Evolution & Behaviour
The oldest beer in central Europe? Take it with a pinch of… malt!
Beer making is based on the conversion of starch into alcohol by saccharification and fermentation. While ethanol fermentation is usually carried out by single-celled yeasts, saccharification is one of the few processes in food production that requires the processed organism to, well... process itself. When a... click to read more
The mystery of an ancient reptile with a ridiculously long neck
The Middle Triassic period, between 247 and 237 million years ago, was the age just before the rise of the dinosaurs and a time of great evolutionary innovation. The largest mass extinction event of all time, known as 'The Great Dying', destroyed almost all species... click to read more
It’s clear: the glass frog’s transparent belly has a special advantage
Imagine you are a small frog, only one or two centimeters long, sitting on a leaf high up in the canopy of Ecuador's tropical rainforest. This is one of the most biodiverse places in the world with thousands of species living around you, many of... click to read more
Sneaking Giants: how humpback whales avoid scattering their fish prey
Small prey animals are generally much slower than the predators attacking them, but have a distinct advantage that can help them escape: maneuverability. When a prey observes a predator approaching, the change in the predator's visual profile gives it a good idea of the size... click to read more
How small warm-blooded feathered flying dinosaurs came to be
Dinosaurs have fascinated society for ages, or at least since the first specimens were described by Sir Richard Owen in the 19th century. These extinct ‘terrible reptiles’ supported the evolving world proposed by Darwin, exemplified by the discovery of a fossil in Germany, only two... click to read more
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