Nature
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Tropical birds evolved slowly
Are biodiversity hotspots ‘coldspots’ for new species?
Scientists have uncovered a surprising paradox in species evolution: birds in tropical hotspots evolved much more slo...
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Tasmanian devils may survive cancer threat
New research suggests it is becoming endemic.
There’s more possible good news for Australia’s troubled Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) – and the implication...
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Two interesting new uses for poop
Honeybees and pandas can be clever with compounds.
Scientists have discovered two, er, interesting things animals do with poop – in both cases, not their own. Honeyb...
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Evolutionary link that helped pterosaurs fly
Fossils suggest flightless relative was a middleman.
It’s taking time – in no small part due to the difficulty in finding good evidence – but we’re slowly learning more a...
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Magazine
Do fish dream?
Research certainly suggests they’re self aware.
By James Bradley A century ago the German biologist Jakob von Uexküll coined the term umwelt – literally “surround...
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Delving into domestic donkeys' past
Genome study reveals some clever breeding.
Donkeys have been helping humans for millennia, but our knowledge of their origins has previously been limited to arc...
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Scientists go fishing for fish DNA
eDNA reveals species abundance as well as variety.
It seems you can tell how many fish there are in the sea (or at least a part of it) from what they leave behind. I...
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The underground life of plants
Study investigates why roots go where they go.
The energy a plant devotes to its roots depends on its proximity to other plants, according to a new study. The ro...
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NatureWrap: These guys mess with killer whales
Plus insect wings, sorghum tales and very old fish.
Long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) off southern Australia mimic the calls of killer whales – their natural...
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How on Earth did you get like that?
Study explores the blending of complex animal patterns.
A little mathematics has shown how animals get their extraordinary patterns. Previous studies have revealed how an...
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Honeybees have unique personalities, like us
Being an individual is good for the whole.
Individuals shape a community and its collective patterns of behaviour – and not just in humans, it turns out. Sci...
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NatureWrap: Dolphins are clever breathers
Plus helpful rats, jaguar threats and acoustic wings.
Dolphins actively slow their hearts before diving and can even adjust their heart rate to suit how long they plan to ...