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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.
Did “Lucy” Fall Out Of a Tree?
Perhaps you’ve heard of “Lucy,” the famous Austrolopithecus afarensis specimen found back in 1974. What you may not…
Crabs have evolved five separate times – why do the same forms keep appearing in nature?
Full size blue crab. Matthew Wills, University of Bath Charles Darwin believed evolution created “endless forms most beautiful”.…
Are dogs left- or right-handed? What the science says
Understanding paw preference. Shutterstock/In Green Deborah Wells, Queen’s University Belfast The vast majority of people use one hand…
New fossil foot analysis reveals the surprising and varied lifestyles of dinosaur bird ancestors
Feet of an Andean condor. Vladimir Wrangel/Shutterstock Phil Bell, University of New England Have you ever eaten chicken…
Triceratops Had a Pretty Weird Neck—Here’s Why It’s So Unique
Few dinosaurs evoke the imaginations of both kids and kids-at-heart like the Triceratops; these dinosaurs are among some…
Houseplants don’t just look nice – they can also give your mental health a boost
Houseplants can be an essential link to nature – especially for those without access to a garden. Syda…
Nature’s GPS: how animals use the natural world to perform extraordinary feats of navigation
Tiny birds like robins are able to use the Earth’s magnetic field to navigate. Pxhere Richard Holland, Bangor…
Skyglow forces dung beetles in the city to abandon the Milky Way as their compass
A dung beetle climbs atop its precious ball to orient itself using the night skies. Chris Collingridge James…
Improving upon the sun: LED lights fuel plant growth in space
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) used in medical devices and for growing plants, like potatoes seen here, are used by…
Mistletoe – famous for stolen holiday kisses – is a parasite that steals water and nutrients from other plants
American mistletoe’s genus Phoradendron means ‘thief of trees’ in Greek. Joe Decruyenaere/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA David Hillock, Oklahoma…