New Scientist - Life https://www.newscientist.com/ https://www.newscientist.com/build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png https://www.newscientist.com daily 1 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2461513-dolphins-may-use-their-teeth-to-hear-underwater/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 25 Dec 2024 15:00:42 +0000 The teeth of dolphins and other toothed whales are connected to a uniquely thick bundle of nerve fibres, which might play a role in sound detection 2461513-dolphins-may-use-their-teeth-to-hear-underwater|2461513 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2459777-newly-identified-scorpion-species-spits-venom-to-defend-itself/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:00:24 +0000 A scorpion discovered in South America can spray venom out of its stinger and hit targets up to 35 centimetres away 2459777-newly-identified-scorpion-species-spits-venom-to-defend-itself|2459777 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2460323-whales-may-hone-their-singing-skills-by-practising-out-of-season/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:00:32 +0000 The songs of male humpback whales seem to become more complex in the months before they look for a mate, suggesting a rehearsal period may be important for good performance 2460323-whales-may-hone-their-singing-skills-by-practising-out-of-season|2460323 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2459910-2024-review-the-strangest-animal-videos-of-the-year/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:00:08 +0000 From bee slaps to ant amputations, 2024 has been a fascinating year to learn more about the animal kingdom 2459910-2024-review-the-strangest-animal-videos-of-the-year|2459910 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2461865-hairy-orangutan-pitcher-plant-discovered-in-borneo/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 20 Dec 2024 13:00:20 +0000 A newly described species of giant pitcher plant is one of the biggest ever found, with leaves covered in fur the same colour as orangutans 2461865-hairy-orangutan-pitcher-plant-discovered-in-borneo|2461865 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2459464-the-most-inspiring-conservation-success-stories-in-2024/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:00:27 +0000 Endangered skates and kingfishers were brought back from the brink this year and scientists found a way to protect frogs from deadly infections 2459464-the-most-inspiring-conservation-success-stories-in-2024|2459464 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2461006-earliest-known-sabre-toothed-predator-hunted-270-million-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 17 Dec 2024 10:00:11 +0000 The fossilised remains of an ancient carnivore provide intriguing hints about how early relatives of mammals began regulating their own body temperature 2461006-earliest-known-sabre-toothed-predator-hunted-270-million-years-ago|2461006 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2458891-a-festival-of-stunning-animal-pictures-from-2024/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Dec 2024 18:00:07 +0000 The past 12 months have seen animals of all shapes, sizes and colours strut their stuff – here are just a few of the best pictures from the year 2458891-a-festival-of-stunning-animal-pictures-from-2024|2458891 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2460697-vampire-hedgehog-among-234-new-species-identified-in-asia/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:01:13 +0000 The Greater Mekong region of Asia hosts a wealth of rare and unstudied species – 173 new species of plants, 26 reptiles, 17 amphibians, 15 fish and three mammals were described last year. Here are six of them 2460697-vampire-hedgehog-among-234-new-species-identified-in-asia|2460697 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2460465-magic-mushrooms-found-in-africa-are-a-species-new-to-science/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 12 Dec 2024 17:03:05 +0000 A fungus named Psilocybe ochraceocentrata is the closest relative of a widely cultivated psychedelic mushroom, giving clues to their evolutionary origins 2460465-magic-mushrooms-found-in-africa-are-a-species-new-to-science|2460465 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435211-400-see-the-world-in-close-up-in-these-intricate-images-of-nature/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0000 For a truly exquisite glimpse of plants and animals, check out some of the top entries and the winner of the 2024 Evident Image of the Year contest mg26435211-400-see-the-world-in-close-up-in-these-intricate-images-of-nature|2459253 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2458901-pigeons-are-misunderstood-these-little-known-facts-will-prove-why/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Dec 2024 17:00:28 +0000 They were loved by Charles Darwin, they build brilliantly bad nests and they even produce a kind of “milk”. Surely, these facts are more than enough to foster a love for the urban pigeon 2458901-pigeons-are-misunderstood-these-little-known-facts-will-prove-why|2458901 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435212-300-the-amazing-talents-of-pigeons-and-why-we-should-learn-to-love-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000 Rats of the sky? Pigeons are often the target of human ire, but there's a lot to cherish – or at least appreciate – in these scrappy survivors mg26435212-300-the-amazing-talents-of-pigeons-and-why-we-should-learn-to-love-them|2459272 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2459747-dogs-pull-harder-on-the-leash-when-they-wear-a-harness-than-a-collar/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Dec 2024 10:12:45 +0000 Dog harnesses are sometimes claimed to reduce pulling forces on the leash, but an experiment found they have the opposite effect 2459747-dogs-pull-harder-on-the-leash-when-they-wear-a-harness-than-a-collar|2459747 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2459206-screwworm-why-is-this-flesh-eating-parasite-making-a-comeback/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 06 Dec 2024 18:00:47 +0000 A resurgence of the screwworm parasite in Central America could have a devastating impact on livestock farming, and poses a threat to humans and wildlife too 2459206-screwworm-why-is-this-flesh-eating-parasite-making-a-comeback|2459206 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435201-500-the-extraordinary-ways-species-control-their-own-evolutionary-fate/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 04 Dec 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Natural selection isn't just something that happens to organisms, their activities also play a role, giving some species – including humans – a supercharged ability to evolve mg26435201-500-the-extraordinary-ways-species-control-their-own-evolutionary-fate|2458485 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2459154-conservationists-are-collecting-semen-from-endangered-wild-sharks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 06 Dec 2024 12:00:07 +0000 Scuba divers will attempt to collect semen from at least nine wild male leopard sharks for the first time, for use in captive breeding programmes aiming to boost wild populations 2459154-conservationists-are-collecting-semen-from-endangered-wild-sharks|2459154 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435200-300-intricate-18th-century-illustrations-of-stunning-flora-and-fauna/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 04 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Mark Catesby's work documents the plants and animals he saw while journeying in North America and the Caribbean mg26435200-300-intricate-18th-century-illustrations-of-stunning-flora-and-fauna|2458354 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2459008-plants-laced-with-a-variety-of-fungi-are-more-popular-with-bees/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 05 Dec 2024 16:00:09 +0000 Bees visited flowers on plants inoculated with diverse fungi more than plants without this treatment – but not every combination of fungus had the same effect 2459008-plants-laced-with-a-variety-of-fungi-are-more-popular-with-bees|2459008 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435202-700-the-theory-of-evolution-can-evolve-without-rejecting-darwinism/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 04 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Alternative thinking on the evolution of species is a welcome way to highlight some neglected aspects of life on Earth, but it doesn't mean Darwin was wrong mg26435202-700-the-theory-of-evolution-can-evolve-without-rejecting-darwinism|2458662 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2458586-new-forms-of-animals-made-by-fusing-several-comb-jellies-together/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 03 Dec 2024 19:00:26 +0000 Parts from dozens of different individual comb jellies have been fused together to create strange new animals unlike anything seen before 2458586-new-forms-of-animals-made-by-fusing-several-comb-jellies-together|2458586 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435190-700-why-surrounding-your-plants-with-crushed-eggshells-wont-deter-slugs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 27 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Want to protect your young plants from the ravages of slugs and snails? A classic gardening tip is to use crushed eggshells to discourage them. Shame it doesn't work, says James Wong mg26435190-700-why-surrounding-your-plants-with-crushed-eggshells-wont-deter-slugs|2457570 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2458090-fossilised-droppings-tell-the-story-of-dinosaurs-rise-to-power/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 27 Nov 2024 16:00:40 +0000 An analysis of hundreds of bromalites – fossilised faeces and vomit – shows how changes in diet enabled dinosaurs to take over the world in the early Jurassic 2458090-fossilised-droppings-tell-the-story-of-dinosaurs-rise-to-power|2458090 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2457351-inside-puppy-kindergarten-science-based-ways-to-train-your-dog/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 27 Nov 2024 12:37:30 +0000 Scientists studying puppy cognition explore the impact of breeding versus training, shed new light on milestones in dogs' cognitive development and reveal science-backed methods to train a "good" dog 2457351-inside-puppy-kindergarten-science-based-ways-to-train-your-dog|2457351 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2457910-orcas-have-begun-wearing-salmon-hats-again-and-we-may-soon-know-why/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 26 Nov 2024 17:00:34 +0000 About 40 years ago, researchers noticed a population of orcas had begun swimming around with dead fish on their heads, and now the craze is back 2457910-orcas-have-begun-wearing-salmon-hats-again-and-we-may-soon-know-why|2457910 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435190-500-how-a-unique-puppy-kindergarten-lab-put-the-science-into-dog-training/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:01:00 +0000 Most dogs aren't bred to feel at ease in our homes, but scientists studying puppy cognition have found ways you can help yours adapt mg26435190-500-how-a-unique-puppy-kindergarten-lab-put-the-science-into-dog-training|2457568 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2457464-chimpanzees-seem-to-get-more-technologically-advanced-through-culture/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:00:26 +0000 Groups of wild chimpanzees with more complex tool-using behaviours tend to be genetically linked, providing evidence for cumulative culture in other apes 2457464-chimpanzees-seem-to-get-more-technologically-advanced-through-culture|2457464 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2457305-brainwave-experiment-shows-minke-whales-have-ultrasonic-hearing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:00:25 +0000 In the first hearing test of live baleen whales, the animals detected much higher frequency sounds than expected, forcing researchers to reconsider how these mammals respond to predators – and humans 2457305-brainwave-experiment-shows-minke-whales-have-ultrasonic-hearing|2457305 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2456589-a-sliver-of-lab-grown-wood-has-been-made-from-stem-cells/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:30:14 +0000 Growing wood directly from stem cells could offer an alternative to cutting threatened hardwood trees, but it isn't clear if it has same properties as actual wood 2456589-a-sliver-of-lab-grown-wood-has-been-made-from-stem-cells|2456589 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2457090-worm-like-fossil-is-the-oldest-ancestor-of-spiders-and-crustaceans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 21 Nov 2024 19:41:50 +0000 Arthropods belong to an evolutionary branch – the ecdysozoa – that contains about half of all animal species, and the earliest fossil evidence of the group now dates back 550 million years 2457090-worm-like-fossil-is-the-oldest-ancestor-of-spiders-and-crustaceans|2457090 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2457336-nectar-loving-ethiopian-wolves-may-be-the-first-carnivore-pollinators/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 21 Nov 2024 10:17:58 +0000 Endangered Ethiopian wolves feed on the nectar of red hot poker plants, and may transport pollen from flower to flower as they do so 2457336-nectar-loving-ethiopian-wolves-may-be-the-first-carnivore-pollinators|2457336 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2456923-how-military-sonar-impacts-dolphin-social-dynamics/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:00:51 +0000 Research highlights impacts of military sonar devices on dolphin behaviour 2456923-how-military-sonar-impacts-dolphin-social-dynamics|2456923 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2456877-heart-shaped-mollusc-has-windows-that-work-like-fibre-optics/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:00:33 +0000 Tiny, solid windows in the shells of heart cockles let in light for the photosynthetic algae inside them – and they could show us how to make better fibre-optic cables 2456877-heart-shaped-mollusc-has-windows-that-work-like-fibre-optics|2456877 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2456796-a-giant-hornet-from-asia-has-appeared-in-europe-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:58:57 +0000 Four southern giant hornets have been identified in northern Spain, leading to concerns that the species could harm native insects if it becomes widespread 2456796-a-giant-hornet-from-asia-has-appeared-in-europe-for-the-first-time|2456796 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2456416-wild-cavefish-can-somehow-survive-with-almost-no-sleep-at-all/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:00:02 +0000 Several populations of Mexican tetra fish that live in darkness have independently evolved to need hardly any sleep, but the reason why is a mystery 2456416-wild-cavefish-can-somehow-survive-with-almost-no-sleep-at-all|2456416 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2456043-exquisite-bird-fossil-provides-clues-to-the-evolution-of-avian-brains/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:00:11 +0000 Palaeontologists have pieced together the brain structure of a bird that lived 80 million years ago named Navaornis hestiae, thanks to a remarkably well-preserved fossil   2456043-exquisite-bird-fossil-provides-clues-to-the-evolution-of-avian-brains|2456043 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2455790-how-a-single-gopher-restored-a-landscape-devastated-by-a-volcano/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 11 Nov 2024 18:00:53 +0000 Never underestimate what a single gopher can achieve in a day: one of the burrowing mammals helped boost soil fungi in an area blanketed by ash from the explosive eruption of Mount St Helens in Washington state 2455790-how-a-single-gopher-restored-a-landscape-devastated-by-a-volcano|2455790 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2455919-a-200-year-old-mystery-about-newts-has-finally-been-solved/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 15 Nov 2024 12:00:01 +0000 A genetic flaw dooms half of all crested newts to die before they hatch – now we know how this baffling evolutionary quirk came about 2455919-a-200-year-old-mystery-about-newts-has-finally-been-solved|2455919 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435172-100-to-truly-understand-non-human-grief-we-need-to-think-like-the-animals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Evidence that animals mourn the death of loved ones is growing, but we should be wary of letting our biases cloud this topic, says philosopher Susana Monsó mg26435172-100-to-truly-understand-non-human-grief-we-need-to-think-like-the-animals|2455596 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2455948-migratory-birds-can-use-earths-magnetic-field-like-a-gps/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:00:39 +0000 Eurasian reed warblers don’t just get a sense of direction from Earth’s magnetic field – they can also calculate their coordinates on a mental map 2455948-migratory-birds-can-use-earths-magnetic-field-like-a-gps|2455948 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2455641-red-kites-and-buzzards-are-being-killed-by-misuse-of-rat-poisons/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 12 Nov 2024 06:00:33 +0000 Campaigners are calling for stricter controls on rodenticides after finding that birds of prey in England are increasingly being exposed to high doses of rat poison 2455641-red-kites-and-buzzards-are-being-killed-by-misuse-of-rat-poisons|2455641 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2455584-lights-on-surfboards-and-wetsuits-could-deter-shark-attacks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:00:42 +0000 Experiments show that illuminating the underside of a decoy seal reduces attacks by great white sharks, revealing a possible strategy to protect surfers and swimmers 2455584-lights-on-surfboards-and-wetsuits-could-deter-shark-attacks|2455584 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2455504-chimps-do-better-at-difficult-tasks-when-they-have-an-audience/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 08 Nov 2024 16:00:33 +0000 An analysis of thousands of cognitive tests carried out by chimpanzees finds that the number of spectators influenced their performance in different ways depending on the difficulty of the task 2455504-chimps-do-better-at-difficult-tasks-when-they-have-an-audience|2455504 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2455485-watch-elephants-use-a-hose-to-shower-themselves-and-prank-others/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 08 Nov 2024 16:00:22 +0000 Asian elephants at Berlin Zoo show impressive skill when using a hose as a tool, and even appear to sabotage each other by stopping the flow of water 2455485-watch-elephants-use-a-hose-to-shower-themselves-and-prank-others|2455485 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435162-600-new-scientist-recommends-the-pier-26-science-playground/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 06 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0000 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week mg26435162-600-new-scientist-recommends-the-pier-26-science-playground|2454624 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435160-300-see-nature-in-close-up-in-these-stunning-photographs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 06 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Shortlisted for the Close-up Photographer of the Year contest, these images zoom in on animals in all their glory mg26435160-300-see-nature-in-close-up-in-these-stunning-photographs|2454441 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2454693-marmots-could-have-the-solution-to-a-long-running-debate-in-evolution/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 07 Nov 2024 18:00:29 +0000 When it comes to the survival of animals living in the wild, the characteristics of the group can matter as much as the traits of the individual, according to a study in marmots 2454693-marmots-could-have-the-solution-to-a-long-running-debate-in-evolution|2454693 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2454532-vampire-bats-run-on-a-treadmill-to-reveal-their-strange-metabolism/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:01:15 +0000 Experiments where vampire bats were made to run on a treadmill have revealed how they extract energy from protein in their latest blood meal 2454532-vampire-bats-run-on-a-treadmill-to-reveal-their-strange-metabolism|2454532 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2454482-worlds-largest-tree-is-also-among-the-oldest-living-organisms/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 01 Nov 2024 14:14:22 +0000 DNA analysis suggests Pando, a quaking aspen in Utah with thousands of stems connected by their roots, is between 16,000 and 81,000 years old 2454482-worlds-largest-tree-is-also-among-the-oldest-living-organisms|2454482 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435154-600-tense-docu-thriller-exposes-the-cruelties-of-commercial-whale-trade/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Orca – Black & White Gold digs deep into the dirty waters surrounding the killer whale trade and captures a daring rescue mission mg26435154-600-tense-docu-thriller-exposes-the-cruelties-of-commercial-whale-trade|2453795 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2454031-oldest-tadpole-fossil-known-to-science-dates-back-161-million-years/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 30 Oct 2024 16:00:17 +0000 A fossil of a tadpole from Argentina is 161 million years old - and isn't that different from some modern species 2454031-oldest-tadpole-fossil-known-to-science-dates-back-161-million-years|2454031 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2453548-weird-microbes-could-help-rewrite-the-origin-of-multicellular-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 28 Oct 2024 11:30:00 +0000 Single-celled organisms called archaea can become multicellular when compressed, highlighting the role of physical forces in evolution 2453548-weird-microbes-could-help-rewrite-the-origin-of-multicellular-life|2453548 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435143-700-why-a-potted-plant-isnt-the-easiest-option-for-would-be-gardeners/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 23 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0100 For nervous newbie gardeners, starting out with a single plant in a small pot is pitched as an easy win by the horticultural industry. James Wong explains why it isn't mg26435143-700-why-a-potted-plant-isnt-the-easiest-option-for-would-be-gardeners|2452933 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435140-500-new-scientist-recommends-documentary-hunt-for-the-oldest-dna/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 23 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0100 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week mg26435140-500-new-scientist-recommends-documentary-hunt-for-the-oldest-dna|2452427 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2453218-your-gut-bacteria-are-at-war-and-force-their-enemies-to-switch-sides/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 24 Oct 2024 20:00:32 +0100 Rival tribes of bacteria armed with poison darts are fighting it out in your gut, with armies of traitors often winning the day 2453218-your-gut-bacteria-are-at-war-and-force-their-enemies-to-switch-sides|2453218 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452774-morphing-red-blood-cells-help-bats-hibernate-and-we-could-do-it-too/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:00:56 +0100 Animals that hibernate need a way to keep their blood flowing as their body temperature drops, and it seems that the mechanical properties of red blood cells may be key 2452774-morphing-red-blood-cells-help-bats-hibernate-and-we-could-do-it-too|2452774 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452672-preserved-tracks-suggest-non-avian-dinosaurs-used-their-wings-to-run/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 21 Oct 2024 20:00:21 +0100 Not all winged dinosaurs were necessarily capable of full flight, but this anatomical feature may have enabled them to travel further by flapping or gliding 2452672-preserved-tracks-suggest-non-avian-dinosaurs-used-their-wings-to-run|2452672 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452557-hornets-can-hold-their-alcohol-like-no-other-animal-on-earth/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 21 Oct 2024 21:00:35 +0100 The oriental hornet shows no ill effects – or behavioural changes – when it spends a week drinking an 80 per cent alcohol solution 2452557-hornets-can-hold-their-alcohol-like-no-other-animal-on-earth|2452557 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452196-de-extinction-company-claims-it-has-nearly-complete-thylacine-genome/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 17 Oct 2024 05:00:25 +0100 Colossal, a US firm that is aiming to revive lost species such as the woolly mammoth, says it now has a near-complete genome of the extinct thylacine 2452196-de-extinction-company-claims-it-has-nearly-complete-thylacine-genome|2452196 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452302-these-stunning-photos-celebrate-the-intricacy-of-the-microscopic-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 17 Oct 2024 16:00:42 +0100 A mouse's tumours, scales from a butterfly's wings and a smiling cross-section of a bracken fern are some of the incredible images from the Nikon Small World photography competition 2452302-these-stunning-photos-celebrate-the-intricacy-of-the-microscopic-world|2452302 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451504-invasive-snake-is-surviving-in-britain-by-living-in-attics-and-walls/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 16 Oct 2024 13:00:52 +0100 Britain should be too cold for the invasive Aesculapian snake to survive, but it is thriving by exploiting the warmth of attics, wall cavities and compost heaps 2451504-invasive-snake-is-surviving-in-britain-by-living-in-attics-and-walls|2451504 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452327-motor-made-from-bacteria-parts-is-one-of-the-smallest-ever-built/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 17 Oct 2024 13:00:11 +0100 The natural motors that power tail-like appendages in bacteria seem to have a single evolutionary origin, allowing parts from different species to be combined to create a tiny new engine 2452327-motor-made-from-bacteria-parts-is-one-of-the-smallest-ever-built|2452327 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452155-dolphins-breathe-in-microplastics-and-it-could-be-damaging-their-lungs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 16 Oct 2024 20:00:02 +0100 Dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico have tiny bits of plastic in their breath, and this is probably a worldwide problem 2452155-dolphins-breathe-in-microplastics-and-it-could-be-damaging-their-lungs|2452155 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451874-male-mice-flee-to-female-mice-to-de-escalate-fights/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 15 Oct 2024 20:00:46 +0100 During a fight between two male mice, one will often run to a female mouse to distract their aggressor, a bait-and-switch strategy that could help abate social conflicts 2451874-male-mice-flee-to-female-mice-to-de-escalate-fights|2451874 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451644-puppies-as-young-as-6-weeks-old-know-to-ask-people-for-help/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:00:13 +0100 Puppies that are raised in someone's home seem to benefit from that extra human interaction, by asking for help at a younger age than those brought up in kennels 2451644-puppies-as-young-as-6-weeks-old-know-to-ask-people-for-help|2451644 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451789-seven-newly-named-frog-species-make-whistles-that-sound-like-star-trek/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 15 Oct 2024 11:00:24 +0100 A group of frogs from Madagascar have mating calls that sound like Star Trek sound effects – now their species names honour captains from the series 2451789-seven-newly-named-frog-species-make-whistles-that-sound-like-star-trek|2451789 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2451354-beth-shapiro-the-ancient-dna-pioneers-mission-to-bring-back-the-dodo/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 11 Oct 2024 15:30:22 +0100 Evolutionary molecular biologist Beth Shapiro on the hunt for ancient DNA and her groundbreaking de-extinction and environmental mission   2451354-beth-shapiro-the-ancient-dna-pioneers-mission-to-bring-back-the-dodo|2451354 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435120-500-richard-dawkinss-latest-crams-gorgeous-writing-in-an-ill-fitting-box/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 09 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0100 A new book from the science-writing legend is an Attenborough-esque romp through some of the wonders of the natural world. Just beware the title's misfiring metaphor mg26435120-500-richard-dawkinss-latest-crams-gorgeous-writing-in-an-ill-fitting-box|2450637 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451401-there-could-be-30000-species-of-earthworms-wriggling-around-the-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:00:46 +0100 Nearly 6000 species and subspecies of earthworms have been identified by scientists – but the true number could top 30,000 2451401-there-could-be-30000-species-of-earthworms-wriggling-around-the-world|2451401 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451390-living-microbes-found-deep-inside-2-billion-year-old-rock/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 10 Oct 2024 11:44:56 +0100 Ancient volcanic rock from South Africa has been found to harbour primitive bacteria, which may shed light on some of the earliest forms of life on Earth 2451390-living-microbes-found-deep-inside-2-billion-year-old-rock|2451390 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2451159-paramotorists-collect-rare-plant-species-from-peruvian-desert-oases/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 09 Oct 2024 09:00:47 +0100 Kew scientists use paramotorists to collect rare plant species from Peruvian desert oases 2451159-paramotorists-collect-rare-plant-species-from-peruvian-desert-oases|2451159 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450872-see-the-stunning-winners-from-the-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 09 Oct 2024 00:31:59 +0100 An army of tadpoles and a stretching lynx are just some of the incredible photos winning accolades at the annual competition 2450872-see-the-stunning-winners-from-the-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year|2450872 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450693-two-injured-comb-jellies-can-merge-to-form-one-individual/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 07 Oct 2024 17:00:39 +0100 A pair of ctenophores, or comb jellies, can fuse their bodies together, merging their digestive and nervous systems, without any issues with immune rejection 2450693-two-injured-comb-jellies-can-merge-to-form-one-individual|2450693 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450495-ants-can-be-used-to-make-yogurt-and-now-we-know-how-it-works/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:00:00 +0100 A traditional yogurt-making practice from south-eastern Europe uses live ants as a starter, with the insects providing the bacteria and acid needed to initiate fermentation 2450495-ants-can-be-used-to-make-yogurt-and-now-we-know-how-it-works|2450495 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435110-300-its-time-to-celebrate-a-renaissance-in-english-nature-writing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 02 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Musing on John Lewis-Stempel's latest book, England: A natural history, James McConnachie marks the flowering of other, more diverse voices in nature writing mg26435110-300-its-time-to-celebrate-a-renaissance-in-english-nature-writing|2449842 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450346-dolphin-smiles-may-truly-be-a-sign-of-playfulness/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 02 Oct 2024 17:00:48 +0100 Captive dolphins are more likely to make an open-mouthed expression when their playmate can see them and they often reciprocate, hinting that it is a form of visual communication 2450346-dolphin-smiles-may-truly-be-a-sign-of-playfulness|2450346 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450104-some-fish-regrow-injured-fins-and-were-closer-to-understanding-how/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 01 Oct 2024 12:00:46 +0100 Unravelling the complex biological process that allows fish to regrow injured fins could help advance regenerative medicine in humans 2450104-some-fish-regrow-injured-fins-and-were-closer-to-understanding-how|2450104 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2449993-a-shark-survived-being-stabbed-through-the-head-by-a-swordfish/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 01 Oct 2024 12:00:35 +0100 Fishers in Albania caught a blue shark with an 18-centimetre fragment of swordfish bill embedded in its skull, in the first known case of a shark surviving such an injury 2449993-a-shark-survived-being-stabbed-through-the-head-by-a-swordfish|2449993 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335100-500-richard-powerss-new-novel-is-a-beautiful-love-letter-to-our-oceans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 25 Sep 2024 19:00:00 +0100 From colonialism to AI, this Booker-longlisted novel urges us to wake up to how we treat wild creatures and places mg26335100-500-richard-powerss-new-novel-is-a-beautiful-love-letter-to-our-oceans|2448804 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448167-bacteria-can-work-as-a-team-to-spot-prime-numbers-and-vowels/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 27 Sep 2024 13:00:09 +0100 Bacteria that have been genetically engineered to work like computers can solve a range of problems, using a very simple type of artificial intelligence 2448167-bacteria-can-work-as-a-team-to-spot-prime-numbers-and-vowels|2448167 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2449617-these-fish-have-evolved-legs-that-can-find-and-taste-buried-food/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:00:48 +0100 Northern sea robins are formidable marine hunters, and they owe their success to modified fin rays that let them find prey buried in the seabed 2449617-these-fish-have-evolved-legs-that-can-find-and-taste-buried-food|2449617 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2449446-dinosaurs-may-have-run-like-emus-by-keeping-one-foot-on-the-ground/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 25 Sep 2024 20:00:03 +0100 It seems to be more energy efficient for emus to keep one foot on the ground when running at a moderate pace, and the same may have been true for dinosaurs 2449446-dinosaurs-may-have-run-like-emus-by-keeping-one-foot-on-the-ground|2449446 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2449128-axolotls-seem-to-pause-their-biological-clocks-and-stop-ageing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 24 Sep 2024 17:00:07 +0100 In most vertebrates, a pattern of chemical marks on the genome is a reliable indicator of age, but in axolotls this clock seems to stop after the first four years of life 2449128-axolotls-seem-to-pause-their-biological-clocks-and-stop-ageing|2449128 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448908-octopuses-and-fish-hunt-as-a-team-to-catch-more-prey/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 23 Sep 2024 17:00:03 +0100 An octopus will work with several different species of fish to find and catch prey - and punch those that aren't helping 2448908-octopuses-and-fish-hunt-as-a-team-to-catch-more-prey|2448908 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335091-100-is-it-really-cheaper-to-cultivate-your-own-fruit-and-vegetables/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 18 Sep 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Our gardening columnist James Wong isn’t convinced, and does the maths to get some answers mg26335091-100-is-it-really-cheaper-to-cultivate-your-own-fruit-and-vegetables|2447908 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448326-giant-rats-trained-to-sniff-out-illegal-wildlife-trade/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 19 Sep 2024 13:00:34 +0100 African giant pouched rats proved adept at detecting four commonly trafficked products derived from endangered species including rhino horn and elephant ivory 2448326-giant-rats-trained-to-sniff-out-illegal-wildlife-trade|2448326 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448468-the-cactus-familys-surprising-evolutionary-journey/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:00:44 +0100 We are finally untangling the ancient history of the cactus family, revealing some surprising forces that shaped these plants – ­­­­­­and prompting concern for their future 2448468-the-cactus-familys-surprising-evolutionary-journey|2448468 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448307-air-jacket-helps-scuba-diving-lizards-stay-underwater-for-longer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 18 Sep 2024 01:01:36 +0100 Some lizards dive into streams to escape predators, and a specialised bubble-breathing technique enables them to stay submerged for up to 18 minutes 2448307-air-jacket-helps-scuba-diving-lizards-stay-underwater-for-longer|2448307 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448014-some-flowers-may-have-evolved-long-stems-to-be-better-seen-by-bats/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 17 Sep 2024 17:00:33 +0100 Echolocating bats can more easily find and pollinate long-stemmed flowers that stand out from the surrounding foliage, which may be why this floral trait evolved 2448014-some-flowers-may-have-evolved-long-stems-to-be-better-seen-by-bats|2448014 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2447977-tiny-chameleon-spotted-by-tourists-in-madagascar-is-new-to-science/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 16 Sep 2024 11:26:26 +0100 A species of leaf chameleon newly named Brookesia nofy was discovered in a patch of coastal rainforest, a highly threatened habitat in Madagascar 2447977-tiny-chameleon-spotted-by-tourists-in-madagascar-is-new-to-science|2447977 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335080-800-how-the-hidden-lives-of-dinosaurs-are-being-revealed-by-new-technology/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 10 Sep 2024 17:00:00 +0100 From migrating sauropods and semi-aquatic predators to doting parents, palaeontologists are finally uncovering the mysteries of the lifestyles of dinosaurs mg26335080-800-how-the-hidden-lives-of-dinosaurs-are-being-revealed-by-new-technology|2446906 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2447870-antidote-to-deadly-pesticides-boosts-bee-survival/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 13 Sep 2024 18:00:18 +0100 Feeding bees edible bits of hydrogel increases their odds of surviving pesticide exposure by 30 per cent 2447870-antidote-to-deadly-pesticides-boosts-bee-survival|2447870 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2447815-cats-have-brain-activity-recorded-with-the-help-of-crocheted-hats/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 13 Sep 2024 16:00:03 +0100 Custom-made wool caps have enabled scientists to record electroencephalograms in awake cats for the first time, which could help assess their pain levels 2447815-cats-have-brain-activity-recorded-with-the-help-of-crocheted-hats|2447815 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335080-400-is-life-better-as-a-dog-a-philosopher-investigates/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Sep 2024 19:00:00 +0100 What is it like to be a dog? And what can we learn from them? Mark Rowlands's take, in his book The Happiness of Dogs, is full of insights, finds Abigail Beall mg26335080-400-is-life-better-as-a-dog-a-philosopher-investigates|2446890 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2447414-fish-size-themselves-up-in-a-mirror-to-decide-if-they-can-win-a-fight/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Sep 2024 11:00:10 +0100 Cleaner wrasse use their reflection to build a mental image of their body size, which they use to compare themselves to rivals before picking a fight 2447414-fish-size-themselves-up-in-a-mirror-to-decide-if-they-can-win-a-fight|2447414 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2447323-ants-change-the-way-they-build-nests-to-stop-diseases-spreading/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 10 Sep 2024 18:05:24 +0100 When worker ants are exposed to a pathogenic fungus, they build nests that are more compartmentalised to reduce the risk of an epidemic 2447323-ants-change-the-way-they-build-nests-to-stop-diseases-spreading|2447323 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2447128-watch-eels-escape-from-the-stomachs-of-fish-after-being-swallowed/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 09 Sep 2024 17:00:56 +0100 X-ray videos of Japanese eels swallowed whole by dark sleeper fish have revealed how the eels can make a daring escape from being digested 2447128-watch-eels-escape-from-the-stomachs-of-fish-after-being-swallowed|2447128 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2447118-endangered-wombats-rare-encounter-with-echidna-caught-on-camera/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 09 Sep 2024 16:33:19 +0100 A camera trap at an Australian nature refuge has captured a boisterous interaction between a northern hairy-nosed wombat and an echidna 2447118-endangered-wombats-rare-encounter-with-echidna-caught-on-camera|2447118 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2446968-sharks-leap-out-of-the-water-more-often-than-you-might-think/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:00:29 +0100 Breaching is a common behaviour in a wide range of sharks and rays, and it is thought to have functions related to courtship, birthing and hygiene 2446968-sharks-leap-out-of-the-water-more-often-than-you-might-think|2446968 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335070-600-new-scientist-recommends-eight-legged-musical-instrument-sonic-spider/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 04 Sep 2024 19:00:00 +0100 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week mg26335070-600-new-scientist-recommends-eight-legged-musical-instrument-sonic-spider|2446009