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colorful parrot-like bird riding a tiny bicycle on a tightrope
Reptiles are the Real Bird Brains
A research group argues that a species’ number of neurons, rather than brain volume, should serve as indicator of cognitive capacity when studying brain evolution, but some experts voice doubts.
Reptiles are the Real Bird Brains
Reptiles are the Real Bird Brains

A research group argues that a species’ number of neurons, rather than brain volume, should serve as indicator of cognitive capacity when studying brain evolution, but some experts voice doubts.

A research group argues that a species’ number of neurons, rather than brain volume, should serve as indicator of cognitive capacity when studying brain evolution, but some experts voice doubts.

techniques, evolution

giraffe, genetics & genomics, CRISPR, gene editing, genome, physiology, hypertension, bone growth, techniques, mouse model
Genome Reveals Clues to Giraffes’ “Blatantly Strange” Body Shape
Amanda Heidt | Mar 19, 2021 | 5 min read
The physiological demands of that long neck get support from a gene involved in strengthening bones and blood vessels, researchers find after inserting the sequence in mice.
Free Fallin’: How Scientists Study Unrestrained Insects
Amanda Heidt | Mar 1, 2021 | 10+ min read
Researchers are pulling from video games, sports broadcasting, meteorology, and even missile guidance technology to better investigate how insects have mastered flight.
Infographic: VR, Radar, and Other Tricks for Studying Insects
Amanda Heidt | Mar 1, 2021 | 1 min read
Researchers are getting creative to understand flight behavior in the fast-moving and tiny animals.
Ancient Beads Point to Far-Flung Relationships in Southern Africa
Shawna Williams | Jul 13, 2020 | 5 min read
An isotopic analysis of eggshell beads dating back more than 30,000 years indicates that they helped build networks that stretched for hundreds of kilometers.
The Hidden World of Millipede Sex
Yao-Hua Law | Jun 1, 2020 | 4 min read
Researchers use advanced imaging techniques to see what happens when a male and a female mate.
albino lizard hatchling
Image of the Day: Gene-Edited Reptiles
Nicoletta Lanese | Sep 4, 2019 | 2 min read
Scientists injected unfertilized anole lizard eggs with CRISPR-Cas9 to produce albino offspring.
Co-mimic pairs from the species Heliconius erato (odd columns) and Heliconius melpomene (even column) sorted by greatest similarity from top left to bottom right
Image of the Day: ButterflyNet
Nicoletta Lanese | Aug 16, 2019 | 1 min read
Scientists used machine learning to analyze the coevolution of physical traits in butterflies.
Promoting Protein Partnerships
Ruth Williams | Sep 1, 2016 | 3 min read
Scientists generate new protein-protein interactions at an impressive PACE.
Protein or Perish
Ruth Williams | Aug 31, 2016 | 1 min read
A bacteriophage must evolve certain variants of a protein or die.
How to Make a New Species
Ruth Williams | Jul 1, 2015 | 2 min read
Scientists mutate a mating pheromone and its corresponding receptor in yeast to promote speciation.
Whales Saved From Highway Project
Bob Grant | Nov 21, 2011 | 1 min read
A team of paleontologists is racing to recover dozens of fossilized whale skeletons from the site of a road building excavation in northern Chile.
Octophilosophy
Katherine Bagley | Sep 1, 2011 | 3 min read
When it comes to studying cephalopod brains and behavior, it helps to have a philosopher around.
Repainting Ancient Birds
Megan Scudellari | Jul 1, 2011 | 1 min read
Using synchrotron rapid scanning X-ray fluorescence to map the distribution of trace metals in avian fossils over 120 million-year-old, researchers reconstruct the pigment patterns of their feathers—revealing some of the extinct birds' long-lost colors.
Color by Number Fossils
Megan Scudellari | Jun 30, 2011 | 3 min read
Researchers map pigments in early bird fossils using preserved metallic residues.
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