Biology

Skilful thumbs on the trail

Researchers have developed a virtual model to calculate thumb mobility. (Photo: Katerina Harvati, Alexandros Karakostis, Daniel Herdle) They enable precise gripping and refined dexterity:...

Naked mole rats “speak” folk dialects

A fascinating freak: the naked mole rat. (Image: Felix Petermann, MDC) Once again the famous Nackedei rodents live up to their bizarre reputation: In...

How fast can dogs learn words?

The border collie "Whiskey" knows many toys by name. (Image: Claudia Fugazza) "Bring me the leash!" For a dog to be able to associate...

How much methane does a cow burp?

Cow in a methane measuring chamber. (Image: FBN / Northern Lights) Climate killer cow: Cattle produce the potent greenhouse gas methane, but this output...

What makes giraffe necks long

The trademark of the giraffe in sight. (Image: linephoto / iStock) What's up with that two meter long neck? In addition to the...

“Pharmacist frogs” are clawing Europe

The clawed frog could spread increasingly in Europe, according to a study. (Image: tunart / iStock) Introduced from Africa: The clawed frog was once...

Why cats love certain plants

The enthusiastic reactions of cats to catnip and the Asian silver wine could be linked to a chemical defense against mosquitoes. (Image: Masao...

Enigmatic snap device modeled

Dragonfly larvae have a trap with a dual catapult system that researchers have technically reproduced. (Right picture: Alexander Köhnsen, CAU Kiel, left picture:...

First lion embryos from frozen egg cells

Egg cells from an African lioness. (Image: Jennifer Zahmel / Leibniz-IZW) In order to save endangered animal species from extinction, researchers are trying to...

Lungfish genome: insights into shore leave

The Australian lungfish are the closest living relative of humans in fish. (Image: Pixabay) A living fossil has revealed its genome: the genome of...

How Germany is developing like an animal

“Feathered punk” is also celebrating a comeback: the bald ibis. (Image: Fireglo2 / iStock) Something is happening in the German animal world: Thanks to...

Green areas can reduce subjective noise pollution

City parks offer relaxation - even from noise. (Image: TasfotoNL / iStock) Parks, meadows and other urban green spaces are not only gaining in...

Antarctica: coloration with a melting effect

When the snow on the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula turns green, it melts faster. (Image: Gonzalo Barrera) More and more shades of green...

“Shocking” group hunt for electric eels

Electric eels evidently not only hunt with an electric club on their own. (Image: (Image: L. Sousa) Up until now, the loaded predatory fish...

Goats also want to be challenged spiritually

Goats like to make an effort for a reward. © snf, photographer: Yves Wiesmann Usually, animals are also more comfortable and avoid unnecessary strain...

Fluorescent strips discovered on geckos

The desert gecko Pachydactylus rangei shows a neon green fluorescent side stripe and a ring around the eyes when illuminated by UV light (365...

Lasso climbing method discovered in snakes

They form a kind of lasso and then slide upwards piece by piece: researchers have discovered a previously unknown way of snake movement in...

Baboons grunt with “accent”

Male Guinea baboons in the Nikolo-Koba National Park in Senegal. (Image: Julia Fischer) Similar to how we humans usually adopt the way of speaking...

Condensed knowledge about the “deep south”

The living environment on and around the Antarctic continent is changing. (Image: FrankRamspott / iStock) Icy landscapes, surrounded by a cold sea: What...

Biodiversity collapse in the eastern Mediterranean

Only a few mollusks still belong to the species originally native to the Mediterranean (blue), most of them immigrated from the Red Sea (red)....

Recent Articles