Tag: animals plants

Slow motion bats are the secret to next generation drones

Swedish researchers are studying how bats manoeuvre to create next-generation drones.

Hummingbirds are ecological super-specialists

...and thus vulnerable to climate change and habitat destruction.

Male cockroaches that have frequent sex eat more protein

This is most likely because they need protein to produce new sperm and a nuptial gift packed with nutrients that the female can pass on to her unborn young.

Loss of marine habitats is threatening the global fishing industry – new research

New study reveals the first quantitative global evidence for the significant roles that seagrasses play in supporting fishery productivity.

Mass extinction 66 million years ago paved the way for modern shark communities

The famous mass extinction of dinosaurs also impacted oceanic animals and in particular, sharks. A new study reveals how the balance of modern shark biodiversity can be traced back to this very event.

Why are some animals venomous?

Some animals, such as venomous snakes and insects, can use venom for predation or defense, which is an ability that has been developed through millions of years. And the evolution continues – partly due to an increasing pressure from humans.

New test procedures will save dairy cows from Mycoplasma bovis disease

Disease caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma bovis in dairy herds can now be diagnosed more easily and quickly, resulting in better welfare for cows and reducing financial losses for farmers.

See where Greenland harbour porpoises travel

These tough small whales use large parts of the North Atlantic, swimming much further offshore and diving far deeper than previously expected.

Scandinavian bumblebees survive by incubating their eggs

Bumblebee queens look for an abandoned, well-insulated mouse nest to start a family, where temperatures can be 15 degrees warmer than outside.

Why do trees sleep badly?

Scientists from Denmark and Hungary have studied the circadian rhythms of trees and discovered that many of them are poor sleepers. But why is this so?

An eco-friendly cure for a global fish-killing disease

Scientists have discovered a molecule that can save freshwater fish from a widespread deadly parasite.

The great escape: Birds fly away from disease

New study reveals how birds avoid disease by migrating and colonizing new habitats.

Meet the mud dragon: The tiny animal that lives on the beach

This fascinating dragon-like animal can be found on beaches all over the world. But you will need a microscope to see one.

Gut bacteria keeps bears healthily obese

Brown bears are obese. They have to be to survive months of hibernation. And yet they do not experience the complications that we do when we pile on the pounds. So what can they teach us?

Stunning starfish illuminates the dark Arctic

In the dark deep ocean around Greenland, scientists have discovered starfish with surprisingly good eyes and the ability to light up the dark

Climate Change draws invasive species to the Arctic

Warmer temperatures and declining sea ice pulls foreign animals and plants to the Arctic, with drastic consequences for these sensitive ecosystems.

Rare discovery: New moth species discovered in Denmark

Meet the Anarsia innoxiella, which was previously mistaken as pest but is now known to be an entirely new species of moth.

Bird senses can improve drone navigation

South American oilbirds combine echolocation and extremely sensitive vision to find their way through dark caves. Decoding how they do this could help develop autonomous drones.

Extinct species of giant amphibians discovered in Greenland

A 210 million years old skull found in East Greenland tells a story of a gigantic salamander-like amphibian sporting a set of large fangs.

How fake larvae revealed predator patterns around the world

Scientists released an army of fake insect larvae to investigate how predators attack their prey—the tropics officially win as the world’s “hardest place to survive.”

What makes an animal clever? Research shows that intelligence is not just about using tools

The list of animals that use tools keeps growing, from chimps to birds and even octopuses. So is it time that we abandoned "tool use" as a measure of intelligence among species?

Why do these birds throw themselves off cliffs?

The Arctic murre has a curious habit of flinging themselves out of the nest before it is old enough to fly. Now scientists know why.

Scientists have worked out how dung beetles use the Milky Way to hold their course

Scientists constructed an artificial Milky Way, using LEDs, to test the beetles’ abilities to navigate. It turned out that the beetles rely on the contrasting brightness between different parts of the Milky Way to work out which way to go.

Hear a whale calf speak to its mother

Scientists have recorded conversations between mother humpback whales and their calves for the first time. The recording shows how young whales “whisper” to their mothers so that potential predators cannot hear them.

World’s oldest fossil plants could rewrite life's early history

Scientists have discovered the fossilised remains of 1.6 billion year-old red algae from India. Advanced multicellular life began much earlier that previously thought and the timing of the tree of life should be revised, they say.

Meet ‘Mojn’, the ten million-year-old Danish whale

Scientists publish first scientific description of a ten-million-year-old fossil of a beaked whale discovered in Denmark.

World’s oldest vertebrate discovered in Greenland

GREENLAND: The discovery of a 512-year-old Greenland Shark shows how little we still know about the ocean, say scientists.

Elephant seals help scientists study climate change

Data collected by elephant seals reveal key chemical changes in the sea around Antarctica that drive ocean circulation and climate.

Beautiful “flowers” are hiding inside artificial cell membranes

Scientists work with artificial cell membranes all the time, but even though they are so common, they still contain many secrets.