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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.
Denisovan DNA helped first Americans adapt, study says
A unique segment of Denisovan DNA, inherited through Neanderthals, was favored by natural selection and may have contributed to the adaptation of the first peoples to life in the Americas.
New dating reveals Greek skull is at least 286,000 years old
Scientists have established a new minimum age of 286,000 years for the mysterious Petralona cranium, clarifying its place in the human evolutionary tree.
‘DishBrain’ cells learn video games faster than AI
In a landmark study, lab-grown neural networks learned to play Pong more efficiently than sophisticated AI, demonstrating the superior learning speed of biological systems.
First forests sparked deep-ocean oxygen, study says
A new study reveals how the emergence of Earth’s first forests permanently oxygenated the deep ocean, triggering a significant evolutionary diversification of marine animals approximately 390 million years ago.
Why Don’t Animals Need to Go to the Gym?
While humans hit the gym to train, animals, from geese to kangaroos, perform incredible feats of endurance and strength through instinct and biological adaptation, rather than through intentional workouts.
How Ancient Crocs Survived Two Apocalypses
While modern crocodilians are impressive survivors, their ancestors—from armored plant-eaters to swift two-legged hunters—used entirely different strategies to survive ancient apocalypses and conquer the world.
Why Our Entire World Depends on This One Tree
The modern world relies on natural rubber, a material that cannot be fully replicated, sourced from a single tree species at risk of being wiped out by a devastating disease.
Guava molecule synthesis offers new hope for liver cancer
Chemists at the University of Delaware report the first total synthesis of (–)-psiguadial A, a guava-derived molecule with significant potential to fight liver cancer.
The discovery of an extinct shelduck highlights the rich ancient biodiversity of the remote Rēkohu Chatham Islands
An artist’s depiction of the Rēkohu shelduck. Sasha Votyakova/Te Papa , CC BY-ND Nic Rawlence, University of Otago;…
Bumblebee catfish climb Brazil waterfalls in mass migration
Scientists document thousands of rare bumblebee catfish climbing waterfalls in Brazil for the first time, a behavior believed to be a critical part of their reproductive migration.