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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.
Neanderthal gene variant linked to reduced athletic performance in modern humans
A gene variant inherited from Neanderthals produces a less efficient muscle enzyme, which may explain why some modern humans are less likely to become top-level athletes.
Study: Elephants use dozens of gestures intentionally
A new study provides the first evidence that African Savannah elephants use a wide range of deliberate and flexible gestures to communicate their specific goals to a human audience.
Hold up, humans. Ants figured out medicine, farming and engineering long before we did
Tambon Nong Chaeng/Pexels Tanya Latty, University of Sydney and Chris R. Reid, Macquarie University Think back to a…
You Are a Fish (And You Never Left the Water)
The secret to conquering land wasn't learning to breathe air, but evolving a way to carry the ocean with you.
A cat’s catch leads scientists to discover new virus in Florida shrew
A pet cat’s prey has led scientists to discover and genetically map a new strain of orthoreovirus in a Florida shrew.
This tropical plant builds isolated ‘apartments’ to prevent battles among the aggressive ant tenants it relies on for survival
When aggressive ant species come in contact, deadly conflicts ensue. G. Chomicki Guillaume Chomicki, Durham University and Susanne…
Hunga eruption sparked record-setting undersea avalanches
Analysis of seafloor deposits reveals the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption triggered immense underwater currents that scoured the seabed more than 100 kilometers away, burying entire ecosystems in their path.
3D models confirm sharks obey a century-old biological law
Using high-resolution 3D models, researchers have confirmed that 54 diverse shark species are all constrained by the same fundamental biological scaling law that governs body shape and function.
Was Spinosaurus a Wader or a Swimmer?
New fossil evidence, from a crocodile-like snout to a massive paddle-shaped tail, has ignited a fierce debate over whether the giant predator Spinosaurus was a shoreline wader or a powerful underwater swimmer.
Flipping an ancient genetic switch lets mice regrow ears
By flipping an ancient genetic switch, scientists enabled mice to regrow lost ear tissue instead of forming scars, a discovery that could unlock dormant healing abilities in other mammals.