New Scientist - Life New Scientist - Life https://www.newscientist.com/ New Scientist - Life https://www.newscientist.com/build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png https://www.newscientist.com daily 1 Fossil snake discovered in India may have been the largest ever https://www.newscientist.com/article/2427606-fossil-snake-discovered-in-india-may-have-been-the-largest-ever/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 18 Apr 2024 17:00:50 +0100 The vertebrae of Vasuki indicus, a snake that lived 47 million years ago, suggest it could have been as long as 15 metres 2427606-fossil-snake-discovered-in-india-may-have-been-the-largest-ever|2427606 Ancient marine reptile found on UK beach may be the largest ever https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426909-ancient-marine-reptile-found-on-uk-beach-may-be-the-largest-ever/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 Apr 2024 20:00:50 +0100 The jawbone of an ichthyosaur uncovered in south-west England has been identified as a new species, and researchers estimate that the whole animal was 20 to 25 metres long 2426909-ancient-marine-reptile-found-on-uk-beach-may-be-the-largest-ever|2426909 Turning plants blue with gene editing could make robot weeding easier https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426805-turning-plants-blue-with-gene-editing-could-make-robot-weeding-easier/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 Apr 2024 17:00:22 +0100 Weeding robots can sometimes struggle to tell weeds from crops, but genetically modifying the plants we want to keep to make them brightly coloured would make the job easier, suggest a group of researchers 2426805-turning-plants-blue-with-gene-editing-could-make-robot-weeding-easier|2426805 A cicada double brood is coming – it's less rare than you think https://www.newscientist.com/article/2427004-a-cicada-double-brood-is-coming-its-less-rare-than-you-think/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 Apr 2024 15:53:07 +0100 Up to 17 US states could be peppered with more than a trillion cicadas this spring, and though it has been a while since these two specific broods emerged at once, double broods are not that rare 2427004-a-cicada-double-brood-is-coming-its-less-rare-than-you-think|2427004 Sleeping bumblebees can survive underwater for a week https://www.newscientist.com/article/2427117-sleeping-bumblebees-can-survive-underwater-for-a-week/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 Apr 2024 01:01:46 +0100 A serendipitous lab accident revealed that hibernating bumblebee queens can make it through days of flooding, revealing that they are less vulnerable to extreme weather than previously thought 2427117-sleeping-bumblebees-can-survive-underwater-for-a-week|2427117 Colonies of single-celled creatures could explain how embryos evolved https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426811-colonies-of-single-celled-creatures-could-explain-how-embryos-evolved/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 Apr 2024 07:00:46 +0100 We know little about how embryonic development in animals evolved from single-celled ancestors, but simple organisms with a multicellular life stage offer intriguing clues 2426811-colonies-of-single-celled-creatures-could-explain-how-embryos-evolved|2426811 Starfish have hundreds of feet but no brain – here's how they move https://www.newscientist.com/article/2427082-starfish-have-hundreds-of-feet-but-no-brain-heres-how-they-move/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 16 Apr 2024 17:00:26 +0100 Starfish feet are coordinated purely through mechanical loading, enabling the animals to bounce rhythmically along the seabed without a central nervous system 2427082-starfish-have-hundreds-of-feet-but-no-brain-heres-how-they-move|2427082 Tiny nematode worms can grow enormous mouths and become cannibals https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426979-tiny-nematode-worms-can-grow-enormous-mouths-and-become-cannibals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 15 Apr 2024 21:27:17 +0100 One species of nematode worm turns into a kin-devouring nightmare if it grows up in a crowded environment with a poor diet 2426979-tiny-nematode-worms-can-grow-enormous-mouths-and-become-cannibals|2426979 Are panda sex lives being sabotaged by the wrong gut microbes? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426773-are-panda-sex-lives-being-sabotaged-by-the-wrong-gut-microbes/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 12 Apr 2024 22:46:55 +0100 Conservationists think tweaking pandas’ diets might shift their gut microbiomes in a way that could encourage them to mate 2426773-are-panda-sex-lives-being-sabotaged-by-the-wrong-gut-microbes|2426773 See inside an endangered California condor egg just before it hatches https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426749-see-inside-an-endangered-california-condor-egg-just-before-it-hatches/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 12 Apr 2024 18:27:48 +0100 The hatching of the 250th California condor chick at the San Diego Zoo marks a notable milestone for a species that narrowly evaded extinction 2426749-see-inside-an-endangered-california-condor-egg-just-before-it-hatches|2426749 ‘Peaceful’ male bonobos may actually be more aggressive than chimps https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426678-peaceful-male-bonobos-may-actually-be-more-aggressive-than-chimps/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 12 Apr 2024 17:00:34 +0100 Bonobos have long been regarded as the peaceful ape, in sharp contrast with violent chimpanzees, but a study based on thousands of hours of observations suggests the real story is more nuanced 2426678-peaceful-male-bonobos-may-actually-be-more-aggressive-than-chimps|2426678 A bacterium has evolved into a new cellular structure inside algae https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426468-a-bacterium-has-evolved-into-a-new-cellular-structure-inside-algae/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 11 Apr 2024 20:00:40 +0100 A once-independent bacterium has evolved into an organelle that provides nitrogen to algal cells – an event so rare that there are only three other known cases 2426468-a-bacterium-has-evolved-into-a-new-cellular-structure-inside-algae|2426468 The photographer who captured shots of nature daily for over a decade https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234860-400-the-photographer-who-captured-shots-of-nature-daily-for-over-a-decade/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 Apr 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Since 2012, Mary Jo Hoffman has taken one snap a day of the natural objects around her. She explains what lies behind two of them - and what the "art of noticing" has brought to her life mg26234860-400-the-photographer-who-captured-shots-of-nature-daily-for-over-a-decade|2425880 Fractal pattern identified at molecular scale in nature for first time https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426275-fractal-pattern-identified-at-molecular-scale-in-nature-for-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 Apr 2024 17:00:02 +0100 An enzyme in a cyanobacterium can take the unusual form a triangle containing ever-smaller triangular gaps, making a fractal pattern 2426275-fractal-pattern-identified-at-molecular-scale-in-nature-for-first-time|2426275 Northern white rhino could be saved from extinction using frozen skin https://www.newscientist.com/article/2425679-northern-white-rhino-could-be-saved-from-extinction-using-frozen-skin/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:01:59 +0100 We have enough genetic material to bring back the northern white rhino, but doing so won’t be easy 2425679-northern-white-rhino-could-be-saved-from-extinction-using-frozen-skin|2425679 Suppressing wildfires is harming California’s giant sequoia trees https://www.newscientist.com/article/2425794-suppressing-wildfires-is-harming-californias-giant-sequoia-trees/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 05 Apr 2024 21:23:10 +0100 California’s rare sequoias rely on high heat to disperse their seeds, and efforts to reduce the size of wildfires may be damaging their ability to reproduce 2425794-suppressing-wildfires-is-harming-californias-giant-sequoia-trees|2425794 Left-handed monkeys prompt rethink about evolution of right-handedness https://www.newscientist.com/article/2425718-left-handed-monkeys-prompt-rethink-about-evolution-of-right-handedness/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 05 Apr 2024 16:00:09 +0100 A popular idea links primates living on the ground with a tendency for right-handedness, but findings from urban langurs in India cast doubt on the idea 2425718-left-handed-monkeys-prompt-rethink-about-evolution-of-right-handedness|2425718 Climate change can disturb the accuracy of trees’ biological clocks https://www.newscientist.com/article/2425502-climate-change-can-disturb-the-accuracy-of-trees-biological-clocks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 03 Apr 2024 22:00:35 +0100 Trees use circadian genes to time photosynthesis and reproduction – but as temperatures rise, the clocks may not work as well 2425502-climate-change-can-disturb-the-accuracy-of-trees-biological-clocks|2425502 Life’s vital chemistry may have begun in hot, cracked rock https://www.newscientist.com/article/2425247-lifes-vital-chemistry-may-have-begun-in-hot-cracked-rock/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 03 Apr 2024 17:00:29 +0100 Amino acids and other molecules important to the origin of life can be enriched within networks of rocky fractures, which would have been common on the early Earth 2425247-lifes-vital-chemistry-may-have-begun-in-hot-cracked-rock|2425247 Snakes show signs of self-recognition in a smell-based 'mirror test' https://www.newscientist.com/article/2425187-snakes-show-signs-of-self-recognition-in-a-smell-based-mirror-test/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 03 Apr 2024 01:01:17 +0100 Garter snakes may recognise their own scent and react differently when it is altered, hinting at self-awareness in reptiles 2425187-snakes-show-signs-of-self-recognition-in-a-smell-based-mirror-test|2425187 Why ivy growing on your walls may actually be beneficial https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134840-600-why-ivy-growing-on-your-walls-may-actually-be-beneficial/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 27 Mar 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Long considered damaging to walls, a living coating of ivy can actually stabilise temperature and humidity and lower your energy bills, finds James Wong mg26134840-600-why-ivy-growing-on-your-walls-may-actually-be-beneficial|2423643 Is every species necessary or can we let some die out? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2424125-is-every-species-necessary-or-can-we-let-some-die-out/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 27 Mar 2024 16:00:26 +0000 There are thousands of species at risk of extinction, and we can’t save them all – how do conservationists think about which ones to focus on? 2424125-is-every-species-necessary-or-can-we-let-some-die-out|2424125 Horses used in therapy often avoid people if they are given a choice https://www.newscientist.com/article/2424100-horses-used-in-therapy-often-avoid-people-if-they-are-given-a-choice/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 27 Mar 2024 06:00:55 +0000 Horses show signs of stress if people touch them while they are tethered, but they appear much less anxious if they are able to walk away 2424100-horses-used-in-therapy-often-avoid-people-if-they-are-given-a-choice|2424100 Birds make an 'after you' gesture to prompt their mate to enter nest https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423980-birds-make-an-after-you-gesture-to-prompt-their-mate-to-enter-nest/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 25 Mar 2024 14:00:15 +0000 Japanese tits sometimes flutter their wings in an apparent gesture of encouraging their mate to enter their shared nest first 2423980-birds-make-an-after-you-gesture-to-prompt-their-mate-to-enter-nest|2423980 Tiny deer from the dry valleys of Peru recognised as new species https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423866-tiny-deer-from-the-dry-valleys-of-peru-recognised-as-new-species/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 25 Mar 2024 10:00:04 +0000 A 38-centimetre-tall deer, found in an arid region in the central Andes, is the first new deer species found in South America for over 60 years 2423866-tiny-deer-from-the-dry-valleys-of-peru-recognised-as-new-species|2423866 Dogs really do understand that words stand for objects https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423634-dogs-really-do-understand-that-words-stand-for-objects/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 22 Mar 2024 15:00:08 +0000 Pet dogs have different patterns of brain activity when they are shown an object that doesn’t match the word they hear, suggesting they have a mental representation of what words mean 2423634-dogs-really-do-understand-that-words-stand-for-objects|2423634 Ant queens have good reasons for eating their own babies https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423685-ant-queens-have-good-reasons-for-eating-their-own-babies/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 22 Mar 2024 10:00:49 +0000 Feasting on family members may be an unorthodox way for ant queens to keep their fledgling colonies from being overrun by lethal fungi 2423685-ant-queens-have-good-reasons-for-eating-their-own-babies|2423685 Male and female spiders pair up to look like a flower https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423585-male-and-female-spiders-pair-up-to-look-like-a-flower/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 22 Mar 2024 08:00:46 +0000 Together, a dark-hued male crab spider and a larger, paler female resemble a flower, in what researchers suspect is the first case of cooperative mimicry 2423585-male-and-female-spiders-pair-up-to-look-like-a-flower|2423585 Fluffy beetle discovered in Australia may be the world's hairiest https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423568-fluffy-beetle-discovered-in-australia-may-be-the-worlds-hairiest/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 21 Mar 2024 13:02:10 +0000 The exceptionally long white hairs on the newly named longhorn beetle Excastra albopilosa may deceive predators into thinking it is covered in fungus 2423568-fluffy-beetle-discovered-in-australia-may-be-the-worlds-hairiest|2423568 Blue tits shared a tree hollow with bird-eating bats – and survived https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423027-blue-tits-shared-a-tree-hollow-with-bird-eating-bats-and-survived/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 21 Mar 2024 06:00:34 +0000 A pair of blue tits were seen nesting in a tree cavity that was also inhabited by about 25 greater noctule bats, which commonly eat blue tits, but the birds lived to tell the tale 2423027-blue-tits-shared-a-tree-hollow-with-bird-eating-bats-and-survived|2423027 Extinct freshwater dolphin from the Amazon was largest of all time https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423338-extinct-freshwater-dolphin-from-the-amazon-was-largest-of-all-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 20 Mar 2024 18:00:55 +0000 A dolphin that lived in the Amazon 16 million years ago grew to a length of 3.5 metres – larger than any other freshwater dolphin 2423338-extinct-freshwater-dolphin-from-the-amazon-was-largest-of-all-time|2423338 Saving the world's largest flowers in the Philippines https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134821-100-saving-the-worlds-largest-flowers-in-the-philippines/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:00:00 +0000 These stunning photographs, taken by botanist Chris Thorogood, chart the quest to protect species of Rafflesia, which are on the brink of extinction in the Philippines mg26134821-100-saving-the-worlds-largest-flowers-in-the-philippines|2421536 Chimp mothers play with their youngsters even when times are tough https://www.newscientist.com/article/2422397-chimp-mothers-play-with-their-youngsters-even-when-times-are-tough/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:00:55 +0000 Ten years’ worth of observations of a wild chimpanzee community show that most adults stop playing when food is short, but not mothers and their young 2422397-chimp-mothers-play-with-their-youngsters-even-when-times-are-tough|2422397 In Frank Herbert’s Dune, fungi are hidden in plain sight https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421914-in-frank-herberts-dune-fungi-are-hidden-in-plain-sight/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Mar 2024 14:00:56 +0000 There is more lurking below the surface of Arrakis than sandworms. Dune author Frank Herbert had a keen interest in fungi, and so should we, says Corrado Nai 2421914-in-frank-herberts-dune-fungi-are-hidden-in-plain-sight|2421914 Plant-killing genetic technology could wipe out superweeds https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421816-plant-killing-genetic-technology-could-wipe-out-superweeds/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Mar 2024 10:00:12 +0000 A ‘gene drive’ that spreads through plant populations could be used to wipe out pests such as superweeds, or to help save species by making them resistant to heat or disease 2421816-plant-killing-genetic-technology-could-wipe-out-superweeds|2421816 City moths may have evolved smaller wings due to light pollution https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421950-city-moths-may-have-evolved-smaller-wings-due-to-light-pollution/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Mar 2024 00:01:44 +0000 Populations of moths living in urban places may have evolved smaller wings to limit how much bright city lights disrupt their lives 2421950-city-moths-may-have-evolved-smaller-wings-due-to-light-pollution|2421950 Giant sequoia trees are growing surprisingly quickly in the UK https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421922-giant-sequoia-trees-are-growing-surprisingly-quickly-in-the-uk/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Mar 2024 00:01:01 +0000 Since their introduction in the 1800s, giant sequoia trees in the UK have grown up to 55 metres tall and capture 85 kilograms of carbon a year on average 2421922-giant-sequoia-trees-are-growing-surprisingly-quickly-in-the-uk|2421922 Plants send out 'distress calls' – but can other plants hear them? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421744-plants-send-out-distress-calls-but-can-other-plants-hear-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 12 Mar 2024 14:00:01 +0000 Some studies have claimed that plants emit sounds when stressed and might perceive the distress calls of other plants, but a review finds the evidence is lacking 2421744-plants-send-out-distress-calls-but-can-other-plants-hear-them|2421744 The surprising ways animals react to a total solar eclipse https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421020-the-surprising-ways-animals-react-to-a-total-solar-eclipse/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 12 Mar 2024 11:00:55 +0000 When the moon hides the sun in a total solar eclipse, some animals seem to think that it is briefly nighttime, while others pace anxiously or even gaze up at the sky 2421020-the-surprising-ways-animals-react-to-a-total-solar-eclipse|2421020 Blind cave fish offers lessons in how to survive starvation https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421466-blind-cave-fish-offers-lessons-in-how-to-survive-starvation/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 11 Mar 2024 15:00:40 +0000 Unlike most other animals, the cave-dwelling Mexican tetra doesn’t get a fatty liver when it is malnourished – and its secrets could lead to medical benefits for other species 2421466-blind-cave-fish-offers-lessons-in-how-to-survive-starvation|2421466 Flightless terror birds stalked Antarctica after the dinosaurs' demise https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421483-flightless-terror-birds-stalked-antarctica-after-the-dinosaurs-demise/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 11 Mar 2024 10:50:15 +0000 Two fossil claws found on Seymour Island reveal that phorusrhacids, or terror birds, lived in Antarctica 50 million years ago and were probably the apex predator 2421483-flightless-terror-birds-stalked-antarctica-after-the-dinosaurs-demise|2421483 Largest ever animal may have been Triassic ichthyosaur super-predator https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25634180-900-largest-ever-animal-may-have-been-triassic-ichthyosaur-super-predator/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 29 Dec 2022 09:00:00 +0000 New fossil discoveries show predatory marine reptiles from 200 million years ago may have been bigger than today’s blue whales – and that they evolved astonishingly rapidly mg25634180-900-largest-ever-animal-may-have-been-triassic-ichthyosaur-super-predator|2352224 Clownfish avoid the sting of their anemone hosts with sugary slime https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421343-clownfish-avoid-the-sting-of-their-anemone-hosts-with-sugary-slime/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 07 Mar 2024 21:20:35 +0000 As a clownfish spends time with an anemone, its mucus coating begins to change. Chemical tweaks to sugars in the slime may calm stinging cells in anemone tentacles 2421343-clownfish-avoid-the-sting-of-their-anemone-hosts-with-sugary-slime|2421343 Worm-like amphibian produces a kind of milk for its hatchlings https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421263-worm-like-amphibian-produces-a-kind-of-milk-for-its-hatchlings/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 07 Mar 2024 19:00:22 +0000 After hatching from eggs, young ringed caecilians feed on their mother’s skin, but also on a milk-like substance secreted from her rear end 2421263-worm-like-amphibian-produces-a-kind-of-milk-for-its-hatchlings|2421263 Salmon farms are increasingly being hit by mass die-offs https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421227-salmon-farms-are-increasingly-being-hit-by-mass-die-offs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 07 Mar 2024 16:00:10 +0000 Mass mortality events at salmon farms have been getting more frequent since 2011, sometimes killing millions of fish at once, with causes including heatwaves and poor living conditions 2421227-salmon-farms-are-increasingly-being-hit-by-mass-die-offs|2421227 Hunger-inducing mutation makes some Labradors more likely to get fat https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420806-hunger-inducing-mutation-makes-some-labradors-more-likely-to-get-fat/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 06 Mar 2024 19:00:35 +0000 Dogs with a mutation in the POMC gene, common in Labradors and flat-coated retrievers, have a stronger appetite for snacks between meals and a lower metabolic rate 2420806-hunger-inducing-mutation-makes-some-labradors-more-likely-to-get-fat|2420806 Bumblebees show each other how to solve complex puzzles https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420960-bumblebees-show-each-other-how-to-solve-complex-puzzles/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 06 Mar 2024 16:00:54 +0000 Puzzles that bumblebees cannot solve on their own can be cracked with help from another bee, adding to research on the transmission of culture among insects 2420960-bumblebees-show-each-other-how-to-solve-complex-puzzles|2420960 Is the woolly mammoth really on the brink of being resurrected? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420835-is-the-woolly-mammoth-really-on-the-brink-of-being-resurrected/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 06 Mar 2024 15:00:35 +0000 A company called Colossal claims it has taken a "momentous step" towards bringing back the woolly mammoth. Here's all you need to know about whether such a feat is possible 2420835-is-the-woolly-mammoth-really-on-the-brink-of-being-resurrected|2420835 First gene-edited meat will come from disease-proof CRISPR pigs https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418305-first-gene-edited-meat-will-come-from-disease-proof-crispr-pigs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 23 Feb 2024 08:00:02 +0000 Pigs that have been given genetically engineered immunity to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, a major and costly disease, could be on the market within two years 2418305-first-gene-edited-meat-will-come-from-disease-proof-crispr-pigs|2418305 Asian elephants seen burying their dead for the first time https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420561-asian-elephants-seen-burying-their-dead-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 05 Mar 2024 15:18:32 +0000 Five elephant calves have been found buried in drainage ditches on tea-growing estates in India in a rare example of burial behaviour in non-human animals 2420561-asian-elephants-seen-burying-their-dead-for-the-first-time|2420561 Blue cheese could get an upgrade thanks to new mould hybrids https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420477-blue-cheese-could-get-an-upgrade-thanks-to-new-mould-hybrids/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 05 Mar 2024 14:00:21 +0000 Five new varieties of Penicillium roqueforti, the fungus used to make blue cheese, might rescue the fungus from a genetic dead end and produce pharmaceutical compounds 2420477-blue-cheese-could-get-an-upgrade-thanks-to-new-mould-hybrids|2420477 Earliest known sex chromosomes evolved in octopuses https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420341-earliest-known-sex-chromosomes-evolved-in-octopuses/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 05 Mar 2024 10:00:19 +0000 Genetic analysis of the California two-spot octopus reveals that the species has sex chromosomes, and they may have originated up to 378 million years ago 2420341-earliest-known-sex-chromosomes-evolved-in-octopuses|2420341 Storks refine their migration routes as they learn from experience https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420364-storks-refine-their-migration-routes-as-they-learn-from-experience/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 04 Mar 2024 20:00:42 +0000 Tracking data shows that young white storks spend more time exploring new places, while older ones take a more direct route on their annual migrations 2420364-storks-refine-their-migration-routes-as-they-learn-from-experience|2420364 Squid-like plant that lives mostly underground is new to science https://www.newscientist.com/article/2419483-squid-like-plant-that-lives-mostly-underground-is-new-to-science/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 29 Feb 2024 15:00:57 +0000 For the first time in nearly a century, a new genus of plant has been discovered in Japan, but it looks more like a squid or an alien than a plant 2419483-squid-like-plant-that-lives-mostly-underground-is-new-to-science|2419483 A simple trick can make a dog treat a stranger as their friend https://www.newscientist.com/article/2419615-a-simple-trick-can-make-a-dog-treat-a-stranger-as-their-friend/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 29 Feb 2024 12:00:47 +0000 If an unfamiliar person spends 15 minutes following a dog, it tends to follow them back in a possible sign of friendship 2419615-a-simple-trick-can-make-a-dog-treat-a-stranger-as-their-friend|2419615 We now know what makes oranges taste of oranges https://www.newscientist.com/article/2419584-we-now-know-what-makes-oranges-taste-of-oranges/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 28 Feb 2024 19:00:11 +0000 Researchers have identified 26 chemical compounds responsible for the flavour of oranges, which could help efforts to develop disease-resistant hybrids 2419584-we-now-know-what-makes-oranges-taste-of-oranges|2419584 Strange animals called pyrosomes are thriving as the Pacific heats up https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418446-strange-animals-called-pyrosomes-are-thriving-as-the-pacific-heats-up/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 28 Feb 2024 12:00:53 +0000 Sausage-shaped pyrosomes are blooming in great numbers during marine heatwaves, but their success comes at the cost of other animals, including fish 2418446-strange-animals-called-pyrosomes-are-thriving-as-the-pacific-heats-up|2418446 Thousands of humpback whales starved to death after marine heatwave https://www.newscientist.com/article/2419289-thousands-of-humpback-whales-starved-to-death-after-marine-heatwave/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:01:54 +0000 A study estimating humpback whale numbers in the North Pacific Ocean from crowdsourced photos reveals a sharp decline from 2012 to 2021 after decades of slow population growth 2419289-thousands-of-humpback-whales-starved-to-death-after-marine-heatwave|2419289 Jackals may urinate on their favourite fruit to deter thieves https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418814-jackals-may-urinate-on-their-favourite-fruit-to-deter-thieves/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 27 Feb 2024 10:00:50 +0000 Although they are carnivores, black-backed jackals are partial to the melon-like fruits of the !nara plant and help to disperse its seeds across the desert 2418814-jackals-may-urinate-on-their-favourite-fruit-to-deter-thieves|2418814 Bizarre fish can extend its mouth to make a kind of trunk https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418659-bizarre-fish-can-extend-its-mouth-to-make-a-kind-of-trunk/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 27 Feb 2024 06:00:51 +0000 The hingemouth, an African freshwater fish, can stick out a proboscis for feeding or breathing thanks to the unique arrangement of its jaw anatomy 2418659-bizarre-fish-can-extend-its-mouth-to-make-a-kind-of-trunk|2418659 How one of the smallest fish makes a sound as loud as a firecracker https://www.newscientist.com/article/2419077-how-one-of-the-smallest-fish-makes-a-sound-as-loud-as-a-firecracker/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 26 Feb 2024 20:00:49 +0000 The drumming sound of the 12-millimetre-long fish Danionella cerebrum can hit 140 decibels – now scientists have figured out how they do it 2419077-how-one-of-the-smallest-fish-makes-a-sound-as-loud-as-a-firecracker|2419077 Wasabi could help preserve ancient Egyptian papyrus artefacts https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418921-wasabi-could-help-preserve-ancient-egyptian-papyrus-artefacts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 26 Feb 2024 19:00:40 +0000 Ancient and fragile papyrus samples are at risk of being damaged by fungi, but a wasabi-based treatment can disinfect them without damage 2418921-wasabi-could-help-preserve-ancient-egyptian-papyrus-artefacts|2418921 Painting a tree's pruning wounds may be useful after all https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134792-200-painting-a-trees-pruning-wounds-may-be-useful-after-all/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Since the 1970s, gardening wisdom has written off as useless the old practice of painting a tree’s pruning wounds. James Wong isn’t so sure mg26134792-200-painting-a-trees-pruning-wounds-may-be-useful-after-all|2417728 Does trophy hunting actually help animal conservation? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418493-does-trophy-hunting-actually-help-animal-conservation/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 23 Feb 2024 08:00:09 +0000 It may seem counterintuitive, but trophy hunting leads to a lot of land being protected instead of being used for agriculture or logging – which can ultimately benefit animals 2418493-does-trophy-hunting-actually-help-animal-conservation|2418493 Humpback whales have a specialised larynx for underwater singing https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418374-humpback-whales-have-a-specialised-larynx-for-underwater-singing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 Feb 2024 16:00:22 +0000 The distinctive melodies of baleen whales are produced by pushing air against a fatty cushion on one side of the larynx, and a sac lets them recycle air back into the lungs 2418374-humpback-whales-have-a-specialised-larynx-for-underwater-singing|2418374 Magnificent yellow-crested bird photographed for the first time https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418327-magnificent-yellow-crested-bird-photographed-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 Feb 2024 14:21:36 +0000 The yellow-crested helmetshrike was considered lost after going unseen for nearly 20 years – now an expedition has rediscovered what appears to be a healthy population in central Africa 2418327-magnificent-yellow-crested-bird-photographed-for-the-first-time|2418327 Deadly plant kills its pollinators but nurses their young https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417629-deadly-plant-kills-its-pollinators-but-nurses-their-young/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 20 Feb 2024 15:00:21 +0000 A deadly flower kills the gnats that pollinate it but may help the insects’ offspring in return, which indicates that plant-pollinator relationships may be more complex than previously thought 2417629-deadly-plant-kills-its-pollinators-but-nurses-their-young|2417629 Underwater photo competition showcases stunning images of marine life https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417904-underwater-photo-competition-showcases-stunning-images-of-marine-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 19 Feb 2024 15:41:22 +0000 Diving seabirds, a tiny octopus and a close encounter with a grey whale feature in breathtaking entries for the 2024 Underwater Photographer of the Year competition 2417904-underwater-photo-competition-showcases-stunning-images-of-marine-life|2417904 Polar bears appear to be ageing faster as the Arctic gets warmer https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417305-polar-bears-appear-to-be-ageing-faster-as-the-arctic-gets-warmer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 16 Feb 2024 12:00:08 +0000 Markers of biological ageing in polar bear tissue samples reveal that stress associated with climate change appears to be taking a toll 2417305-polar-bears-appear-to-be-ageing-faster-as-the-arctic-gets-warmer|2417305 Incredible picture of polar bear snoozing atop an iceberg is a winner https://www.newscientist.com/article/2416771-incredible-picture-of-polar-bear-snoozing-atop-an-iceberg-is-a-winner/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Taken in the Svalbard archipelago, Nima Sarikhani's image has scooped the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award 2416771-incredible-picture-of-polar-bear-snoozing-atop-an-iceberg-is-a-winner|2416771 The right microbes on plant roots can make your tea taste better https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417446-the-right-microbes-on-plant-roots-can-make-your-tea-taste-better/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 15 Feb 2024 16:00:12 +0000 Changing the microbial community on the roots of tea plants can improve the flavour and nutritional content of the leaves, leading to a better-tasting cuppa 2417446-the-right-microbes-on-plant-roots-can-make-your-tea-taste-better|2417446 Poison frogs tap-dance to rouse prey and make them easier to catch https://www.newscientist.com/article/2416658-poison-frogs-tap-dance-to-rouse-prey-and-make-them-easier-to-catch/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 15 Feb 2024 06:00:47 +0000 Different species of poison frogs tap their toes when feeding to create vibrations that cause flies to move closer to them 2416658-poison-frogs-tap-dance-to-rouse-prey-and-make-them-easier-to-catch|2416658 Rice containing beef cells could make a sustainable meal https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417099-rice-containing-beef-cells-could-make-a-sustainable-meal/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:00:31 +0000 Scientists have grown cow muscle cells inside grains of rice to create a new food product that could supply protein with a lower carbon footprint than beef 2417099-rice-containing-beef-cells-could-make-a-sustainable-meal|2417099 Female scorpions get stung during sex – and they seem to welcome it https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417198-female-scorpions-get-stung-during-sex-and-they-seem-to-welcome-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Feb 2024 14:00:08 +0000 During courtship rituals, female scorpions appear to willingly let males sting them, which may be a way for them to evaluate prospective mates 2417198-female-scorpions-get-stung-during-sex-and-they-seem-to-welcome-it|2417198 Great apes like teasing each other - which may be the origin of humour https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417005-great-apes-like-teasing-each-other-which-may-be-the-origin-of-humour/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:01:41 +0000 Chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and gorillas frequently toy with their peers by poking, tickling or stealing from them, perhaps showing behaviours that were prerequisites for human joking 2417005-great-apes-like-teasing-each-other-which-may-be-the-origin-of-humour|2417005 Small dogs are more likely to have an extra row of teeth like sharks https://www.newscientist.com/article/2416667-small-dogs-are-more-likely-to-have-an-extra-row-of-teeth-like-sharks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 13 Feb 2024 14:00:50 +0000 Some pet dogs retain their baby teeth, creating two rows that resemble the mouth of a shark. A new analysis shows that the condition is more prevalent in smaller breeds and obese dogs 2416667-small-dogs-are-more-likely-to-have-an-extra-row-of-teeth-like-sharks|2416667 Brazilian flea toad may be the world’s smallest vertebrate https://www.newscientist.com/article/2416854-brazilian-flea-toad-may-be-the-worlds-smallest-vertebrate/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 13 Feb 2024 11:00:05 +0000 Male Brachycephalus pulex frogs are so small that two of them can sit side by side on a pinky nail 2416854-brazilian-flea-toad-may-be-the-worlds-smallest-vertebrate|2416854 Otherworldly beauty of fungi on show in photo competition https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134770-300-otherworldly-beauty-of-fungi-on-show-in-photo-competition/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0000 These stunning images are finalists in the World of Fungi category in the International Garden Photographer of the Year contest mg26134770-300-otherworldly-beauty-of-fungi-on-show-in-photo-competition|2415641 Orca pod disappears after being trapped in drifting ice off Japan https://www.newscientist.com/article/2416280-orca-pod-disappears-after-being-trapped-in-drifting-ice-off-japan/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Feb 2024 17:55:36 +0000 A group of more than a dozen orcas has disappeared after being trapped in freezing Japanese waters for about a day – it isn’t known if they escaped or have died 2416280-orca-pod-disappears-after-being-trapped-in-drifting-ice-off-japan|2416280 Bizarre worm lizard not seen for 90 years found by landmine removers https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415875-bizarre-worm-lizard-not-seen-for-90-years-found-by-landmine-removers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Feb 2024 12:00:29 +0000 A subspecies of the Somali sharp-snouted worm lizard was found by a landmine clearance team, the first official sighting since 1931 2415875-bizarre-worm-lizard-not-seen-for-90-years-found-by-landmine-removers|2415875 Lager could get array of novel flavours thanks to new strains of yeast https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415688-lager-could-get-array-of-novel-flavours-thanks-to-new-strains-of-yeast/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 06 Feb 2024 10:00:46 +0000 Researchers have recreated the hybridisation of two wild yeast species that led to the first lager yeasts, generating new varieties that could make beer with a range of new flavours 2415688-lager-could-get-array-of-novel-flavours-thanks-to-new-strains-of-yeast|2415688 Extinct elk species had antlers that were too big to make sense https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415718-extinct-elk-species-had-antlers-that-were-too-big-to-make-sense/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 05 Feb 2024 21:21:40 +0000 For decades we thought the Irish elk’s body size alone explained why it had enormous antlers, but the truth may be more complicated 2415718-extinct-elk-species-had-antlers-that-were-too-big-to-make-sense|2415718 Deaths from shark attacks across the world doubled in 2023 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415624-deaths-from-shark-attacks-across-the-world-doubled-in-2023/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 05 Feb 2024 14:00:40 +0000 There were 69 unprovoked shark attacks on people and 10 fatalities in 2023 worldwide, with four of the deaths occurring in Australia 2415624-deaths-from-shark-attacks-across-the-world-doubled-in-2023|2415624 Huge study of dog longevity reveals which breeds live the longest https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415370-huge-study-of-dog-longevity-reveals-which-breeds-live-the-longest/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:00:44 +0000 Shiba inus and miniature dachshunds are among the longest-lived dog breeds while flat-faced dogs tend to die younger, a comprehensive study of UK pets has found 2415370-huge-study-of-dog-longevity-reveals-which-breeds-live-the-longest|2415370 Some animal cells contain tiny tornadoes that mix up their contents https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415409-some-animal-cells-contain-tiny-tornadoes-that-mix-up-their-contents/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 02 Feb 2024 13:00:12 +0000 Researchers studying fruit fly egg cells have discovered that they stir up the fluid inside them with a twister-like current 2415409-some-animal-cells-contain-tiny-tornadoes-that-mix-up-their-contents|2415409 Weird anglerfish mating strategy may have helped them evolve https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415180-weird-anglerfish-mating-strategy-may-have-helped-them-evolve/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 01 Feb 2024 08:00:12 +0000 Tiny male anglerfish fuse their bodies into the larger females, and this strange strategy may have helped the fish diversify widely in the deep sea 2415180-weird-anglerfish-mating-strategy-may-have-helped-them-evolve|2415180 Why bioabundance is just as important as biodiversity https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414876-why-bioabundance-is-just-as-important-as-biodiversity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 01 Feb 2024 07:00:20 +0000 The abundance of wild birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and insects has drastically declined over the past 50 years, but the scale and seriousness of this loss is often lost when we focus on the number of species in an area 2414876-why-bioabundance-is-just-as-important-as-biodiversity|2414876 India's first snow leopard survey puts population at just 718 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415148-indias-first-snow-leopard-survey-puts-population-at-just-718/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 31 Jan 2024 15:37:45 +0000 Officials set up almost 2000 camera traps covering 120,000 square kilometres to estimate the number of snow leopards in India’s mountainous regions 2415148-indias-first-snow-leopard-survey-puts-population-at-just-718|2415148 Watch parrots use their beaks for a newly identified form of motion https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414946-watch-parrots-use-their-beaks-for-a-newly-identified-form-of-motion/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:01:47 +0000 Not only can parrots fly and walk, they can also swing along branches using their beaks, in a technique researchers are calling beakiation 2414946-watch-parrots-use-their-beaks-for-a-newly-identified-form-of-motion|2414946 Spider webs collect DNA that reveals the species living nearby https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414817-spider-webs-collect-dna-that-reveals-the-species-living-nearby/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 30 Jan 2024 16:00:01 +0000 DNA analysis of spider webs from two locations in Australia identified dozens of vertebrate species, suggesting a new approach to wildlife monitoring 2414817-spider-webs-collect-dna-that-reveals-the-species-living-nearby|2414817 Orangutan calls have an intricate structure resembling human language https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414437-orangutan-calls-have-an-intricate-structure-resembling-human-language/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 30 Jan 2024 08:06:28 +0000 Calls made by male orangutans to attract females have short sequences nested inside longer sequences – a feature called recursion that was thought to be unique to human language 2414437-orangutan-calls-have-an-intricate-structure-resembling-human-language|2414437 Newborn great white shark possibly seen in the wild for the first time https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414181-newborn-great-white-shark-possibly-seen-in-the-wild-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 29 Jan 2024 14:00:21 +0000 Drone footage filmed off the coast of California shows a 1.5-metre-long, entirely white great white shark pup, probably just hours old – something that has never been seen before 2414181-newborn-great-white-shark-possibly-seen-in-the-wild-for-the-first-time|2414181 Strange virus-like replicators discovered in the human gut https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414677-strange-virus-like-replicators-discovered-in-the-human-gut/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 29 Jan 2024 18:11:00 +0000 A previously unknown type of replicating agent named "obelisks” has been found in genomic data from stool samples – but we know little about what these entities do 2414677-strange-virus-like-replicators-discovered-in-the-human-gut|2414677 Dinosaurs evolved feathers to scare prey, suggests robot experiment https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414147-dinosaurs-evolved-feathers-to-scare-prey-suggests-robot-experiment/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 25 Jan 2024 16:00:34 +0000 Experiments with a robotic dinosaur suggest feathers may have evolved to startle prey into fleeing from hiding places, a strategy used by some modern birds 2414147-dinosaurs-evolved-feathers-to-scare-prey-suggests-robot-experiment|2414147 Tiny marsupials sacrifice sleep for sex during the breeding season https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413876-tiny-marsupials-sacrifice-sleep-for-sex-during-the-breeding-season/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 25 Jan 2024 16:00:07 +0000 Antechinus males only live for one breeding season, so they give up 3 hours of sleep a night during this short period before dying of exhaustion 2413876-tiny-marsupials-sacrifice-sleep-for-sex-during-the-breeding-season|2413876 Owls may actually be able to turn their heads a full 360 degrees https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413893-owls-may-actually-be-able-to-turn-their-heads-a-full-360-degrees/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 25 Jan 2024 15:00:46 +0000 Owls are famously good at rotating their heads, but now anatomical findings suggest they really could go a full 360 degrees without injuring themselves 2413893-owls-may-actually-be-able-to-turn-their-heads-a-full-360-degrees|2413893 Exquisite Jurassic fossils reveal cannibalism in ancient fish https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413904-exquisite-jurassic-fossils-reveal-cannibalism-in-ancient-fish/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 25 Jan 2024 08:00:50 +0000 Three fossils of Pachycormus fish from the dinosaur era feature smaller members of the same species in their guts - perhaps showing how the animals got by when food was scarce 2413904-exquisite-jurassic-fossils-reveal-cannibalism-in-ancient-fish|2413904 Fungi grow faster if you play sounds to them https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413756-fungi-grow-faster-if-you-play-sounds-to-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 24 Jan 2024 12:00:44 +0000 Fungi exposed to acoustic stimulation in lab experiments have faster growth rates, suggesting a possible way to speed up composting and restore habitats 2413756-fungi-grow-faster-if-you-play-sounds-to-them|2413756 Four new emperor penguin colonies have been discovered https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413815-four-new-emperor-penguin-colonies-have-been-discovered/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:01:25 +0000 Satellite images have helped to locate four previously unknown colonies of emperor penguins in the Antarctic. One of the colonies has over 5000 members 2413815-four-new-emperor-penguin-colonies-have-been-discovered|2413815 A bacterium switches from prey to predator when it gets cold https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413791-a-bacterium-switches-from-prey-to-predator-when-it-gets-cold/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 23 Jan 2024 19:00:59 +0000 Growing up at a different temperature seems to transform common prey bacteria into predators, suggesting that bacterial ecology is more fluid than we thought 2413791-a-bacterium-switches-from-prey-to-predator-when-it-gets-cold|2413791