Primatologists are using genetic analysis to determine the geographic origin of ancient mummified baboons found in Egypt. The team finds evidence that the two legendary trading regions of Punt and Adulis may have been the same place separated by a thousand years of history. ​Primatologists are using genetic analysis to determine the geographic origin of …

Origin of ancient mummified baboons found in Egypt Read More »

Scientists studied the genomes of 30 kingfisher species to try to identify the genes that allow kingfishers to dive headfirst into water without huring their brains. The researchers found that the diving birds have unusual mutations to the genes that produce tau: a protein that helps stabilize tiny structures in the brain, but which can …

Finding the genes that help kingfishers dive without hurting their brains Read More »

It’s viable to produce low-cost, lightweight solar panels that can generate energy in space, according to new research. ​It’s viable to produce low-cost, lightweight solar panels that can generate energy in space, according to new research. It’s viable to produce low-cost, lightweight solar panels that can generate energy in space, according to new research. 

Next-generation solar materials are cheaper and more sustainable to produce than traditional silicon solar cells, but hurdles remain in making the devices durable enough to withstand real-world conditions. A new technique could simplify the development of efficient and stable perovskite solar cells, named for their unique crystalline structure that excels at absorbing visible light. ​Next-generation …

Scientists develop new method to create stable, efficient next-gen solar cells Read More »

An international coalition of climate scientists says that the Earth’s vital signs have worsened beyond anything humans have yet seen, to the point that life on the planet is imperiled. ​An international coalition of climate scientists says that the Earth’s vital signs have worsened beyond anything humans have yet seen, to the point that life …

Climate report: ‘Uncharted territory’ imperils life on Earth Read More »

A team has identified several factors to help answer a fundamental ecological question: why is there a ridiculous abundance of species some places on earth and a scarcity in others? What factors, exactly, drive animal diversity? They discovered that what an animal eats (and how that interacts with climate) shapes Earth’s diversity. ​A team has …

Raining cats and dogs: Global precipitation patterns a driver for animal diversity Read More »