In a surprising development in marine biology, recurrent parthenogenesis has been documented for the first time in the shark Mustelus mustelus, also known as the common smooth-hound. This discovery, reported in the journal Scientific Reports, highlights these sharks’ ability to reproduce without the intervention of a male, a phenomenon that could have significant implications for […]
Animals
Posted inScience
Chimpanzees Have the Ability to Speak Like Humans, According to an Experiment
A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports has revealed surprising findings that challenge prevailing theories about the evolution of human speech. This work, conducted by Axel G. Ekström and collaborators, analyzes historical recordings of two enculturated chimpanzees who managed to produce the word mama. The results of this study suggest that chimpanzees possess […]
Posted inScience
Spectacular fossil of four snakes that died together 38 million years ago is first evidence of reptilian social behavior
In a groundbreaking discovery, a fossilized group of four snakes dating back 38 million years has provided the first evidence of social behavior among reptiles. The discovery, made in western Wyoming, showcases a new species of snake named Hibernophis breithaupti. These findings shed light on the social behavior and evolutionary trajectory of the boa family […]
Posted inScience
The Fascinating “Leaf Sheep”, Hermaphroditic Mollusks that Detach Pieces of Their Body to Escape Predators
Earlier, we talked here about Elysia chlorotica, a marine mollusk that we described as being half animal and half plant because it somehow had the ability to perform photosynthesis. Something similar happens with its cousins, the leaf sheep, which are also mollusks and were discovered in 1993. Its scientific name is Costasiella kuroshimae, and it […]
Posted inAncient Egypt
Surprising Contents of an Egyptian Cat Mummy Discovered Through Virtual Reality
The Rennes Museum of Fine Arts has recently unveiled a fascinating discovery about the contents of an ancient Egyptian cat mummy, thanks to an innovative virtual reality project. The cat mummy in question is part of the extensive Egyptology collection at the Rennes Museum of Fine Arts, which has its roots in the 18th-century cabinet […]
Posted inScience
Magnetic Bacteria in Migratory Animals: The Key to Their Navigation Skills?
Recent research suggests that the exceptional navigational abilities of migratory animals may be influenced not just by the Earth’s magnetic fields but also by magnetic bacteria residing within them. Robert Fitak, an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida (UCF), has spearheaded this research by developing a comprehensive DNA database. This database houses millions […]
Posted inMedieval Archaeology
Disturbing Cat Fur Use During the Middle Ages, Confirmed by Evidence Found in Portugal
In a recent archaeological find in Portugal, disturbing evidence about the fate of domestic cats during the Middle Ages has been discovered. This study, led by Eva Pires and published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, reveals that cats were not only common in medieval Portuguese households but were also sacrificed and skinned for […]
Posted inScience
A Group of Butterflies Crosses the Atlantic Ocean on an Astonishing 4,200-kilometer Record Journey
An international team, led by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and under the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, has documented a record-breaking transoceanic flight of more than 4,200 km undertaken by painted lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui). This study, published in the journal Nature Communications, reveals that the journey, which lasted between five and […]
Posted inScience
A 44,000-Year-Old Mummified Wolf Found in Siberian Permafrost is the Oldest Complete Predator Discovered
An autopsy was conducted on a fossil wolf that lived over 44,000 years ago, found mummified in the Siberian permafrost, at the Mammoth Museum Laboratory of the North-Eastern Federal University. Researchers took samples of internal organs to identify and study ancient viruses and microbiota, as well as the animal’s diet, analyze its genome, and compare […]
Posted inScience
Pink Pigs that Eat “Marine Snow” and Glass Sponges that Live for 15,000 Years: Surprising Species Discovered in the Pacific Ocean
Recently, a team of scientists embarked on a remarkable 45-day research expedition to the Clarion Clipperton Zone, a remote and largely unexplored region between Mexico and Hawaii in the eastern Pacific Ocean. One of them was Thomas Dahlgren, a marine ecologist from the University of Gothenburg and the NORCE research institute. These areas are the […]
