Driven by a combination of rising sea levels and climate change, destructive hurricanes and tropical storms could become far more likely to hit coastal areas in quick succession, researchers found. In some areas such double hits could occur as frequently as once every 3 years.
Tiny new climbing robot was inspired by geckos and inchworms
A tiny robot that could one day help doctors perform surgery was inspired by the incredible gripping ability of geckos and the efficient locomotion of inchworms.
Who are the first ancestors of present-day fish?
What is the origin of the ancestors of present-day fish? What species evolved from them? A 50-year-old scientific controversy revolved around the question of which group, the 'bony-tongues' or the 'eels', was the oldest. A study has just put an end to the debate by showing through genomic analysis that...
Mysteries of the Earth: Researchers predict how fast ancient magma ocean solidified
Previous research estimated that it took hundreds of million years for the ancient Earth's magma ocean to solidify, but new research narrows these large uncertainties down to less than just a couple of million years.
Sea Stars Able to Consume Kelp-Eating Urchins Fast Enough to Protect Kelp Forests, Research Shows
A research team including a scientist from Oregon State University has provided the first experimental evidence that a species of endangered sea star protects kelp forests along North America’s Pacific Coast by preying on substantial numbers of kelp-eating urchins.
Rising River Temperatures Hold Important Clues About Climate and Other Human Impacts
An improved global understanding of river temperature could provide an important barometer for climate change and other human activities.
Look on the Bright Side of Earth
When looking at the Earth from space, its hemispheres – northern and southern – appear equally bright.
Bird Flu Spillover to Mammals a Cause for Concern
The WHO recently warning that bird flu spillover to mammals needs to be monitored closely and that countries need to be prepared for a potential outbreak affecting humans. University of Waterloo biologist Dr. Christine Dupont says Canada should heed that advice.
Evolution of dinosaur body size through different developmental mechanisms
The meat-eating dinosaurs known as theropods that roamed the ancient Earth ranged in size from the bus-sized T. rex to the smaller, dog-sized Velociraptor. Scientists puzzling over how such wildly different dinosaur sizes evolved recently found -- to their surprise -- that smaller and larger theropod dinosaurs like these didn't...
How birds got their wings
Modern birds capable of flight all have a specialized wing structure called the propatagium without which they could not fly. The evolutionary origin of this structure has remained a mystery, but new research suggests it evolved in nonavian dinosaurs. The finding comes from statistical analyses of arm joints preserved in...