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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.
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.
A chance discovery of a 350 million-year-old fossil reveals a new type of ray-finned fish
An artist’s rendition of the newly discovered fish, Sphyragnathus tyche. (C. Wilson), CC BY Conrad Daniel Mackenzie Wilson,…
Why cats sleep on their left side: It’s a brainy survival tactic
Researchers conclude that a cat’s preference for sleeping on its left side is a key survival strategy that primes its brain to respond to threats rapidly.
To build on Mars, scientists create self-sustaining ‘living’ material
Scientists have developed a self-sustaining material derived from microbes that can transform Martian dust into concrete for constructing future habitats.
The Real Animals Behind 5 Famous Monsters
This video reveals how many of history’s most famous monsters are likely folk memories of real animals, including extinct megafauna and misinterpreted wildlife that our ancestors once encountered.
Scientists discover ‘hemifusome,’ a new cellular structure key to cell health
The discovery of a new cellular organelle, the "hemifusome," is reshaping our understanding of how cells manage internal cargo and could offer new insights into devastating genetic disorders.