Evolution & Behaviour
Sea otters: how welcome should a recovering top predator be?
Sea otters are a marine mammal with a long history of interactions with humans. Beyond their cute appearance, they were once hunted to near extinction for their lush pelts. To help recover this endangered species, sea otters were re-introduced to the northwest coast of Vancouver... click to read more
Bat genomes: unveiling the secrets of their superpowers
If you watch and listen carefully on a quiet summer's night in the open air, you might perceive some dark shadows flying around or hear some high-pitch chirps. Yes, you have probably guessed it right. These are bats who have just started their 'day' and... click to read more
Homing pigeons find their way home by smelling the air
Many animals use chemical signals for defense, foraging and mating. However, little is known about the perception of smell by birds. A long-standing question – which we addressed in a new study – is how homing pigeons (or messenger pigeons) can 'smell' their way home... click to read more
How can a pathogen subvert honey bee social behaviors to increase its success?
Honey bees are important pollinators. However, like us, they can become hosts to many pathogens. As a social species living in enormous colonies, honey bees have evolved many behavioral defenses to deal with disease, for example changes in social contact. However, as new pathogens continue... click to read more
Ancient Mesoamerica demonstrates we’ve been ballgame lovers for more than 3000 years
Have you ever wondered about the origin of your favorite ballgame? It is perhaps much earlier than you guess. Mesoamerica – a center of ancient civilizations that flourished for over 3000 years before the Spanish invasion occurred – has evidence for ancient ballgames. In fact,... click to read more
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