Life science news

Fungi turn ants into zombies. (need I say more?)

Tags: Biology

A species of fungus in the genus Ophiocordyceps has evolved to precisely control the ants so much that the ant moves to an area that’s convenient for the fungus before it dies.

Bipedalism: From the ground-up or trees-down?

Tags: Biology

Knuckle walking may have evolved independently in chimpanzees and gorillas.

Itch-specific neurons discovered in mice

Tags: Biology

A group of neurons in the spines of mice has been discovered that are specific to itch but not to pain.

Confirming Aesop - rooks use stones to raise the level of water in a pitcher

Tags: Biology

Rooks, close relatives of crows, actually uses stones to raise the level of water in a pitcher until it rises within reach of its beak as in an Aesop fable.

Ants rescue trapped relatives

Tags: Biology

Ants can be quite sophisticated in their efforts to rescue fellow ants.

One jump from chimps to humans - the origin of malaria

Tags: Biology

Malaria may have jumped from chimpanzees to humans several thousand years ago.

Orang-utans use leaves to lie about their size

Tags: Biology

Preliminary evidence has been found that young orang-utans use leaves for deception, in order to make lower-pitched calls that seem to come from a much larger animal.

How it does a body good: The selective advantage of drinking milk depends where you drink it

Tags: Biology

Milk-drinking populations in Europe and Africa may have evolved "lactase persistence" independently for different causes.

Suminia: Life in the Trees 260 Million Years Ago

A small bone bed containing at least twelve individuals of the Permian synapsid Suminia is discovered.

Long sperm are speedy sperm

Tags: Biology

There seems to be a correlation of longer sperm being faster in zebra finches.

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