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/2373396-electromagnetic-fields-from-power-lines-are-messing-with-honeybees/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 12 May 2023 20:00:11 +0100 Transmission towers emit electromagnetic fields that can disrupt honeybees’ ability to pollinate nearby plants, which could reduce biodiversity in these areas 2373396-electromagnetic-fields-from-power-lines-are-messing-with-honeybees|2373396 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834382-700-why-the-origins-of-life-remain-a-mystery-and-how-we-will-crack-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 May 2023 14:00:00 +0100 To explain how life on Earth began, the big challenge is to identify the molecules and processes that enable non-living chemical systems to become more complex mg25834382-700-why-the-origins-of-life-remain-a-mystery-and-how-we-will-crack-it|2372491 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2372871-hammerhead-sharks-clamp-their-gills-shut-to-stay-warm-on-deep-dives/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 11 May 2023 20:00:03 +0100 Even for cold-blooded sharks, the deep ocean is frigid. To tolerate low temperatures as they dive for deep-water squid, scalloped hammerheads close their gills 2372871-hammerhead-sharks-clamp-their-gills-shut-to-stay-warm-on-deep-dives|2372871 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2373315-bigger-butterflies-may-cope-better-with-climate-change/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 11 May 2023 18:00:49 +0100 Butterflies with larger wingspans may be more likely to expand their range at high latitudes because they can fly to new habitats as temperatures rise 2373315-bigger-butterflies-may-cope-better-with-climate-change|2373315 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371408-bison-lick-each-others-wounds-after-a-traumatic-experience/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sat, 06 May 2023 08:00:24 +0100 Communal wound licking has been documented in a hoofed mammal for the first time. American bison may use the behaviour to boost social connections and reduce stress 2371408-bison-lick-each-others-wounds-after-a-traumatic-experience|2371408 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2372226-demon-catshark-species-identified-thanks-to-weird-mystery-eggs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 05 May 2023 14:00:19 +0100 Forty years ago, a strange, empty shark egg case was found off the coast of Western Australia, and scientists have finally determined the species it belongs to 2372226-demon-catshark-species-identified-thanks-to-weird-mystery-eggs|2372226 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2372029-locusts-produce-an-odour-to-try-to-put-other-locusts-off-eating-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 04 May 2023 20:00:26 +0100 The crop-devastating swarms that locusts form are driven in part by the insects' tricks to avoid being cannibalised – they move around and produce a pheromone to deter other locusts from eating them 2372029-locusts-produce-an-odour-to-try-to-put-other-locusts-off-eating-them|2372029 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2372015-ancient-bacteria-genome-reconstructed-from-neanderthal-tooth-gunk/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 04 May 2023 20:00:19 +0100 Researchers pieced together the genomes of two unknown species of green sulphur bacteria from DNA fragments found in ancient calcified tooth plaque 2372015-ancient-bacteria-genome-reconstructed-from-neanderthal-tooth-gunk|2372015 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2372168-gannets-blue-eyes-turn-black-after-an-infection-with-bird-flu/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 04 May 2023 18:08:07 +0100 Black irises have been spotted in gannets that test positive for bird flu antibodies, suggesting they are an indicator that the seabirds have survived an infection with the virus 2372168-gannets-blue-eyes-turn-black-after-an-infection-with-bird-flu|2372168 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371651-woolly-mammoths-had-testosterone-surges-like-those-of-male-elephants/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 03 May 2023 17:00:00 +0100 Hormone measurements from the tusk of a male woolly mammoth show these animals went through musth, a seasonal peak in testosterone seen in elephants 2371651-woolly-mammoths-had-testosterone-surges-like-those-of-male-elephants|2371651 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371698-apes-have-the-same-willingness-to-share-food-as-small-children/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 03 May 2023 01:01:08 +0100 In lab experiments, chimpanzees and bonobos share peanuts and grapes with other apes who shared food first, doing so at about the same rate as 4-year-old children 2371698-apes-have-the-same-willingness-to-share-food-as-small-children|2371698 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371283-male-elephant-seals-with-large-harems-die-younger/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 02 May 2023 11:00:51 +0100 Mating with groups of up to 50 females and fighting off rivals takes its toll on dominant male elephant seals 2371283-male-elephant-seals-with-large-harems-die-younger|2371283 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371008-animal-deaths-on-uk-roads-fell-sharply-during-covid-19-lockdowns/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 01 May 2023 09:00:35 +0100 The coronavirus lockdowns presented a rare natural experiment to see what happens to wildlife collisions when the traffic declines drastically 2371008-animal-deaths-on-uk-roads-fell-sharply-during-covid-19-lockdowns|2371008 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370811-baltos-genome-reveals-famed-sledge-dog-was-a-mutt/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 27 Apr 2023 20:00:29 +0100 Balto had a varied ancestry, sharing genes with Siberian huskies, Greenland sledge dogs, Vietnamese village dogs and Tibetan mastiffs 2370811-baltos-genome-reveals-famed-sledge-dog-was-a-mutt|2370811 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370982-blobs-of-worms-untangle-in-milliseconds-with-a-corkscrew-wiggle/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 27 Apr 2023 20:00:06 +0100 California blackworms gather together in tangled-up balls to preserve moisture during droughts, but they can rapidly separate when they perceive danger thanks to a special helical wriggle 2370982-blobs-of-worms-untangle-in-milliseconds-with-a-corkscrew-wiggle|2370982 https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17453-timeline-the-evolution-of-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:06:00 +0100 The story of evolution spans over 3 billion years and shows how microscopic single-celled organisms transformed Earth and gave rise to complex organisms like animals dn17453-timeline-the-evolution-of-life|1937806 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371017-evolutionary-oddball-has-seven-genomes-inside-a-single-cell/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 27 Apr 2023 17:00:30 +0100 DNA analysis has revealed that a single-celled alga has a strange conglomeration of different organisms living inside it 2371017-evolutionary-oddball-has-seven-genomes-inside-a-single-cell|2371017 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370932-hyenas-seen-sharing-their-dens-with-porcupines-and-warthogs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 27 Apr 2023 16:00:15 +0100 Camera traps at two dens in Kenya have captured evidence of porcupines and warthogs occupying dens at the same time as their predators, spotted hyenas 2370932-hyenas-seen-sharing-their-dens-with-porcupines-and-warthogs|2370932 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2371018-bird-flu-has-killed-20-critically-endangered-california-condors/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 26 Apr 2023 21:37:10 +0100 A recent outbreak of avian flu has killed 7 per cent of the wild population of California condors, and officials are bracing for the virus’ spread 2371018-bird-flu-has-killed-20-critically-endangered-california-condors|2371018 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370348-was-dna-pioneer-rosalind-franklin-really-a-victim-of-scientific-theft/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 25 Apr 2023 17:00:52 +0100 It is widely thought that Rosalind Franklin was a victim whose work on DNA was stolen, but a letter and unpublished magazine story add to the evidence that this view is misleading 2370348-was-dna-pioneer-rosalind-franklin-really-a-victim-of-scientific-theft|2370348 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370710-assassin-bugs-cover-themselves-in-sticky-plant-resin-to-trap-prey/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 26 Apr 2023 01:01:21 +0100 By covering themselves in resin from spinifex grass, Australian assassin bugs improve their chances of catching flies and ants, in a rare case of tool use in insects 2370710-assassin-bugs-cover-themselves-in-sticky-plant-resin-to-trap-prey|2370710 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370604-wildfires-have-drastically-reduced-lynx-habitat-in-washington-state/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 25 Apr 2023 21:09:22 +0100 Twenty years of wildfires have cut down habitats and prey crucial to lynx in the north-west US, slashing the maximum number of cats that the region can support by up to 73 per cent 2370604-wildfires-have-drastically-reduced-lynx-habitat-in-washington-state|2370604 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370322-rats-fooled-by-optical-illusion-may-shed-light-on-evolution-of-the-eye/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 25 Apr 2023 12:00:52 +0100 The Asahi illusion tricks us into believing it is brighter than it really is, to the extent that our pupils constrict. Now it seems the illusion also works on rats 2370322-rats-fooled-by-optical-illusion-may-shed-light-on-evolution-of-the-eye|2370322 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2370493-slow-motion-footage-reveals-why-insects-are-attracted-to-lights/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 24 Apr 2023 16:09:08 +0100 To find out why insects gather around artificial lights, researchers filmed insects with a high-speed camera and used motion capture in an enclosure to trace their precise movements 2370493-slow-motion-footage-reveals-why-insects-are-attracted-to-lights|2370493 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370209-galapagos-giant-tortoise-argument-may-threaten-conservation-efforts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sun, 23 Apr 2023 11:00:20 +0100 How many distinct species of Galapagos giant tortoises are there? The latest genetic study says at least five, disputing previous work, and the answer could have implications for their conservation 2370209-galapagos-giant-tortoise-argument-may-threaten-conservation-efforts|2370209 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370234-weird-skin-eating-amphibians-have-no-legs-due-to-snake-like-mutation/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sun, 23 Apr 2023 08:00:06 +0100 Worm-like amphibians called caecilians have a mutation in a genetic sequence that’s critical for limb development, which could explain how they became limbless 2370234-weird-skin-eating-amphibians-have-no-legs-due-to-snake-like-mutation|2370234 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370219-even-a-dead-wolf-is-enough-to-scare-a-pig/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 21 Apr 2023 16:00:07 +0100 Boars that encounter a wolf carcass will try to flee or fight the corpse, suggesting that sometimes dead predators can still influence their prey’s behaviour 2370219-even-a-dead-wolf-is-enough-to-scare-a-pig|2370219 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369508-we-finally-know-why-insects-are-attracted-to-lights/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 20 Apr 2023 10:00:25 +0100 Artificial light doesn’t actually attract insects but instead interferes with the control systems they use to orientate their body when flying 2369508-we-finally-know-why-insects-are-attracted-to-lights|2369508 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2370076-elephant-seals-take-power-naps-in-the-ocean-while-slowly-sinking/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 20 Apr 2023 20:00:05 +0100 Marine mammals use a variety of tricks to snooze at sea - elephant seals fall asleep and gradually drift to the depths 2370076-elephant-seals-take-power-naps-in-the-ocean-while-slowly-sinking|2370076 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369997-nematode-worms-get-the-munchies-after-having-cannabis-like-substance/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 20 Apr 2023 17:00:18 +0100 Just like people, the simple nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans is driven to consume high-calorie food when its cannabinoid receptors are activated, hinting at a common signalling pathway for preventing starvation 2369997-nematode-worms-get-the-munchies-after-having-cannabis-like-substance|2369997 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369320-what-is-so-special-about-orchids-and-why-are-there-so-many/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 19 Apr 2023 19:00:00 +0100 Orchids seem unique in how they inspire such a devoted following, but why are these much-loved plants so diverse and widespread, wonders Penny Sarchet 2369320-what-is-so-special-about-orchids-and-why-are-there-so-many|2369320 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369711-carnivorous-plants-use-a-sneaky-trick-for-luring-different-bugs-to-eat/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 19 Apr 2023 20:00:58 +0100 Some carnivorous plants seem to tailor the cocktail of scents they emit to the prey they want to attract, which shows that their smell plays a key role in luring insects and other creatures 2369711-carnivorous-plants-use-a-sneaky-trick-for-luring-different-bugs-to-eat|2369711 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369747-surprising-culprit-found-that-killed-95-of-a-sea-urchin-population/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 19 Apr 2023 20:00:39 +0100 A parasitic microorganism with tiny hair-like structures over its body called a ciliate appears to be behind the mass die-off of long-spined sea urchins across the Caribbean 2369747-surprising-culprit-found-that-killed-95-of-a-sea-urchin-population|2369747 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369634-songbirds-sing-out-of-tune-if-they-dont-practise-every-day/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 19 Apr 2023 11:00:41 +0100 If zebra finches are prevented from singing for two weeks, they sing at a lower pitch – but they soon recover once they resume daily practice 2369634-songbirds-sing-out-of-tune-if-they-dont-practise-every-day|2369634 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369548-beetles-that-receive-less-care-as-larvae-may-become-better-parents/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 19 Apr 2023 09:00:11 +0100 An experiment with beetles suggests that those deprived of nurture in their early life may devote more time to helping their own offspring 2369548-beetles-that-receive-less-care-as-larvae-may-become-better-parents|2369548 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369384-big-animals-move-more-slowly-than-small-ones-to-avoid-overheating/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 18 Apr 2023 20:00:58 +0100 The long-distance speed of animals that weigh more than a tonne is limited not by their bulk but by the need to stay cool, according to an analysis of more than 500 species 2369384-big-animals-move-more-slowly-than-small-ones-to-avoid-overheating|2369384 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369412-kelp-forests-capture-nearly-5-million-tonnes-of-co2-annually/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 18 Apr 2023 17:00:44 +0100 Towering underwater kelp forests generate a potential value of $500 billion each year by providing a boost to commercial fishing, as well as nitrogen and carbon removal 2369412-kelp-forests-capture-nearly-5-million-tonnes-of-co2-annually|2369412 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2369196-amber-fossils-reveal-dinosaurs-and-beetles-had-symbiotic-relationship/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 17 Apr 2023 20:00:00 +0100 Remains preserved in amber from 105 million years ago are the oldest evidence of a mutually beneficial relationship between dinosaurs and arthropods 2369196-amber-fossils-reveal-dinosaurs-and-beetles-had-symbiotic-relationship|2369196 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368862-the-spiky-shape-of-sunflower-pollen-may-clear-bee-guts-of-parasite/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sun, 16 Apr 2023 12:00:51 +0100 Sunflower pollen’s spiky texture dramatically reduces the prevalence of a widespread gut parasite in eastern bumblebees 2368862-the-spiky-shape-of-sunflower-pollen-may-clear-bee-guts-of-parasite|2368862 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368612-zebra-finches-pick-singing-coaches-based-on-songs-they-hear-as-embryos/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:00:14 +0100 The songs that Australian zebra finches hear before they have hatched influence which birds they choose as singing instructors when growing up 2368612-zebra-finches-pick-singing-coaches-based-on-songs-they-hear-as-embryos|2368612 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368938-early-break-up-of-eastern-african-forests-shaped-our-ape-ancestors/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 13 Apr 2023 20:00:38 +0100 Forests in eastern Africa started turning into grassland 10 million years earlier than previously thought, which may have driven the evolution of upright apes 2368938-early-break-up-of-eastern-african-forests-shaped-our-ape-ancestors|2368938 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368343-tadpole-embryos-grow-strong-jaws-if-they-sense-shrimp-in-the-water/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 13 Apr 2023 14:00:30 +0100 Mexican spadefoot toad embryos that sense lots of shrimp in the water before they are born grow bigger and stronger jaws, ready for their first meals after hatching 2368343-tadpole-embryos-grow-strong-jaws-if-they-sense-shrimp-in-the-water|2368343 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368100-some-anacondas-can-perform-a-strange-s-shaped-leap-and-now-we-know-why/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 13 Apr 2023 11:00:00 +0100 A mathematical model based on observing yellow anacondas in the lab shows that if they are light and muscular enough, they can jump away from danger in an S-shape motion similar to sidewinding of much smaller snakes that live in the sand 2368100-some-anacondas-can-perform-a-strange-s-shaped-leap-and-now-we-know-why|2368100 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834342-600-why-we-need-to-be-honest-with-children-about-the-brutality-of-nature/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 12 Apr 2023 19:00:00 +0100 It can be hard to explain the realities of the natural world to children, but we need to acknowledge the suffering of wild things, says Richard Smyth mg25834342-600-why-we-need-to-be-honest-with-children-about-the-brutality-of-nature|2368412 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368831-spotting-the-way-octopus-stripes-vary-could-help-us-conserve-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 12 Apr 2023 20:00:35 +0100 The configuration of brown and white stripes on pygmy zebra octopuses (Octopus chierchiae) varies between individuals, which could help researchers monitor them in the wild 2368831-spotting-the-way-octopus-stripes-vary-could-help-us-conserve-them|2368831 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368767-skates-evolved-their-undulating-wings-thanks-to-genome-origami/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 12 Apr 2023 17:00:57 +0100 The front fins of skates emerge from their heads as huge wings and now we know how they can develop in this way 2368767-skates-evolved-their-undulating-wings-thanks-to-genome-origami|2368767 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368752-male-orchid-bees-craft-unique-perfumes-from-flowers-now-we-know-why/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 12 Apr 2023 17:00:54 +0100 The function of the mysterious perfume blended by male orchid bees from the flowers they visit has finally been figured out 2368752-male-orchid-bees-craft-unique-perfumes-from-flowers-now-we-know-why|2368752 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25834344-900-the-shocking-decline-of-earths-microbiome-and-how-to-save-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 12 Apr 2023 17:00:00 +0100 Bacteria, fungi and other microbes, which are vital to life on Earth, were long thought impervious to threats endangering larger lifeforms. Now biologists are warning of a microbial extinction event mg25834344-900-the-shocking-decline-of-earths-microbiome-and-how-to-save-it|2368662 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368540-seahorses-have-a-super-strong-gulp-thanks-to-two-spring-like-tendons/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 12 Apr 2023 01:01:29 +0100 Elastic tendons let seahorses suck in water around eight times faster than they could using muscle power alone 2368540-seahorses-have-a-super-strong-gulp-thanks-to-two-spring-like-tendons|2368540 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368372-sandgrouse-have-a-special-trick-for-carrying-water-to-their-fledglings/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 12 Apr 2023 01:01:12 +0100 High-resolution imagery has revealed that sandgrouse have tightly coiled filaments in their feathers that unfurl when wet, allowing them to trap water like a sponge for transport 2368372-sandgrouse-have-a-special-trick-for-carrying-water-to-their-fledglings|2368372 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25734331-500-how-to-grow-asparagus-and-why-it-takes-so-long/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 05 Apr 2023 19:00:00 +0100 Planting asparagus is a long-term investment in good eating, but your patience will eventually be rewarded with a crop that is tastier than anything available in shops, says Clare Wilson mg25734331-500-how-to-grow-asparagus-and-why-it-takes-so-long|2367263 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2367440-chimpanzees-may-have-an-adolescent-growth-spurt-like-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sat, 08 Apr 2023 10:00:53 +0100 It has been thought that a period of rapid growth in adolescence is unique to humans, but markers in urine suggest male chimpanzees in the wild may have one too 2367440-chimpanzees-may-have-an-adolescent-growth-spurt-like-humans|2367440 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2367605-mysterious-deep-sea-holes-may-be-burrows-of-tiny-shrimp-like-creatures/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 07 Apr 2023 11:00:31 +0100 Shrimp-like amphipods may be the architects of lines of holes at the bottom of the Bering Sea, which serve as a habitat to a wide range of fauna roaming the abyss 2367605-mysterious-deep-sea-holes-may-be-burrows-of-tiny-shrimp-like-creatures|2367605 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368226-male-crazy-ants-have-two-different-sets-of-dna-in-their-bodies/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 06 Apr 2023 20:00:07 +0100 A bizarre mode of reproduction discovered in yellow crazy ants results in males that have two separate sets of DNA in different parts of their body 2368226-male-crazy-ants-have-two-different-sets-of-dna-in-their-bodies|2368226 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2367597-three-species-of-extremely-primitive-spider-discovered-in-china/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 06 Apr 2023 15:00:46 +0100 Mesothelean spiders diverged from all other spiders long before the first dinosaurs – three species of these living fossils have just been identified in western Hunan province 2367597-three-species-of-extremely-primitive-spider-discovered-in-china|2367597 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368137-ancient-droppings-may-help-save-kakapo-parrots-from-extinction/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 06 Apr 2023 13:24:43 +0100 The kakapo, a flightless parrot, only survives on a few predator-free islands in New Zealand – but preserved faeces could inform the search for new habitats 2368137-ancient-droppings-may-help-save-kakapo-parrots-from-extinction|2368137 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2368045-probiotics-shield-corals-from-deadly-tissue-loss-disease/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 06 Apr 2023 11:00:19 +0100 A bacterial treatment for coral stopped or slowed 68 per cent of infections with stony coral tissue loss disease in the lab, and it prevented the spread of the disease as well 2368045-probiotics-shield-corals-from-deadly-tissue-loss-disease|2368045 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2367859-snakes-have-been-seen-doing-somersaults-when-theyre-scared/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 05 Apr 2023 09:01:15 +0100 Researchers filmed a dwarf reed snake doing an armless cartwheel to escape from danger by repeatedly launching its body forward in a coil 2367859-snakes-have-been-seen-doing-somersaults-when-theyre-scared|2367859 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2367828-animals-that-are-social-outliers-seem-to-be-better-at-solving-problems/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 05 Apr 2023 01:01:55 +0100 A study in 13 species of ungulates, including horses, sheep, deer and llamas, found that the most innovative individuals were also less integrated in social groups 2367828-animals-that-are-social-outliers-seem-to-be-better-at-solving-problems|2367828 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2367658-monkeys-with-human-like-hands-can-be-fooled-by-sleight-of-hand-magic/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 04 Apr 2023 17:00:08 +0100 Capuchins, which have hands similar to ours, are deceived by a sleight-of-hand trick. But marmosets, which lack opposable thumbs, aren’t fooled 2367658-monkeys-with-human-like-hands-can-be-fooled-by-sleight-of-hand-magic|2367658 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2367395-invasive-burmese-python-in-florida-lays-a-record-96-eggs-in-one-go/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 04 Apr 2023 15:00:41 +0100 A female Burmese python – an invasive species in the US – has laid a clutch of 96 eggs in one go, almost double the average for these snakes 2367395-invasive-burmese-python-in-florida-lays-a-record-96-eggs-in-one-go|2367395 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2367325-wild-african-elephants-may-have-domesticated-themselves/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 03 Apr 2023 21:00:23 +0100 African savannah elephants play, care for their young and show social behaviours associated with domestic animals, despite never being domesticated by humans 2367325-wild-african-elephants-may-have-domesticated-themselves|2367325 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2366454-stunning-image-shows-the-developing-nervous-system-in-a-chick-embryo/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 03 Apr 2023 09:00:27 +0100 A visualisation of nerve development and migrating stem cells in a 2-day-old chick embryo may help us understand how some congenital diseases occur in humans 2366454-stunning-image-shows-the-developing-nervous-system-in-a-chick-embryo|2366454 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2366535-honeybees-benefit-from-strips-of-native-plants-embedded-in-farmland/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sun, 02 Apr 2023 16:00:12 +0100 Prairie strips, areas of wild vegetation within intensive farms, are associated with bee colonies collecting more pollen, growing larger and having better winter survival rates 2366535-honeybees-benefit-from-strips-of-native-plants-embedded-in-farmland|2366535 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2366758-ants-independently-evolved-to-farm-fungus-at-least-twice/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sat, 01 Apr 2023 12:00:42 +0100 Fungus farming by ants has evolved independently in populations separated by the Atlantic Ocean – the latest example was observed in cocktail ants in Cameroon, which cultivate fungus to build their nests 2366758-ants-independently-evolved-to-farm-fungus-at-least-twice|2366758 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2367080-t-rexs-terrifying-teeth-would-have-been-hidden-behind-scaly-lips/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 30 Mar 2023 20:00:21 +0100 Just about every popular depiction of predatory dinosaurs is wrong, because their teeth were probably mostly obscured from view rather than being bared ready to strike 2367080-t-rexs-terrifying-teeth-would-have-been-hidden-behind-scaly-lips|2367080 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2366970-memories-may-be-sorted-by-the-thalamus-before-being-stored-long-term/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 30 Mar 2023 17:00:42 +0100 The thalamus is the brain's relay station for sensory information, but a study in mice has found it may also play a role in memory processing 2366970-memories-may-be-sorted-by-the-thalamus-before-being-stored-long-term|2366970 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2365868-lizards-on-a-us-army-base-are-stress-eating-due-to-helicopter-noise/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 29 Mar 2023 07:00:09 +0100 When loud helicopters or fighter jets pass overhead, Colorado checkered whiptail lizards spend less time moving around and more time eating and their levels of the stress hormone cortisol rise 2365868-lizards-on-a-us-army-base-are-stress-eating-due-to-helicopter-noise|2365868 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2366716-our-attempts-to-kill-cockroaches-forced-them-to-evolve-new-sex-moves/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 29 Mar 2023 01:01:53 +0100 Some male cockroaches have adapted their mating strategy to succeed with females that have developed a distaste for the sugar used in both poisonous baits and gifts from males 2366716-our-attempts-to-kill-cockroaches-forced-them-to-evolve-new-sex-moves|2366716 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2366681-how-hagfish-slime-gets-its-incredible-clogging-ability/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 29 Mar 2023 01:01:34 +0100 Fibrous protein threads hold together the mucus in hagfish slime, giving it up to 1000 times the clogging power of common thickeners like xanthan gum when dissolved in water 2366681-how-hagfish-slime-gets-its-incredible-clogging-ability|2366681 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25734320-100-nalini-nadkarni-the-ecologist-revealing-the-secrets-of-cloud-forests/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 28 Mar 2023 17:00:00 +0100 How a pioneering canopy researcher unlocked the mysteries of an extraordinary ecosystem and the unlikely tree-dwelling plants it depends on mg25734320-100-nalini-nadkarni-the-ecologist-revealing-the-secrets-of-cloud-forests|2365910 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2366197-male-mosquitoes-may-hang-around-humans-to-pick-up-females/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:00:32 +0100 Male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are attracted to people despite not drinking blood, suggesting they hang around us to find thirsty females 2366197-male-mosquitoes-may-hang-around-humans-to-pick-up-females|2366197 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2366045-microplastics-are-changing-the-gut-microbiomes-of-seabirds/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 27 Mar 2023 17:00:09 +0100 Wild seabirds that ingest high levels of microplastics have an overall greater diversity of microbes in their gut, which has unknown consequences 2366045-microplastics-are-changing-the-gut-microbiomes-of-seabirds|2366045 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2365619-city-life-may-help-darwins-finches-survive-bloodsucking-flies/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 24 Mar 2023 08:00:07 +0000 In the Galapagos Islands, finches that live near cities have higher survival rates against parasitic flies than those who live in the country 2365619-city-life-may-help-darwins-finches-survive-bloodsucking-flies|2365619 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2365966-zebrafish-seem-to-be-able-to-count-when-they-are-just-four-days-old/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 23 Mar 2023 16:00:02 +0000 Just a few days after hatching, zebrafish larvae can discriminate between bigger and smaller numbers, suggesting they may have an innate numerical ability 2365966-zebrafish-seem-to-be-able-to-count-when-they-are-just-four-days-old|2365966 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2365794-how-daisies-make-deceptive-petals-that-look-like-female-flies/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 23 Mar 2023 15:00:33 +0000 South African daisies co-opt the genes they usually use to grow root hairs and transport iron to create petals that resemble female flies – enticing males to land and pollinate the plant 2365794-how-daisies-make-deceptive-petals-that-look-like-female-flies|2365794 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2365873-the-garden-dormouse-glows-under-uv-light-but-we-dont-know-why/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 23 Mar 2023 12:00:54 +0000 The garden dormouse, a small European rodent species, has joined a growing list of animals known to display photoluminescence – but the reason for the phenomenon is a mystery 2365873-the-garden-dormouse-glows-under-uv-light-but-we-dont-know-why|2365873 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2365535-how-did-multicellular-life-evolve-algae-and-yeast-give-some-hints/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 22 Mar 2023 19:57:29 +0000 Single-celled organisms that cluster and cooperate provide tantalising insights into the origins of multicellularity, suggesting this step may not be so rare after all 2365535-how-did-multicellular-life-evolve-algae-and-yeast-give-some-hints|2365535 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25734310-300-ugandas-first-wildlife-vet-on-her-revolutionary-gorilla-conservation/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 22 Mar 2023 17:00:00 +0000 Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka explains how her unconventional way of combining public health and conservation is helping to bring mountain gorillas back from the brink after years of population decline mg25734310-300-ugandas-first-wildlife-vet-on-her-revolutionary-gorilla-conservation|2364935 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2365620-parasite-from-cat-faeces-killed-four-sea-otters-in-california/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 22 Mar 2023 15:00:14 +0000 An unusually virulent strain of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, primarily found in cat faeces, has been reported in marine animals for the first time 2365620-parasite-from-cat-faeces-killed-four-sea-otters-in-california|2365620 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2364090-bird-flu-cases-are-expected-to-surge-as-birds-migrate-in-coming-weeks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sat, 18 Mar 2023 16:00:44 +0000 H5N1 cases in birds are expected to rise in the coming weeks as migratory species wing their way across the planet. Veterinary epidemiologist Victoria Hall explains why this outbreak is different – and what it could mean for humans 2364090-bird-flu-cases-are-expected-to-surge-as-birds-migrate-in-coming-weeks|2364090 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2365030-bird-flu-may-be-making-foxes-and-other-animals-behave-in-unusual-ways/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 21 Mar 2023 08:00:37 +0000 Analysis of wild mammals infected with H5N1 bird flu in the US found that many had brain infections and neurological symptoms, including lack of fear of people 2365030-bird-flu-may-be-making-foxes-and-other-animals-behave-in-unusual-ways|2365030 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2364903-orcas-in-the-north-pacific-may-be-dying-out-due-to-inbreeding/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 20 Mar 2023 16:00:29 +0000 Habitat and hunting protections have helped orca numbers rebound globally, but a group in the North Pacific Ocean is still shrinking – probably because it is isolated from other populations 2364903-orcas-in-the-north-pacific-may-be-dying-out-due-to-inbreeding|2364903 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2364836-algae-farming-fish-help-coral-reefs-bounce-back-from-bleaching-events/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sun, 19 Mar 2023 16:00:24 +0000 The presence of territorial farmerfish that look after algae gardens seems to help branching corals recover after heat stress has bleached them, but we aren't sure why 2364836-algae-farming-fish-help-coral-reefs-bounce-back-from-bleaching-events|2364836 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2365025-stunning-wild-isles-footage-reveals-behaviour-of-uks-rarest-birds/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 17 Mar 2023 16:00:36 +0000 How the BBC's Wild Isles captured the unseen behaviour of some of the UK's rarest birds using the latest technology and scientific knowledge 2365025-stunning-wild-isles-footage-reveals-behaviour-of-uks-rarest-birds|2365025 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2364886-china-reclaims-pandas-from-us-zoos-is-the-panda-politics-era-over/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 17 Mar 2023 12:00:55 +0000 Most of the contracts loaning giant pandas to US zoos are expiring without extensions – some say this could be a reflection of rising tensions between the US and China, though others suggest it may be coincidence 2364886-china-reclaims-pandas-from-us-zoos-is-the-panda-politics-era-over|2364886 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2364865-stunning-new-orchid-species-grows-in-lawns-and-parks-in-japan/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 17 Mar 2023 11:00:41 +0000 It was thought that Japan was home to only one species of Spiranthes orchid, but researchers have now found another 2364865-stunning-new-orchid-species-grows-in-lawns-and-parks-in-japan|2364865 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2364682-australias-rarest-bird-of-prey-is-disappearing-faster-than-we-thought/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 17 Mar 2023 08:00:36 +0000 Just 44 years ago, red goshawks were found along Australia’s eastern coastline. But the copper-feathered predators are now missing from 34 per cent of their former range 2364682-australias-rarest-bird-of-prey-is-disappearing-faster-than-we-thought|2364682 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2364724-how-poisonous-amphibians-evolve-bright-colours-to-warn-predators-off/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 16 Mar 2023 18:00:56 +0000 Amphibians with vivid colours to warn predators they are poisonous or bad-tasting typically evolve from species that only show their colours when they flee or deliberately display them 2364724-how-poisonous-amphibians-evolve-bright-colours-to-warn-predators-off|2364724 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25734290-300-surprising-new-research-on-cats-will-make-you-see-yours-in-a-new-light/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 07 Mar 2023 16:15:00 +0000 Cats have a reputation for being aloof and untamed, but recent studies suggest they may be more attuned to humans than we realise. We may even have solved the mystery of why cats love boxes mg25734290-300-surprising-new-research-on-cats-will-make-you-see-yours-in-a-new-light|2362698 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2363379-jumping-parasitic-worms-use-static-electricity-to-hit-their-targets/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 15 Mar 2023 15:00:40 +0000 Millimetre-long worms use powerful muscles to jump onto their bee or fly hosts to feed. But their expert leaping may be helped by an electric attraction that pulls them to their targets mid-air 2363379-jumping-parasitic-worms-use-static-electricity-to-hit-their-targets|2363379 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2364414-longest-dinosaur-neck-on-record-was-six-times-longer-than-a-giraffes/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 15 Mar 2023 13:00:36 +0000 We only have a few fossil bones of Mamenchisaurus sinocanadorum, but researchers have estimated its neck length by analysing its vertebrae and comparing them with those from related dinosaurs 2364414-longest-dinosaur-neck-on-record-was-six-times-longer-than-a-giraffes|2364414 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2364154-gene-edited-rice-may-be-able-to-grow-on-mars/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 15 Mar 2023 07:00:47 +0000 Martian soil is generally poor for growing plants, but researchers have used CRISPR to create gene-edited rice that might be able to germinate and grow despite the hostile habitat 2364154-gene-edited-rice-may-be-able-to-grow-on-mars|2364154 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2364373-fungus-that-kills-frogs-and-salamanders-is-rapidly-spreading-in-africa/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 15 Mar 2023 05:00:39 +0000 Across Africa there has been a surge in a fungus that causes heart failure in amphibians over the past two decades, which could devastate the continent’s amphibians as it has elsewhere 2364373-fungus-that-kills-frogs-and-salamanders-is-rapidly-spreading-in-africa|2364373 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2364205-ecologists-are-infecting-trees-with-fungi-to-make-them-age-prematurely/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 14 Mar 2023 12:06:51 +0000 Many species depend on the cavities inside veteran trees, but such spaces are in short supply. Researchers are exploring ways to make young trees old before their time 2364205-ecologists-are-infecting-trees-with-fungi-to-make-them-age-prematurely|2364205 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2363930-ghost-catfish-get-their-rainbow-iridescence-from-transparent-muscles/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 13 Mar 2023 19:00:17 +0000 Most iridescent fish shine because of structures in their scales or skin, but the transparent ghost catfish gets its shine from prism-like structures in its muscle fibres 2363930-ghost-catfish-get-their-rainbow-iridescence-from-transparent-muscles|2363930 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2364046-oldest-ichthyosaur-fossil-hints-they-evolved-before-mass-extinction/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 13 Mar 2023 15:00:51 +0000 Ichthyosaur bones found in 250 million-year-old rock hint that these swimming reptiles may have appeared before Earth’s biggest mass extinction and survived 2364046-oldest-ichthyosaur-fossil-hints-they-evolved-before-mass-extinction|2364046 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2364041-freak-storms-stopped-tens-of-thousands-of-birds-breeding-in-antarctica/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 13 Mar 2023 15:00:15 +0000 Huge snowstorms between December 2021 and January 2022 made Antarctic petrels, snow petrels and south polar skuas abandon attempts at nesting and return to sea 2364041-freak-storms-stopped-tens-of-thousands-of-birds-breeding-in-antarctica|2364041 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2363876-brown-widow-spiders-are-killing-off-black-widows-in-the-southern-us/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 13 Mar 2023 14:00:39 +0000 Black widow spiders are waning in the southern US and brown widows may be the culprit – in lab tests, they were more than six times as likely to kill southern black widows than other arachnids they were offered 2363876-brown-widow-spiders-are-killing-off-black-widows-in-the-southern-us|2363876 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2363822-eating-non-native-plants-helps-some-butterflies-fight-viral-infections/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sat, 11 Mar 2023 08:00:52 +0000 Raising white peacock butterflies on a diet of exotic plants gave them a higher chance of survival against viral infections 2363822-eating-non-native-plants-helps-some-butterflies-fight-viral-infections|2363822