Collaborate Disseminate
Ever been caught in the crossfire of a wet dog firing droplets of water away from their fur with a mad shake? Well, they can’t help it. Scientists have discovered the underlying mechanism that drives dogs – and many other hairy mammals – to vigorously … Continue reading The fascinating brain talk that triggers a wet dog to ‘shake it off’
Despite stories of “wasps getting drunk” and “beetles consuming beer,” it has been thought that alcohol consumption in the non-human animal world has not been particularly widespread, deliberate or sought out for a physiological benefit. Now, ecologist… Continue reading Alcohol consumption is widespread in the animal kingdom
Pythons have famously cartoonish eating habits, and they might be even better at it than we thought. A new study has found that Burmese pythons can eat even larger prey than was thought mathematically possible.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, Science… Continue reading Burmese pythons can eat bigger animals than we thought possible
A surprise discovery in a remote Australian desert region has given us new clues into the evolution of complex animal life, dating back more than 500 million years. The numerous fossils of the animal now known as Quaestio simpsonorum also show clear le… Continue reading Ancient ‘sea Roomba’ tells a 555-million-year-old story of our evolution
You might not hear it, but rodents are known to speak to each other in voices so high-pitched that human ears can’t pick them up. Now scientists have found that these vocalizations might have a second purpose – they help them smell better.Continue Read… Continue reading Rats use ultrasound to boost their sense of smell, suggests new study
Imagine being horribly maimed and the only way to survive was to merge your damaged flesh with another injured human. Scientists have discovered this startling ability in comb jellies, which can fuse together to share a nervous and digestive system.Con… Continue reading Strange sea creatures can merge their bodies into one blob when injured
This stunning image of a bearded dragon (Pogona barbata) soaking up the rays in the Australian capital of Canberra has taken out the overall prize in the 2024 British Ecology Society’s photography competition, an annual contest open to any nature snapp… Continue reading Dragons and nature battles: The 2024 Capturing Ecology photography awards
Incredibly, for the first time, scientists have unraveled the mechanisms at play when rubbing a surface creates an electrical current, something that was first recorded in 600 BCE yet not fully understood until now. And while cats are not the main culp… Continue reading The shocking science behind petting cats – or how static electricity works
A humble little lizard has developed a clever escape route from predators – it blows a bubble over its nostrils and scuba dives to safety for 20 minutes or more. Now, a biologist has explored exactly how it works.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, Scie… Continue reading Bubble-blowing lizard scuba dives to avoid predators
From 350,757 coin flips to prove probability to assessing the swimming abilities of dead trout, the winners of the 2024 Ig Nobel Prize have been recognized for their work in absurd scientific research. And somewhat fitting for the recipients, they all … Continue reading Butt-breathing mammals and dead fish swimming: The 2024 Ig Nobel Prize