Colossal new species may be largest animal that ever existed

An artist's impression of Perucetus colossus, a newly discovered ancient whale species that may now be the largest animal that ever existed

The blue whale has long been considered the largest animal to have ever existed, even dwarfing the biggest known dinosaurs. But now a new species threatens to steal the crown, and upends what we thought we knew about whale evolution.

Continue Reading

Category: Biology, Science

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Continue reading Colossal new species may be largest animal that ever existed

Kangaroo tendons could rebuild human knees better, stronger

Reconstructing knees with kangaroo tissue is one step, or hop, closer to being a reality, with human trials set to get under way in 2024.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Macquarie University, Knee injury, Tendon, kangaroo, Animal science… Continue reading Kangaroo tendons could rebuild human knees better, stronger

New venomous cocktails from cone snail have huge drug potential

In a world first, researchers have reared cone snails in a laboratory aquarium, which presents huge potential for understanding and unlocking the power of their complex venom for a vast range of human therapeutics.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, Sci… Continue reading New venomous cocktails from cone snail have huge drug potential

Octopus may experience REM sleep, and dream, much like we do

Scientists have spent years trying to work out if octopuses, whose brains have some remarkable similarities to our own, have dreams. A recent study even purported that the eight-armed cephalopods can have physical reactions in their sleep, akin to bein… Continue reading Octopus may experience REM sleep, and dream, much like we do

Dolphins also use baby talk to bond with young

Love it or hate it, but the way humans modify their speech when they communicate with their young offspring, commonly known as “baby talk,” has now been recorded among bottlenose dolphin mothers, too.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: Aarh… Continue reading Dolphins also use baby talk to bond with young

Megalodon was warm-blooded – and that might have been its downfall

Fossilized teeth are most of the remains we have today of the megalodon, which makes it hard to figure out what it looked like or how it lived. But now, scientists have used those teeth to estimate the ancient shark’s body temperature, and found it was… Continue reading Megalodon was warm-blooded – and that might have been its downfall

Fossils tell gory story of marine reptiles getting their heads bitten off

With evolution there’s always a trade-off – long necks may help you find food but they’re also a massive weak spot. Now, paleontologists have found direct fossil evidence of prehistoric, long-necked marine reptiles being decapitated by predators.Contin… Continue reading Fossils tell gory story of marine reptiles getting their heads bitten off

“Virgin birth” seen in a crocodile suggests dinosaurs could also go solo

Scientists have observed the first known “virgin birth” in crocodiles. A female crocodile, kept alone in captivity for 16 years, laid a clutch of eggs that included a fully formed fetus which was genetically identical to its mother. The find reveals th… Continue reading “Virgin birth” seen in a crocodile suggests dinosaurs could also go solo

Contraceptive gene therapy injections in cats replaces surgical spaying

Getting your cat spayed is a normal part of pet ownership, but it can be expensive, invasive and not very practical on strays. Now scientists have developed and tested a new method that renders female cats permanently sterile with a single gene therapy… Continue reading Contraceptive gene therapy injections in cats replaces surgical spaying

‘Head-butting’ dinosaurs may have flaunted Fresh Prince flat-tops instead

Dome-skulled dinosaurs may have looked less like Friar Tuck and more like the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. New fossil finds suggest they may have had big bristly ornaments on their heads, and might not have butted heads like they do in the movies.Continue … Continue reading ‘Head-butting’ dinosaurs may have flaunted Fresh Prince flat-tops instead