Picrodontids — an extinct family of placental mammals that lived several million years after the extinction of the dinosaurs — are not primates as previously believed. ​Picrodontids — an extinct family of placental mammals that lived several million years after the extinction of the dinosaurs — are not primates as previously believed. Picrodontids — an extinct …

New research sheds light on an old fossil solving an evolutionary mystery Read More »

Research reveals that adults with PTSD have a 2% smaller cerebellum than people without the disorder. The finding expands understanding of the cerebellum’s role in the brain beyond balance and movement to include emotion and cognition and also suggests that targeting the cerebellum may improve current treatments for PTSD, such as deep brain stimulation. ​Research …

Traumatic stress associated with smaller brain region Read More »

The sun has just set on a quiet mudflat in Australia’s Northern Territory; it’ll set again in another 19 hours. A young moon looms large over the desolate landscape. No animals scurry in the waning light. No leaves rustle in the breeze. No lichens encrust the exposed rock. The only hint of life is some …

Even the oldest eukaryote fossils show dazzling diversity and complexity Read More »

Beaches and dunes globally squeezed by roads and buildings. Beaches and dunes are becoming increasingly trapped between rising sea levels and infrastructure. Researchers found that today, when dropped on a random beach anywhere in the world, you only need to walk 390 meters (on average) to find the nearest road or building. And while that …

Beaches and dunes globally squeezed by roads and buildings Read More »

Researchers discover unexpected patterns in mutation risks across individuals, uncovering 13 distinct genomic patterns. The study provides crucial insights into cancer evolution, identifying the genes most affected by changes in mutation risk and shedding light on the dynamic relationship between cell proliferation, mutations, and epigenetic alterations. ​Researchers discover unexpected patterns in mutation risks across individuals, …

Cancer: Unravelling individual differences in DNA mutation risks Read More »

A new study shows that human hunting and land use have a decisive influence on red deer density in Europe. Red deer density is only reduced when wolves, lynx and bears co-occur at the same site. ​A new study shows that human hunting and land use have a decisive influence on red deer density in …

Red deer populations in Europe: More influenced by humans than by wolves and other predators Read More »

The ocean plays a crucial role in the storage of carbon dioxide (CO2). The so-called marine biological carbon pump is an important research topic in this context. However a key component is often overlooked. Colleagues outline why it is insufficient to focus solely on biological processes when investigating the accumulation of CO2 in the ocean …

Focus on biological processes does not capture the whole picture Read More »

The genomic analysis of 52 Psilocybe specimens includes 39 species that have never been sequenced. Psilocybe arose much earlier than previously thought — about 65 million years ago — and the authors found that psilocybin was first synthesized in mushrooms in the genus Psilocybe. Their analysis revealed two distinct gene orders within the gene cluster …

Largest diversity study of ‘magic mushrooms’ investigates the evolution of psychoactive psilocybin production Read More »

Researchers report that the more time reindeer spend ruminating, the less time they spend in non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep. EEG recordings revealed that reindeer’s brainwaves during rumination resemble the brain waves present during non-REM sleep, and these brainwave patterns suggest that the reindeer are more ‘rested’ after ruminating. The researchers speculate that this multitasking …

Reindeer sleep while chewing their cud Read More »