Scientists have shown that people are able to tell apart morning from evening depictions in paintings using simple and subtle color clues in the image. ​Scientists have shown that people are able to tell apart morning from evening depictions in paintings using simple and subtle color clues in the image. Scientists have shown that people are …

From dawn of time to dusk — our evolutionary ability to perceive time in art Read More »

Researchers have identified microstructures in fossil cells that are 1.75 billion years old. These structures, called thylakoid membranes, are the oldest ever discovered. They push back the fossil record of thylakoids by 1.2 billion years and provide new information on the evolution of cyanobacteria which played a crucial role in the accumulation of oxygen on …

The evolution of photosynthesis better documented thanks to the discovery of the oldest thylakoids in fossil cyanobacteria Read More »

Researchers may have identified the missing component in the chemistry of the Venusian clouds that would explain their color and splotchiness in the UV range, solving a long-standing mystery. ​Researchers may have identified the missing component in the chemistry of the Venusian clouds that would explain their color and splotchiness in the UV range, solving …

Mysterious missing component in the clouds of Venus revealed Read More »

With a split-second muscle contraction, the greater blue-ringed octopus can change the size and color of the namesake patterns on its skin for purposes of deception, camouflage and signaling. Researchers have drawn inspiration from this natural wonder to develop a technological platform with similar capabilities for use in a variety of fields, including the military, …

Engineers invent octopus-inspired technology that can deceive and signal Read More »

Neptune is fondly known for being a rich blue and Uranus green — but a new study has revealed that the two ice giants are actually far closer in color than typically thought. The correct shades of the planets have now been confirmed. ​Neptune is fondly known for being a rich blue and Uranus green …

New images reveal what Neptune and Uranus really look like Read More »

Animals reproduce in one of two distinct ways: egg-laying or live birth. By studying an evolutionarily recent transition from egg-laying to live-bearing in a marine snail, collaborative research has shed new light on the genetic changes that allow organisms to make the switch. ​Animals reproduce in one of two distinct ways: egg-laying or live birth. …

The snail or the egg? Read More »

With human retinas grown in a petri dish, researchers discovered how an offshoot of vitamin A generates the specialized cells that enable people to see millions of colors, an ability that dogs, cats, and other mammals do not possess. The findings increase understanding of color blindness, age-related vision loss, and other diseases linked to photoreceptor …

Lab-grown retinas explain why people see colors dogs can’t Read More »

When tardigrades encounter harsh environments, high levels of free radicals in their cells trigger the onset of a dormant state in which they can endure extreme hardship ​When tardigrades encounter harsh environments, high levels of free radicals in their cells trigger the onset of a dormant state in which they can endure extreme hardship When tardigrades …

We finally know how tardigrades can survive extreme conditions Read More »

The life expectancies of men around the world are catching up with women’s longer lifespans, possibly due to a decline in smoking and alcohol-related deaths ​The life expectancies of men around the world are catching up with women’s longer lifespans, possibly due to a decline in smoking and alcohol-related deaths The life expectancies of men around …

Life expectancy gap between men and women is closing worldwide Read More »