Traction is important. Humans have been continually interested in discovering how to better move across wet or frozen surfaces safely -- whether to improve shoes for walking on sidewalks or tires to maneuver the roadways. But what makes it possible for some Arctic animals to walk and run across the...
New theory on timing for human settlement of some parts of tropical Pacific
Spread across vast distances, the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean are thought to have been populated by humans in two distinct migrations beginning approximately 3,330 years ago. The first followed a northern route out of what is today the Philippines and the second followed a southern route from Taiwan...
Diving birds are more prone to extinction, says new study
Diving birds like penguins, puffins and cormorants may be more prone to extinction than non-diving birds, according to a new study. The authors suggest this is because they are highly specialized and therefore less able to adapt to changing environments than other birds.
Daylong wastewater samples yield surprises
Engineers compare wastewater 'snapshots' to daylong composite samples and find snapshots lead to bias in testing for the presence of antibiotic-resistant genes.
Twin brothers of spotted hyenas are often attracted to the same new group when they disperse from their birth group
In most mammals, males disperse to a new group after reaching sexual maturity. Dispersal often entails costs and is risky. New results from spotted hyenas show that males from the same birth group -- and particularly twin brothers -- very often disperse together and choose the same group to breed....
Atomic structure of a staphylococcal bacteriophage using cryo-electron microscopy
Cryo-electron microscopy has exposed the structure of a bacterial virus with unprecedented detail. This is the first structure of a virus able to infect Staphylococcus epidermidis, and high-resolution knowledge of structure is a key link between viral biology and potential therapeutic use of the virus to quell bacterial infections.
Scientists discover what was on the menu of the first dinosaurs
The earliest dinosaurs included carnivorous, omnivorous and herbivorous species, according to a team of palaeobiologists.
Study examines bacteria living in and on mosquitoes
Avoiding mosquitoes to protect against bites is always a good idea. But a new study shows that the bacteria-ridden exteriors of mosquitoes may be another reason to arm yourself with a swatter.
Ancient grammatical puzzle solved after 2,500 years
A grammatical problem which has defeated Sanskrit scholars since the 5th Century BC has finally been solved by a PhD student.
Imaging gases in rainbow colors
Scientists have designed and fabricated a simple device capable of imaging a gas injected into it in multiple colors in accordance with its gaseous properties, enabling chromatic discrimination of different gases. This user-friendly device converts the pressure generated by an injected gas into structural colors, thereby imaging it. This technology...