Evolution & Behaviour
How Spiders Catch the Air for Their Flight
Bacteria or sperm cells can swim using a hair-like structure. Other organisms use similar structures to fly, like dandelion and thistle seeds with their parachute hairs. But this mode of flying is not limited to plant seeds. One weird aviator is the spider. Using their... click to read more
Marine mammals may suffer dire consequences of ancient gene loss
Have you ever lost something? Perhaps you have misplaced your keys or left an umbrella on the bus. Generally speaking, losing things has negative consequences. Without your keys, you might be locked out of your house or car, and without your umbrella, you might get... click to read more
The conundrum of spontaneous (un)cooperation in pine sawflies
It might seem that there is always someone who works a little less than others in a group. Especially if the participation in a collective effort comes with a price. This may be the case with groups of people aiming at a common goal and... click to read more
The mystery of mistletoe mitochondria
Mistletoe is an evergreen parasitic plant that lives on trees and steals water and nutrients from them. It features in European folklore as a symbol for fertility and vitality, is a well-known addition to Christmas and is also known to comic fans as the main... click to read more
How the domestic rabbit became fearless
The domestication of animals progresses gradually as wild animals' genomes evolve and they adapt to life in captivity. Such genetic changes may manifest themselves in how an animal looks, behaves, functions and reproduces. The most striking of these modifications is tameness, - a common feature... click to read more
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