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Nature
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As grandiose as we might think our civilizations have become, we are but the latest entry in the long chronicle detailing life on Earth. We humans share this planet with fellow organisms whose vast numbers completely tower over our own. We borrowed this planet from its previous inhabitants from eons ago and whose lives were written on the soil-turned-rock on which they were laid to rest. Modern Sciences urges its readers to contemplate our planetary co-inhabitants, both past and present.
The Hidden Rule That Shapes All Life on Earth
Life uses only one “hand” of its molecular building blocks—a mysterious asymmetry called homochirality that may hold clues to life’s origins and even the possibility of mirror life beyond Earth.
Toxic alligators serve as a warning for southeastern US ecosystems
New research reveals that the place an alligator lives determines its toxic mercury load, with some populations carrying levels eight times higher than others.
Windows are the No. 1 human threat to birds – an ecologist shares some simple steps to reduce collisions
Birds are drawn to the mirror effect of windows. That can turn deadly when they think they see…
The Viewpoint: A century after its discovery, scientists capture first confirmed footage of a colossal squid in the deep
For the first time, scientists have captured confirmed footage of a colossal squid in its natural deep-sea habitat, a century after its discovery. This rare sighting of the planet's heaviest invertebrate, once only known from whale stomachs, provides an unprecedented glimpse into the life of this elusive deep-sea giant.
A bottlenose dolphin? Or Tursiops truncatus? Why biologists give organisms those strange, unpronounceable names
The system of scientific naming began in the 1700s. Westend61 via Getty Images Nicholas Green, Kennesaw State University…
New dinosaur with rare skull helps fill sauropod evolutionary gap
Researchers in China have discovered a new species of long-necked dinosaur with a remarkably complete skull, providing key evidence about the evolution of sauropods.
Fishing Practices Linked to 800-Kilometer Shift in Herring Spawning Grounds
A study reveals that overfishing of older herring has disrupted generational knowledge, causing Norwegian herring to shift their migration route by 800 kilometers north.
Study Finds Common California Fish Carry Parasites That Can Infect Humans
A study finds that nearly all common freshwater fish in Southern California carry parasitic worms that can infect humans, especially if the fish are eaten raw or undercooked.
The Ancient Red Panda Found in Tennessee
A fossil-rich sinkhole in Tennessee preserved a 5-million-year-old red panda relative, revealing unexpected migration links between North America and Eurasia.
How a Billion-Year-Old Rock Preserved Earth’s Earliest Life
A billion-year-old rock called Franklin Marble preserves evidence of ancient microbial life and reveals how tectonic forces transformed seafloor sediments into part of the Appalachian Mountains.