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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.
Deep-sea fish are ‘chemical engineers,’ study finds
Scientists have confirmed that deep-sea fish, which dominate global fish biomass, are major contributors to the ocean’s carbonate cycle, solving a long-standing mystery in marine science.
Mammals evolved to eat ants at least 12 separate times
A comprehensive analysis of 4,099 mammal species reveals that the rise of ant and termite colonies drove at least 12 independent origins of specialized ant-eating across the tree of life.
Rockabye baby: the ‘love songs’ of lonely leopard seals resemble human nursery rhymes
CassandraSm/Shutterstock Lucinda Chambers, UNSW Sydney and Tracey Rogers, UNSW Sydney Late in the evening, the Antarctic sky flushes…
Study: Early hominin males much larger than females
New research, utilizing a novel statistical method, reveals that males of the early hominin species Australopithecus were significantly larger than females, suggesting intense male competition among our ancient ancestors.
Dogs are helping people regulate stress even more than expected, research shows
Studies show that dogs help humans cope with stress. marcoventuriniautieri/E+ via Getty Images Kevin Morris, University of Denver…
Octopuses fall for ‘rubber hand’ illusion
A new study demonstrates that octopuses experience a sense of body ownership, as the rubber hand illusion can trick them into believing a fake arm is part of their own body.
Feral rabbits don’t revert to wild form, study finds
A new study on rabbit skulls reveals that when domesticated breeds go feral, they don't simply revert to their wild ancestors but evolve into a unique, unpredictable new form.
Did Cosmic Rays Decide the Shape of Your DNA?
The very twist of your DNA might be a direct consequence of a fundamental asymmetry in the universe, delivered to the primordial Earth by high-energy cosmic rays.
The Viewpoint: Can we really resurrect extinct animals, or are we just creating hi-tech lookalikes?
The ambitious effort to resurrect extinct species, such as the woolly mammoth, raises a key question: Are we truly reversing extinction, or just creating high-tech lookalikes?
Fungicide cuts fly egg production by 37%, study says
New research reveals that even low, common-use levels of the fungicide chlorothalonil severely damage the survival and reproductive abilities of beneficial insects.