Did a magnetic field collapse trigger the emergence of animals?
Researchers at the University of Rochester in the USA have linked Earth’s unusually weak magnetic field during the Ediacaran Period to the emergence of complex life.
Computational tools fuel reconstruction of new and improved bird family tree
From University of California San Diego 02/04/24 An international team of scientists has built the largest and most detailed bird family tree to date—an intricate chart delineating 93 million years of evolutionary relationships between 363 bird species, representing 92% of all bird families. The advance was made possible in large part thanks to cutting-edge computational […]
Change in gene code may explain how human ancestors lost tails
A groundbreaking study led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, published in the prestigious journal Nature, unveils a genetic insertion shared by apes and humans but absent in monkeys, shedding light on the evolutionary mystery behind the loss of tails in humans.
Tiny sea creatures reveal the ancient origins of neurons
From Center for Genomic Regulation 20/09/23 A study in the journal Cell sheds new light on the evolution of neurons, focusing on the placozoans, a millimetre-sized marine animal. Researchers at the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona find evidence that specialized secretory cells found in these unique and ancient creatures may have given rise to […]
Ant-spiration: Using insect behaviour to rethink transport
From University of California – Los Angeles 04/09/23 UCLA study finds the insects’ nests reflect the way they work together – or don’t – to forage for food Could ants’ nests hold the secret to reducing traffic congestion on the 405 Freeway? In a new study, UCLA biologists discovered insights about how ants build their […]