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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.
What are climate tipping points? They sound scary, especially for ice sheets and oceans, but there’s still room for optimism
Meltwater runs across the Greenland ice sheet in rivers. The ice sheet is already losing mass and could…
Wolves have returned to Denmark, and not everyone is happy about it
Bjorn H Stuedal/Shutterstock Kristian Kongshøj, Aalborg University and Troels Fage Hedegaard, Aalborg University After centuries of near-extinction, Europe’s…
The climate crisis is fuelling extreme fires across the planet
Hamish Clarke, The University of Melbourne We’ve all seen the alarming images. Smoke belching from the thick forests…
How does the world look through a spider’s eyes?
Hyllus diardi jumping spider – you’ll hear more about these spiders below. Magdalena Teterdynko/Shutterstock Christopher Terrell Nield, Nottingham…
Plants are incredibly sensitive – what we learned about their response system could help protect humans
mitritatei96/Shutterstock Miguel de Lucas, Durham University At first glance, plants may seem passive – but beneath their stillness…
The ancestors of ostriches and emus were long-distance fliers – here’s how we worked this out
Oleksii Synelnykov/Shutterstock Klara Widrig, Smithsonian Institution Aside from being a delight to watch, flight in birds is regarded…
For birds, flocks promise safety – especially if you’re faster than your neighbor
Sanderlings run in groups as they hunt for food in the sand on Long Beach Island, N.J. Vicki…
Why slugs are so hard to control – and how scientists are working to keep them in check
Most people aren’t keen on sharing their salad with a slug. Lisa-S/Shutterstock Sergei Petrovskii, University of Leicester; Keith…
Ebony and ivory: why elephants and forests rise and fall together in the Congo Basin
Matthew Scott Luskin, The University of Queensland The forest elephants of the Congo Basin are critically endangered and…
Why 90% of Fossils Are Missing
Scientists are piecing together the past by understanding the fossils that are not there as much as the ones that are.