Science & Technology News

The Tempo of Evolution is revealed on Hawaii

The Tempo of Evolution is revealed on Hawaii

Posted Mon, 20 Mar 2017 09:59:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

If we take a group of islands that suffer from regular volcanic creation and then erosion back into the sea, can we gather invaluable information about how life evolves generally to fill available habitats in other biomes---- ? The answer seems to be YES we can.

The Tempo of Evolution is revealed on Hawaii

Blue whales' calls give ID of new populations

Blue whales' calls give ID of new populations

Posted Wed, 04 Jan 2017 10:36:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

Whether we want to find rare populations of crickets, bats or whales, acoustic signs are worth recording. Instead of sometimes-impossible genetic ID, call signs give often-deeper analysis of how populations differ in so-called cultures. In the case of this blue whale study, new discoveries are inevitable as the long-lived, long-generation and simply just “long” animal recovers from hunting that could easily have occurred within their lifetime!

Blue whales' calls give ID of new populations

Crow wing shape and its association with species distribution.

Crow wing shape and its association with species distribution.

Posted Wed, 14 Dec 2016 09:10:00 GMT by JW Dowey

It's a great group of animals to study when you have hundreds of different species in almost every habitat on earth. Here is a largely successful attempt to associate the crow wing shape with species dispersals and any consequent speciations.

Crow wing shape and its association with species distribution.

The Force is with the Claw of Land Crabs

The Force is with the Claw of Land Crabs

Posted Thu, 24 Nov 2016 14:20:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

Cancer, the edible crab, can equal the coconut crab in the force applied by its claw, but the use to which Birgus latro puts its magnificent weapon goes way beyond the opening up of coconuts.

The Force is with the Claw of Land Crabs

Sailfish hunt, but is cooperation evolving?

Sailfish hunt, but is cooperation evolving?

Posted Wed, 02 Nov 2016 10:45:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

The sailfish is a magnificent specimen, but not for any static display. It deserves to be given its niche in the open ocean, at the highest speeds of 70mph (110kph), perfecting their hunting of tuna, mackerel. sardine and squid. The fish grows rapidly, lives only around 4 years and inhabits warm waters and as we see here, hunts with that great, vicious bill, by damaging as many prey as it catches!

Sailfish hunt, but is cooperation evolving?

Going to the dogs in Sardinia.

Going to the dogs in Sardinia.

Posted Thu, 13 Oct 2016 13:05:31 GMT by Dave Armstrong

We will soon have many unexpected insights into human and other species’ problems such as disease or simply anthropology. The chemicals that control our every movement and thought are inherited. Now even the dogs we breed can be recruited to help understand and back-up documentation of how inter-related we all are. Cancer and other disease problems are certainly being answered with this kind of research. Next we could see even more advances in research using information gleaned from other species.

Going to the dogs in Sardinia.

The great migration of the painted lady.

The great migration of the painted lady.

Posted Wed, 05 Oct 2016 08:35:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

Do the same individuals persevere across continents and deserts to achieve a yearly miracle migration? Its seems some do make it for 4000km, but they mainly rely on several generations forging north or south to reach suitable breeding habitat.

The great migration of the painted lady.

Murder mystery involves a 5000-year-old personality

Murder mystery involves a 5000-year-old personality

Posted Tue, 27 Sep 2016 09:10:00 GMT by JW Dowey

You are either obsessed with ancient times, as Europe became populated and China achieved the first imperial power - or you are bored stiff with it. Well here is one stiff who could manage to become the first immortal – if technology can finally pin the death on something apart from the freezing cold and loss of blood.

Murder mystery involves a 5000-year-old personality

Marine predators forage hotspots at oceanic fronts.

Marine predators forage hotspots at oceanic fronts.

Posted Wed, 21 Sep 2016 07:40:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

The mechanisms of shelf-sea fronts are poorly understood. As a front passes, how do plankton and their consumers contribute to the ecology of sea and land nearby? Many species of predator specialise in visiting these fronts, whether transient or fixed, and using the warmer temperatures, the varying productivity and the food supply that gannets find a valuable diet during the breeding season.

Marine predators forage hotspots at oceanic fronts.

Mola mola, the sunfish genome is incredible!

Mola mola, the sunfish genome is incredible!

Posted Mon, 12 Sep 2016 09:10:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

The research effort on the sunfish now has its genome: one of the most useful tools to use on a species to discover how it has evolved such remarkable anatomy. It has been called a natural mutant, but it has simply and rapidly adapted to its oceanic habitat and food chain. How this was achieved within the genome is a story that will now unravel with more and more research into this fish, its adaptations and population genetics and that of many others.

Mola mola, the sunfish genome is incredible!

Australian Super Spider Colours!

Australian Super Spider Colours!

Posted Fri, 12 Aug 2016 12:05:05 GMT by Dave Armstrong

The Australian spiders seem as distinct as the rest of their flora and fauna, with colour the distinguishing mark in this case. Despite their tiny size, these males manage to get noticed by the girls with their fabulous blue scales which amplify reflected light and never fade!

Australian Super Spider Colours!

 Desert elephants - nature, nurture, and we love them anyway!

Desert elephants - nature, nurture, and we love them anyway!

Posted Thu, 04 Aug 2016 10:50:01 GMT by Dave Armstrong

The existence of a water loving species in the middle of a great desert shocked early explorers and has that effect still. Memory, migration and magnificent skills serve the Namibian elephant well, as they probably have for other, long-dead elephant populations in the severest African climates.

Desert elephants - nature, nurture, and we love them anyway!

We've never walked alone- whether chimpanzee or hominin !

We've never walked alone- whether chimpanzee or hominin !

Posted Tue, 02 Aug 2016 23:00:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

How did our ancestors get about. Moving out of as well as inside Africa presented problems that must have given us our current abilities for walking and running with an incredible efficiency only equalled by wolves. I wonder what gave us this potato-like ability to sit on couches and do nothing?

We've never walked alone- whether chimpanzee or hominin !

The singer sings his own song, if you are an American junco!

The singer sings his own song, if you are an American junco!

Posted Wed, 27 Jul 2016 09:00:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

The songs are what makes all of these songbird species stand out, just as we tend to appreciate many other species, including rock stars, who can amuse us with the noises they emit!

The singer sings his own song, if you are an American junco!

Primates and alcohol, a natural relationship?

Primates and alcohol, a natural relationship?

Posted Wed, 20 Jul 2016 10:20:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

When science attempts to discover how natural alcohol sources may affect calorie intake, it is likely that human considerations come into consideration. In this paper, the media can hopefully focus sufficiently on the genetic significance, and not whether monkeys drink or not!

Primates and alcohol, a natural relationship?

Koomal - predictions for survival in the Australian bush.

Koomal - predictions for survival in the Australian bush.

Posted Tue, 12 Jul 2016 14:30:01 GMT by Paul Robinson

This elusive Australian creature faces an uncertain future in a very limited environment. New systems of research will be able to inform on its conservation and that of many other species, given the hard spadework involved in carrying out the analysis.

Koomal - predictions for survival in the Australian bush.

Scitech News Archives Page : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 

Butterflies just love ants ---.

Posted Wed, 12 Sep 2018 13:31:00 GMT by JW, Dowey

First known manta ray nursery in Florida and new species news!

Posted Wed, 20 Jun 2018 08:35:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

Models and mimics are marvels in SE Asia

Posted Wed, 02 May 2018 07:50:00 GMT by JW. Dowey

Otters and their social learning abilities.

Posted Wed, 30 Aug 2017 09:45:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

Our vertebrate relatives have evolved plenty of Jaw

Posted Mon, 31 Jul 2017 08:59:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

Salamander polyploid amazes with its genome (s)

Posted Fri, 23 Jun 2017 10:56:47 GMT by Dave Armstrong

The Tempo of Evolution is revealed on Hawaii

Posted Mon, 20 Mar 2017 09:59:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

Blue whales' calls give ID of new populations

Posted Wed, 04 Jan 2017 10:36:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong

Crow wing shape and its association with species distribution.

Posted Wed, 14 Dec 2016 09:10:00 GMT by JW Dowey

The Force is with the Claw of Land Crabs

Posted Thu, 24 Nov 2016 14:20:00 GMT by Dave Armstrong