SciGlow | All Science News In One Place
SciGlow is a newsletter of science stories from the major research labs. Headlines link to in-depth articles and editorials. SciGlow keeps scientists and others up-to-date on current research.
A team of evolutionary biologists, led by Dr. Rui Diogo at Howard University, USA, and writing in the journal Development, have demonstrated that numerous atavistic limb muscles – known to be present in many limbed animals but usually absent in adult humans – are actually formed during early human development and then lost prior to birth. … Read more
Researchers at the University of Illinois have shown through a multi-year study that cowbirds (Molothrus ater) conform to Bateman’s Principle, which holds that reproductive success is greater in males than in females when they have more mates. Cowbirds are distinct from 99% of other bird species in that they are brood parasites and lay their … Read more
The flagellum is often cited as an example of natural design ingenuity – it is a powerful nanomachine that allows bacteria to swim effortlessly in search of food. Yet despite being a popular object of study over the last half a century, the flagellum’s exact mechanics remain enigmatic. Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science … Read more
Darker male giraffes have been found to be more solitary and less social than their lighter-coloured counterparts, according to new research from The University of Queensland. A long-term study revealed that the colour of male giraffes’ spots more strongly relates to their patterns of social association, rather than their age, as previously thought. The paper’s … Read more
Neurons, take your places. The cells that eventually become neurons must first travel across the embryo to reach their final destinations in the nervous system. There, they blossom from undefined cells into neurons with specific roles, working together in circuits to direct an animal’s behavior. But exactly how this journey unfolds is still somewhat mysterious. … Read more
Caltech scientists have discovered a new species of worm thriving in the extreme environment of Mono Lake. This new species, temporarily dubbed Auanema sp., has three different sexes, can survive 500 times the lethal human dose of arsenic, and carries its young inside its body like a kangaroo. Mono Lake, located in the Eastern Sierras … Read more
This is the first study in the Mediterranean to combine boat and marina sampling data with crew surveys to better understand the role these boats play in spreading alien species. The researchers from the University of Pavia, Italy found that boats traveling to new marinas were likely to be transporting alien species in the biofouling: … Read more
The birds are known to recognise individual people, and respond differently to those they see as a threat. In the new study, by the University of Exeter, a person unknown to the jackdaws approached their nest, and scientists played a recording of either a warning call or “contact calls” (suggesting no threat). The next time … Read more
A study led by The University of Queensland and James Cook University reveals at the DNA level how coral interacts with partners like algae and bacteria to share resources and build healthy, resilient coral. UQ’s Dr Steven Robbins said the research may aid in the revival of the world’s embattled coral reefs. “Symbiotic relationships are … Read more
Diving seabirds watch each other to work out when to dive, new research shows. Scientists studied European shags and found they were twice as likely to dive after seeing a fellow bird go underwater. The study is the first to investigate why large groups (known as “rafts”) of shags dive together at sea. University of Exeter … Read more