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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.
Take a break from your screen and look at plants − botanizing is a great way to engage with life around you
You may be surprised by what’s growing on a familiar trail. Benjamin Goulet-Scott, CC BY-ND Jacob S. Suissa,…
Invasive alien species are a serious threat to the planet: 4 key messages for Africa
Julie Coetzee, Rhodes University Climate change has negatively – and irreversibly, in some cases – affected ecosystems around…
Thailand’s Mangroves Reveal Stunning Electric Blue Tarantula Species
A groundbreaking discovery was made in Thailand in 2022 when researchers stumbled upon a novel species of tarantula…
Some Cicadas Take 17 Years to “Wake Up.” Here’s What’s Taking Them So Long.
You may have seen news a couple of years back about a massive swarm of cicadas suddenly appearing…
Life Almost Lost All Its Oxygen—And We May Be In For a Repeat
Hundreds of millions of years ago, a string of seemingly minor events coalesced into a major shift that…
South Africa’s great white sharks are changing locations – they need to be monitored for beach safety and conservation
Alison Kock, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity; Alison Towner, Rhodes University; Heather Bowlby, Fisheries and Oceans Canada;…
Pollen in pee: fossilised urine from a small African mammal helps us understand past environments
The lessons pollen can teach us are not to be sneezed at. Elisa Manzati Lynne Quick, Nelson Mandela…
Researchers Unveil the Complex Dynamics of Plasmid-Mediated Gene Transfer in Bacteria
In microbial populations, conjugative plasmids are pivotal in fostering genetic diversity and evolution. These extrachromosomal DNA entities, prevalent…
Finding a live brain worm is rare. 4 ways to protect yourself from more common parasites
Vincent Ho, Western Sydney University News reports this morning describe how shocked doctors removed a live worm from…
Is it okay to kiss your pet? The risk of animal-borne diseases is small, but real
Shutterstock Sarah McLean, Swinburne University of Technology and Enzo Palombo, Swinburne University of Technology Our relationship with pets…