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Bird brains left other dinosaurs behind
Research on a newly discovered bird fossil found that a unique brain shape may be why the ancestors of living birds survived the mass extinction that claimed all other known dinosaurs. Research on a newly discovered bird fossil led by The University of Texas at Austin found that a unique brain shape may be why…
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Research team discovers Arctic dinosaur nursery
Images of dinosaurs as cold-blooded creatures needing tropical temperatures could be a relic of the past. Scientists have found that nearly all types of Arctic dinosaurs, from small bird-like animals to giant tyrannosaurs, reproduced in the region and likely remained there year-round. University of Alaska Fairbanks and Florida State University scientists have found that nearly…
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Number of Earth’s tree species estimated to be 14% higher than currently known, with some 9,200 species yet to be discovered
A new study involving more than 100 scientists from across the globe and the largest forest database yet assembled estimates that there are about 73,000 tree species on Earth, including about 9,200 species yet to be discovered. The global estimate is about 14% higher than the current number of known tree species. Most of the…
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Earliest evidence of humans changing ecosystems with fire
A new study provides the earliest evidence to date of ancient humans significantly altering entire ecosystems with flames. The study combines archaeological evidence — dense clusters of stone artifacts dating as far back as 92,000 years ago — with paleoenvironmental data on the northern shores of Lake Malawi in eastern Africa to document that early…
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Researchers find concerns for animals tied to same habitats
While site fidelity may be beneficial for animals when environmental conditions don’t change very fast, those benefits may not be realized in the ever-changing world dominated by humans, researchers have found through a review of scientific literature. A team of researchers led by scientists from the University of Wyoming and the University of Washington has…
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Milk prebiotics are the cat’s meow
If you haven’t been the parent or caregiver of an infant in recent years, you’d be forgiven for missing the human milk oligosaccharide trend in infant formulas. These complex carbohydrate supplements mimic human breast milk and act like prebiotics, boosting beneficial microbes in babies’ guts. Milk oligosaccharides aren’t just for humans; all mammals make them.…
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Damage control: Plants juggle genome maintenance and growth by being organized
Researchers have found that plants balance growth and genome maintenance by organizing their responses to damage. Plants can’t replace dead cells as animals do, and must deal with DNA damage without halting growth. Combined control of the plant hormones cytokinin and auxin allows plants to organize different DNA damage responses while minimizing cell death. This…
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How do humpback whales rest?
An international research collaboration has used an omnidirectional camera attached to humpback whale to reveal how these creatures rest underwater. These findings demonstrate how wide-angle lens cameras can be useful tools for illuminating the ecology of difficult-to-observe animals in detail. The research group consisted of Assistant Professor Takashi Iwata of Kobe University’s Graduate School of…
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Preventing infection, facilitating healing: New biomaterials from spider silk
New biomaterials reduce the risk of infection and facilitate the body’s healing processes. These nanostructured materials are based on spider silk proteins. They prevent colonization by bacteria and fungi, but at the same time proactively assist in the regeneration of human tissue. They could be used for implants, wound dressings, prostheses, contact lenses, and other…
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Boosting the maternal microbiome sharply reduces biliary atresia risk in early-stage study
When pregnant mice were fed butyrate — a food supplement derived from intestinal bacteria — most of their pups survived after exposure to infection that induces fatal biliary atresia, according to new study. However, when pregnant mice were fed butyrate — a food supplement derived from intestinal bacteria — most of their pups survived after…