from the seabed, a behaviour that has never been observed in this species before 2376283-whale-shark-seen-bottom-feeding-for-the-first-time|2376283 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2376217-desert-ants-build-landmarks-to-help-them-find-their-way-home/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 31 May 2023 17:00:52 +0100 Desert ants construct mounds to help them navigate the featureless landscape of their Saharan home 2376217-desert-ants-build-landmarks-to-help-them-find-their-way-home|2376217 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2375560-monkeys-in-japan-lost-tooth-enamel-when-their-forest-was-destroyed/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 31 May 2023 11:00:44 +0100 Macaques living on Yakushima Island in the 1980s experienced severe enamel hypoplasia, probably caused by extreme stress resulting from human activities 2375560-monkeys-in-japan-lost-tooth-enamel-when-their-forest-was-destroyed|2375560 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2375811-migrating-bats-use-earths-magnetic-field-to-navigate-in-the-dark/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 29 May 2023 11:00:47 +0100 Soprano pipistrelles can sense the polarity and inclination of magnetic field lines, and use the position of the setting sun to calibrate their internal compass 2375811-migrating-bats-use-earths-magnetic-field-to-navigate-in-the-dark|2375811 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834400-200-how-talking-to-your-future-self-can-improve-your-health-and-happiness/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 22 May 2023 18:00:00 +0100 From meeting an older version of yourself in virtual reality to writing letters from the future, these evidence-based tricks can help you make better decisions today mg25834400-200-how-talking-to-your-future-self-can-improve-your-health-and-happiness|2374720 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2375904-a-wolf-dog-hybrid-has-been-confirmed-in-india-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sun, 28 May 2023 10:00:13 +0100 A strange canine was spotted in a pack of wolves near Pune in western India, but it stood out for its lighter coat and dog-like facial features. It was confirmed to be a wolf-dog hybrid through genetic sequencing 2375904-a-wolf-dog-hybrid-has-been-confirmed-in-india-for-the-first-time|2375904 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2375191-how-to-avoid-deer-fly-bites-according-to-science/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sat, 27 May 2023 17:00:45 +0100 An experiment with a sticky fly trap in a Canadian forest suggests you will get more deer fly bites if you walk around than if you sit still 2375191-how-to-avoid-deer-fly-bites-according-to-science|2375191 https://www.newscientist.com/article/0-see-the-hunterian-museums-weird-and-wonderful-anatomical-curiosities/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 24 May 2023 19:00:00 +0100 Open again after a five-year hiatus, the London museum, named after the 18th-century surgeon John Hunter, contains everything from a baby crocodile emerging from its egg, to a human femur 0-see-the-hunterian-museums-weird-and-wonderful-anatomical-curiosities|2375169 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2375586-ocean-fertilising-bacteria-work-together-to-adapt-to-light-levels/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 25 May 2023 20:00:10 +0100 Trichodesmium, a kind of cyanobacterium that is vital to ocean ecosystems, forms colonies that work together and change shape to get the light and nutrients the microbe needs to grow 2375586-ocean-fertilising-bacteria-work-together-to-adapt-to-light-levels|2375586 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2374875-5000-species-not-known-elsewhere-live-in-area-set-for-deep-sea-mining/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 25 May 2023 17:00:41 +0100 Thousands more species are probably waiting to be discovered in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a region of the Pacific Ocean where companies are planning to extract valuable metals 2374875-5000-species-not-known-elsewhere-live-in-area-set-for-deep-sea-mining|2374875 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2375241-wild-african-primates-have-flame-retardants-in-their-faeces/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 24 May 2023 01:01:59 +0100 Four primate species in Uganda have been found to have 97 chemical pollutants in their faeces, which are associated with hormonal changes that can disrupt development and reproduction 2375241-wild-african-primates-have-flame-retardants-in-their-faeces|2375241 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2375125-seagulls-choose-their-meals-based-on-what-people-nearby-are-eating/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 24 May 2023 01:01:23 +0100 Given a choice between two crisp packets, herring gulls pick the same colour as one a nearby human is eating from 95 per cent of the time 2375125-seagulls-choose-their-meals-based-on-what-people-nearby-are-eating|2375125 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2374769-bat-guano-has-been-sculpting-caves-in-brazil-for-thousands-of-years/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 23 May 2023 11:00:31 +0100 Due to the corrosive effect of their faeces, bats have engineered larger caves in the iron-rich earth of Carajás National Forest in Brazil, creating more stalagmites and stalactites 2374769-bat-guano-has-been-sculpting-caves-in-brazil-for-thousands-of-years|2374769 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2374745-rare-plant-turns-carnivorous-when-it-is-low-on-a-key-nutrient/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 23 May 2023 07:04:29 +0100 The West African liana Triphyophyllum peltatum can grow special leaves that trap insects, but we now know it only does this when the soil is lacking in phosphorus 2374745-rare-plant-turns-carnivorous-when-it-is-low-on-a-key-nutrient|2374745 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2374936-hundreds-of-species-new-to-science-discovered-in-south-east-asia/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 22 May 2023 17:22:35 +0100 A WWF report catalogues a cornucopia of plants and animals newly identified in the Greater Mekong region in 2021 and 2022, but many of them are endangered 2374936-hundreds-of-species-new-to-science-discovered-in-south-east-asia|2374936 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2374622-bowhead-whales-may-resist-cancer-thanks-to-superior-dna-repair-ability/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 22 May 2023 07:00:16 +0100 The cells of bowhead whales seem to be better at repairing DNA than those of humans or mice, and this may explain why they live to over 200 with low rates of cancer 2374622-bowhead-whales-may-resist-cancer-thanks-to-superior-dna-repair-ability|2374622 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2374284-ancient-mass-extinction-may-have-driven-millipedes-to-eat-meat/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sun, 21 May 2023 09:00:04 +0100 The mass extinction at the end of the Permian Period wiped out many plants. Fossils of millipedes from that era have been found alongside carcasses of mammal ancestors, suggesting that mass plant die-off may have driven them to be carnivorous 2374284-ancient-mass-extinction-may-have-driven-millipedes-to-eat-meat|2374284 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834391-500-foraging-for-wild-garlic-how-when-and-what-to-watch-out-for/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 May 2023 19:00:00 +0100 The pungent flavour of wild garlic probably evolved as a defence against herbivory, but it doesn’t deter garlic-loving humans, says Sam Wong mg25834391-500-foraging-for-wild-garlic-how-when-and-what-to-watch-out-for|2373557 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2374657-the-hunt-for-the-south-island-kokako-new-zealands-long-lost-bird/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sat, 20 May 2023 01:00:56 +0100 The last accepted sighting of the South Island kōkako was in 1967, and it was declared extinct in 2007 – but a potential sighting that same year led to its reclassification, and a charitable trust set up to find it has been searching for the bird ever since 2374657-the-hunt-for-the-south-island-kokako-new-zealands-long-lost-bird|2374657 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2374063-insects-are-thriving-in-englands-rivers-after-fall-in-metal-pollution/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 19 May 2023 10:00:48 +0100 An analysis of 30 years of monitoring data shows an upward trend in the population of insects and other invertebrates in English rivers, which may be linked to lower levels of zinc and copper 2374063-insects-are-thriving-in-englands-rivers-after-fall-in-metal-pollution|2374063 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2374106-wolves-are-scaring-smaller-predators-into-deadly-conflict-with-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 18 May 2023 20:00:31 +0100 Animals fleeing predators can take advantage of the "human shield effect" where they seek refuge in human-dominated spaces – but for bobcats and coyotes in Washington state, conflict with humans is three times as likely to lead to death 2374106-wolves-are-scaring-smaller-predators-into-deadly-conflict-with-humans|2374106 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2373884-octopuses-may-have-nightmares-about-predators-attacking-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 18 May 2023 15:07:17 +0100 An octopus in an aquarium has been filmed going from deep sleep to thrashing and releasing ink - an anti-predator response that suggests it was dreaming about being attacked 2373884-octopuses-may-have-nightmares-about-predators-attacking-them|2373884 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834390-900-when-did-animals-like-foxes-first-start-living-alongside-people/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 May 2023 19:00:00 +0100 We used to think "synanthropic" animals like raccoons, foxes and ravens started living alongside people around the time of the agricultural revolution, about 10,000 years ago. But it could have been much earlier, says Michael Marshall mg25834390-900-when-did-animals-like-foxes-first-start-living-alongside-people|2373541 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834391-900-let-science-guide-horse-welfare-not-misguided-overemotional-protest/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 May 2023 19:00:00 +0100 Equine sports are increasingly under fire from animal rights activists, but science should be the focus for those who demand changes to the likes of horseracing and Olympic events, says Christa Lesté-Lasserre mg25834391-900-let-science-guide-horse-welfare-not-misguided-overemotional-protest|2373720 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2374162-comb-jellies-not-sponges-might-be-the-oldest-animal-group-after-all/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 May 2023 17:00:58 +0100 An argument that has been raging among biologists for over a decade – whether comb jellies or sponges were the first group to split off from the common ancestor of all animals – has a new twist, thanks to an analysis of genetic patterns 2374162-comb-jellies-not-sponges-might-be-the-oldest-animal-group-after-all|2374162 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2373792-gibbons-plan-ahead-to-beat-competitors-to-the-best-breakfast-spots/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 May 2023 01:01:17 +0100 Skywalker gibbons remember the locations of the most desirable foods and set off earlier when they want to eat fruit for breakfast 2373792-gibbons-plan-ahead-to-beat-competitors-to-the-best-breakfast-spots|2373792 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2372371-butterflies-evolved-100-million-years-ago-in-north-america/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 15 May 2023 17:00:34 +0100 Many researchers thought butterflies first evolved in Asia, but a global genetic analysis suggests they arose in North America, well before the non-avian dinosaurs went extinct 2372371-butterflies-evolved-100-million-years-ago-in-north-america|2372371 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834391-400-lost-presumed-dead-the-search-for-the-most-wanted-birds-in-the-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 15 May 2023 17:00:00 +0100 The Search for Lost Birds project has already tracked down two species on its top 10 list. But is this focus on a handful of potentially extinct birds really good for conservation? mg25834391-400-lost-presumed-dead-the-search-for-the-most-wanted-birds-in-the-world|2373556 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2373370-seals-in-mexico-are-losing-fur-and-climate-change-may-be-to-blame/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 15 May 2023 10:00:29 +0100 Alopecia makes it harder for fur seals to keep warm, and the condition may be the result of hotter temperatures making it tough to find their preferred prey 2373370-seals-in-mexico-are-losing-fur-and-climate-change-may-be-to-blame|2373370 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834380-800-why-watering-your-plants-at-midday-wont-damage-their-leaves/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 May 2023 19:00:00 +0100 It is a long-held idea that midday watering will scorch plants' foliage and damage their health – but this isn’t supported by the evidence, says James Wong mg25834380-800-why-watering-your-plants-at-midday-wont-damage-their-leaves|2372472 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2373396-electromagnetic-fields-from-power-lines-are-messing-with-honeybees/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 12 May 2023 20:00:11 +0100 Transmission towers emit electromagnetic fields that can disrupt honeybees’ ability to pollinate nearby plants, which could reduce biodiversity in these areas 2373396-electromagnetic-fields-from-power-lines-are-messing-with-honeybees|2373396 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834382-700-why-the-origins-of-life-remain-a-mystery-and-how-we-will-crack-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 May 2023 14:00:00 +0100 To explain how life on Earth began, the big challenge is to identify the molecules and processes that enable non-living chemical systems to become more complex mg25834382-700-why-the-origins-of-life-remain-a-mystery-and-how-we-will-crack-it|2372491 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2372871-hammerhead-sharks-clamp-their-gills-shut-to-stay-warm-on-deep-dives/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 11 May 2023 20:00:03 +0100 Even for cold-blooded sharks, the deep ocean is frigid. To tolerate low temperatures as they dive for deep-water squid, scalloped hammerheads close their gills 2372871-hammerhead-sharks-clamp-their-gills-shut-to-stay-warm-on-deep-dives|2372871 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2373315-bigger-butterflies-may-cope-better-with-climate-change/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 11 May 2023 18:00:49 +0100 Butterflies with larger wingspans may be more likely to expand their range at high latitudes because they can fly to new habitats as temperatures rise 2373315-bigger-butterflies-may-cope-better-with-climate-change|2373315 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371408-bison-lick-each-others-wounds-after-a-traumatic-experience/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sat, 06 May 2023 08:00:24 +0100 Communal wound licking has been documented in a hoofed mammal for the first time. American bison may use the behaviour to boost social connections and reduce stress 2371408-bison-lick-each-others-wounds-after-a-traumatic-experience|2371408 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2372226-demon-catshark-species-identified-thanks-to-weird-mystery-eggs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 05 May 2023 14:00:19 +0100 Forty years ago, a strange, empty shark egg case was found off the coast of Western Australia, and scientists have finally determined the species it belongs to 2372226-demon-catshark-species-identified-thanks-to-weird-mystery-eggs|2372226 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2372029-locusts-produce-an-odour-to-try-to-put-other-locusts-off-eating-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 04 May 2023 20:00:26 +0100 The crop-devastating swarms that locusts form are driven in part by the insects' tricks to avoid being cannibalised – they move around and produce a pheromone to deter other locusts from eating them 2372029-locusts-produce-an-odour-to-try-to-put-other-locusts-off-eating-them|2372029 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2372015-ancient-bacteria-genome-reconstructed-from-neanderthal-tooth-gunk/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 04 May 2023 20:00:19 +0100 Researchers pieced together the genomes of two unknown species of green sulphur bacteria from DNA fragments found in ancient calcified tooth plaque 2372015-ancient-bacteria-genome-reconstructed-from-neanderthal-tooth-gunk|2372015 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2372168-gannets-blue-eyes-turn-black-after-an-infection-with-bird-flu/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 04 May 2023 18:08:07 +0100 Black irises have been spotted in gannets that test positive for bird flu antibodies, suggesting they are an indicator that the seabirds have survived an infection with the virus 2372168-gannets-blue-eyes-turn-black-after-an-infection-with-bird-flu|2372168 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371651-woolly-mammoths-had-testosterone-surges-like-those-of-male-elephants/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 03 May 2023 17:00:00 +0100 Hormone measurements from the tusk of a male woolly mammoth show these animals went through musth, a seasonal peak in testosterone seen in elephants 2371651-woolly-mammoths-had-testosterone-surges-like-those-of-male-elephants|2371651 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371698-apes-have-the-same-willingness-to-share-food-as-small-children/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 03 May 2023 01:01:08 +0100 In lab experiments, chimpanzees and bonobos share peanuts and grapes with other apes who shared food first, doing so at about the same rate as 4-year-old children 2371698-apes-have-the-same-willingness-to-share-food-as-small-children|2371698 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371283-male-elephant-seals-with-large-harems-die-younger/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 02 May 2023 11:00:51 +0100 Mating with groups of up to 50 females and fighting off rivals takes its toll on dominant male elephant seals 2371283-male-elephant-seals-with-large-harems-die-younger|2371283 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371008-animal-deaths-on-uk-roads-fell-sharply-during-covid-19-lockdowns/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 01 May 2023 09:00:35 +0100 The coronavirus lockdowns presented a rare natural experiment to see what happens to wildlife collisions when the traffic declines drastically 2371008-animal-deaths-on-uk-roads-fell-sharply-during-covid-19-lockdowns|2371008 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370811-baltos-genome-reveals-famed-sledge-dog-was-a-mutt/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 27 Apr 2023 20:00:29 +0100 Balto had a varied ancestry, sharing genes with Siberian huskies, Greenland sledge dogs, Vietnamese village dogs and Tibetan mastiffs 2370811-baltos-genome-reveals-famed-sledge-dog-was-a-mutt|2370811 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370982-blobs-of-worms-untangle-in-milliseconds-with-a-corkscrew-wiggle/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 27 Apr 2023 20:00:06 +0100 California blackworms gather together in tangled-up balls to preserve moisture during droughts, but they can rapidly separate when they perceive danger thanks to a special helical wriggle 2370982-blobs-of-worms-untangle-in-milliseconds-with-a-corkscrew-wiggle|2370982 https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17453-timeline-the-evolution-of-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:06:00 +0100 The story of evolution spans over 3 billion years and shows how microscopic single-celled organisms transformed Earth and gave rise to complex organisms like animals dn17453-timeline-the-evolution-of-life|1937806 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371017-evolutionary-oddball-has-seven-genomes-inside-a-single-cell/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 27 Apr 2023 17:00:30 +0100 DNA analysis has revealed that a single-celled alga has a strange conglomeration of different organisms living inside it 2371017-evolutionary-oddball-has-seven-genomes-inside-a-single-cell|2371017 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370932-hyenas-seen-sharing-their-dens-with-porcupines-and-warthogs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 27 Apr 2023 16:00:15 +0100 Camera traps at two dens in Kenya have captured evidence of porcupines and warthogs occupying dens at the same time as their predators, spotted hyenas 2370932-hyenas-seen-sharing-their-dens-with-porcupines-and-warthogs|2370932 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371018-bird-flu-has-killed-20-critically-endangered-california-condors/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 26 Apr 2023 21:37:10 +0100 A recent outbreak of avian flu has killed 7 per cent of the wild population of California condors, and officials are bracing for the virus’ spread 2371018-bird-flu-has-killed-20-critically-endangered-california-condors|2371018 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370348-was-dna-pioneer-rosalind-franklin-really-a-victim-of-scientific-theft/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 25 Apr 2023 17:00:52 +0100 It is widely thought that Rosalind Franklin was a victim whose work on DNA was stolen, but a letter and unpublished magazine story add to the evidence that this view is misleading 2370348-was-dna-pioneer-rosalind-franklin-really-a-victim-of-scientific-theft|2370348 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370710-assassin-bugs-cover-themselves-in-sticky-plant-resin-to-trap-prey/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 26 Apr 2023 01:01:21 +0100 By covering themselves in resin from spinifex grass, Australian assassin bugs improve their chances of catching flies and ants, in a rare case of tool use in insects 2370710-assassin-bugs-cover-themselves-in-sticky-plant-resin-to-trap-prey|2370710 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370604-wildfires-have-drastically-reduced-lynx-habitat-in-washington-state/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 25 Apr 2023 21:09:22 +0100 Twenty years of wildfires have cut down habitats and prey crucial to lynx in the north-west US, slashing the maximum number of cats that the region can support by up to 73 per cent 2370604-wildfires-have-drastically-reduced-lynx-habitat-in-washington-state|2370604 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370322-rats-fooled-by-optical-illusion-may-shed-light-on-evolution-of-the-eye/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 25 Apr 2023 12:00:52 +0100 The Asahi illusion tricks us into believing it is brighter than it really is, to the extent that our pupils constrict. Now it seems the illusion also works on rats 2370322-rats-fooled-by-optical-illusion-may-shed-light-on-evolution-of-the-eye|2370322 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2370493-slow-motion-footage-reveals-why-insects-are-attracted-to-lights/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 24 Apr 2023 16:09:08 +0100 To find out why insects gather around artificial lights, researchers filmed insects with a high-speed camera and used motion capture in an enclosure to trace their precise movements 2370493-slow-motion-footage-reveals-why-insects-are-attracted-to-lights|2370493 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370209-galapagos-giant-tortoise-argument-may-threaten-conservation-efforts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sun, 23 Apr 2023 11:00:20 +0100 How many distinct species of Galapagos giant tortoises are there? The latest genetic study says at least five, disputing previous work, and the answer could have implications for their conservation 2370209-galapagos-giant-tortoise-argument-may-threaten-conservation-efforts|2370209 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370234-weird-skin-eating-amphibians-have-no-legs-due-to-snake-like-mutation/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sun, 23 Apr 2023 08:00:06 +0100 Worm-like amphibians called caecilians have a mutation in a genetic sequence that’s critical for limb development, which could explain how they became limbless 2370234-weird-skin-eating-amphibians-have-no-legs-due-to-snake-like-mutation|2370234 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370219-even-a-dead-wolf-is-enough-to-scare-a-pig/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 21 Apr 2023 16:00:07 +0100 Boars that encounter a wolf carcass will try to flee or fight the corpse, suggesting that sometimes dead predators can still influence their prey’s behaviour 2370219-even-a-dead-wolf-is-enough-to-scare-a-pig|2370219 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369508-we-finally-know-why-insects-are-attracted-to-lights/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 20 Apr 2023 10:00:25 +0100 Artificial light doesn’t actually attract insects but instead interferes with the control systems they use to orientate their body when flying 2369508-we-finally-know-why-insects-are-attracted-to-lights|2369508 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370076-elephant-seals-take-power-naps-in-the-ocean-while-slowly-sinking/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 20 Apr 2023 20:00:05 +0100 Marine mammals use a variety of tricks to snooze at sea - elephant seals fall asleep and gradually drift to the depths 2370076-elephant-seals-take-power-naps-in-the-ocean-while-slowly-sinking|2370076 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369997-nematode-worms-get-the-munchies-after-having-cannabis-like-substance/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 20 Apr 2023 17:00:18 +0100 Just like people, the simple nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans is driven to consume high-calorie food when its cannabinoid receptors are activated, hinting at a common signalling pathway for preventing starvation 2369997-nematode-worms-get-the-munchies-after-having-cannabis-like-substance|2369997 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369320-what-is-so-special-about-orchids-and-why-are-there-so-many/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 19 Apr 2023 19:00:00 +0100 Orchids seem unique in how they inspire such a devoted following, but why are these much-loved plants so diverse and widespread, wonders Penny Sarchet 2369320-what-is-so-special-about-orchids-and-why-are-there-so-many|2369320 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369711-carnivorous-plants-use-a-sneaky-trick-for-luring-different-bugs-to-eat/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 19 Apr 2023 20:00:58 +0100 Some carnivorous plants seem to tailor the cocktail of scents they emit to the prey they want to attract, which shows that their smell plays a key role in luring insects and other creatures 2369711-carnivorous-plants-use-a-sneaky-trick-for-luring-different-bugs-to-eat|2369711 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369747-surprising-culprit-found-that-killed-95-of-a-sea-urchin-population/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 19 Apr 2023 20:00:39 +0100 A parasitic microorganism with tiny hair-like structures over its body called a ciliate appears to be behind the mass die-off of long-spined sea urchins across the Caribbean 2369747-surprising-culprit-found-that-killed-95-of-a-sea-urchin-population|2369747 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369634-songbirds-sing-out-of-tune-if-they-dont-practise-every-day/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 19 Apr 2023 11:00:41 +0100 If zebra finches are prevented from singing for two weeks, they sing at a lower pitch – but they soon recover once they resume daily practice 2369634-songbirds-sing-out-of-tune-if-they-dont-practise-every-day|2369634 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369548-beetles-that-receive-less-care-as-larvae-may-become-better-parents/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 19 Apr 2023 09:00:11 +0100 An experiment with beetles suggests that those deprived of nurture in their early life may devote more time to helping their own offspring 2369548-beetles-that-receive-less-care-as-larvae-may-become-better-parents|2369548 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369384-big-animals-move-more-slowly-than-small-ones-to-avoid-overheating/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 18 Apr 2023 20:00:58 +0100 The long-distance speed of animals that weigh more than a tonne is limited not by their bulk but by the need to stay cool, according to an analysis of more than 500 species 2369384-big-animals-move-more-slowly-than-small-ones-to-avoid-overheating|2369384 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369412-kelp-forests-capture-nearly-5-million-tonnes-of-co2-annually/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 18 Apr 2023 17:00:44 +0100 Towering underwater kelp forests generate a potential value of $500 billion each year by providing a boost to commercial fishing, as well as nitrogen and carbon removal 2369412-kelp-forests-capture-nearly-5-million-tonnes-of-co2-annually|2369412 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369196-amber-fossils-reveal-dinosaurs-and-beetles-had-symbiotic-relationship/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 17 Apr 2023 20:00:00 +0100 Remains preserved in amber from 105 million years ago are the oldest evidence of a mutually beneficial relationship between dinosaurs and arthropods 2369196-amber-fossils-reveal-dinosaurs-and-beetles-had-symbiotic-relationship|2369196 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368862-the-spiky-shape-of-sunflower-pollen-may-clear-bee-guts-of-parasite/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sun, 16 Apr 2023 12:00:51 +0100 Sunflower pollen’s spiky texture dramatically reduces the prevalence of a widespread gut parasite in eastern bumblebees 2368862-the-spiky-shape-of-sunflower-pollen-may-clear-bee-guts-of-parasite|2368862 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368612-zebra-finches-pick-singing-coaches-based-on-songs-they-hear-as-embryos/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:00:14 +0100 The songs that Australian zebra finches hear before they have hatched influence which birds they choose as singing instructors when growing up 2368612-zebra-finches-pick-singing-coaches-based-on-songs-they-hear-as-embryos|2368612 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368938-early-break-up-of-eastern-african-forests-shaped-our-ape-ancestors/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 13 Apr 2023 20:00:38 +0100 Forests in eastern Africa started turning into grassland 10 million years earlier than previously thought, which may have driven the evolution of upright apes 2368938-early-break-up-of-eastern-african-forests-shaped-our-ape-ancestors|2368938 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368343-tadpole-embryos-grow-strong-jaws-if-they-sense-shrimp-in-the-water/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 13 Apr 2023 14:00:30 +0100 Mexican spadefoot toad embryos that sense lots of shrimp in the water before they are born grow bigger and stronger jaws, ready for their first meals after hatching 2368343-tadpole-embryos-grow-strong-jaws-if-they-sense-shrimp-in-the-water|2368343 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368100-some-anacondas-can-perform-a-strange-s-shaped-leap-and-now-we-know-why/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 13 Apr 2023 11:00:00 +0100 A mathematical model based on observing yellow anacondas in the lab shows that if they are light and muscular enough, they can jump away from danger in an S-shape motion similar to sidewinding of much smaller snakes that live in the sand 2368100-some-anacondas-can-perform-a-strange-s-shaped-leap-and-now-we-know-why|2368100