New Scientist - Life / /build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png daily 1 /article/2522781-tweaking-the-smell-of-cat-food-can-encourage-fussy-felines-to-eat/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:00:04 +0100 Some cats will suddenly refuse to touch brands of cat food that they have eaten for years. Changing the way the food smells might solve the problem 2522781-tweaking-the-smell-of-cat-food-can-encourage-fussy-felines-to-eat|2522781 /article/2522739-hidden-fossils-reveal-secrets-of-oceans-before-major-mass-extinction/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:00:13 +0100 A handful of plankton fossils buried in a small chunk of rock show that the oceans were teeming with life before the Late Ordovician mass extinction, the second most severe on record 2522739-hidden-fossils-reveal-secrets-of-oceans-before-major-mass-extinction|2522739 /article/2522541-chimpanzee-groups-violent-rupture-hints-at-evolutionary-roots-of-war/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:00:45 +0100 Researchers who observed a murderous conflict unfolding in a once-unified group of wild chimpanzees say there are parallels with civil wars in human societies 2522541-chimpanzee-groups-violent-rupture-hints-at-evolutionary-roots-of-war|2522541 /article/2522508-emperor-penguins-added-to-endangered-list-after-rapid-decline/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:00:20 +0100 The International Union for Conservation of Nature has updated the Red List status for three of Antarctica’s most famous species after a dire assessment of their prospects under climate change 2522508-emperor-penguins-added-to-endangered-list-after-rapid-decline|2522508 /article/2522203-what-to-read-this-week-beyond-inheritance-by-roxanne-khamsi/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:00:18 +0100 A fresh and important book reveals the messy reality of our ever-mutating cells – and why the quest to defeat ageing is futile, says Michael Le Page 2522203-what-to-read-this-week-beyond-inheritance-by-roxanne-khamsi|2522203 /article/2521980-surprise-fossil-discoveries-push-back-the-evolution-of-complex-animals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:00:36 +0100 A fossil bed in China containing animals up to 554 million years old suggests that we may have to reconsider the idea that life suddenly diversified during the Cambrian explosion 2521980-surprise-fossil-discoveries-push-back-the-evolution-of-complex-animals|2521980 /article/2522005-bumblebees-surprise-scientists-by-showing-a-sense-of-rhythm/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:00:06 +0100 Recognising rhythmic patterns was thought to require a big brain, but a series of experiments has shown that buff-tailed bumblebees have this ability, too 2522005-bumblebees-surprise-scientists-by-showing-a-sense-of-rhythm|2522005 /article/2521377-what-to-read-this-week-lixing-suns-ambitious-on-the-origin-of-sex/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:00:37 +0100 Ducks with corkscrew penises, fish changing sex – what do we really know about sex and reproduction on Earth? Less than we think, reveals a mind-boggling new book. Elle Hunt explores 2521377-what-to-read-this-week-lixing-suns-ambitious-on-the-origin-of-sex|2521377 /article/2521338-tobacco-plant-altered-to-produce-five-psychedelic-drugs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:00:03 +0100 Genetically engineering tobacco plants could enable a more sustainable production method for psychedelic drugs, which are increasingly in demand for research and medical uses 2521338-tobacco-plant-altered-to-produce-five-psychedelic-drugs|2521338 /article/2521744-male-octopuses-have-a-favourite-arm-that-they-mostly-use-for-sex/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:00:55 +0100 The third right arm of male octopuses has a specialised role in mating, and the creatures take extra care to avoid damaging it or losing it to a predator 2521744-male-octopuses-have-a-favourite-arm-that-they-mostly-use-for-sex|2521744 /article/2519003-the-shocking-fossils-that-show-t-rex-wasnt-the-king-of-the-dinosaurs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:00:41 +0000 We've always thought that Tyrannosaurus rex was an unchallenged apex predator during the dying days of the dinosaurs. But a fresh look at controversial fossils has prompted palaeontology’s biggest-ever U-turn 2519003-the-shocking-fossils-that-show-t-rex-wasnt-the-king-of-the-dinosaurs|2519003 /article/mg26935880-300-rare-andean-bear-captured-in-stunning-photograph/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards, this image by photographer Sebastian Di Domenico was taken in Colombia mg26935880-300-rare-andean-bear-captured-in-stunning-photograph|2520100 /article/2521103-first-glimpse-of-sperm-whale-birth-reveals-teamwork-to-support-newborn/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:00:42 +0000 A female sperm whale has been filmed giving birth for the first time, supported by 10 adult females who lifted the calf out of the water and protected it from predators 2521103-first-glimpse-of-sperm-whale-birth-reveals-teamwork-to-support-newborn|2521103 /article/2521073-fossils-discovered-in-egypt-may-be-the-closest-ancestor-of-all-apes/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:00:12 +0000 Pieces of jawbone and teeth found in Egypt have been identified as a new early ape species named Masripithecus moghraensis, which lived about 17 million years ago 2521073-fossils-discovered-in-egypt-may-be-the-closest-ancestor-of-all-apes|2521073 /article/2520892-a-variety-of-jungle-animals-all-use-one-type-of-tree-as-a-latrine/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:00:58 +0000 In the cloud forest of Costa Rica, many canopy-dwelling animals do their business in strangler fig trees, perhaps as a way of leaving messages 2520892-a-variety-of-jungle-animals-all-use-one-type-of-tree-as-a-latrine|2520892 /article/mg26935880-400-what-to-read-this-week-the-persuasive-how-flowers-made-our-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 We shouldn't dismiss flowers as merely ornamental – these blooms are world-changers, argues a vivid new book by David George Haskell. Michael Marshall is mostly convinced mg26935880-400-what-to-read-this-week-the-persuasive-how-flowers-made-our-world|2520101 /article/2520476-oldest-known-dog-extends-the-genetic-history-of-our-canine-companions/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:00:53 +0000 The remains of dogs from more than 14,000 years ago have been found in Turkey and the UK, revealing that domesticated animals were spread across Europe by hunter-gatherers 2520476-oldest-known-dog-extends-the-genetic-history-of-our-canine-companions|2520476 /article/2520756-landmark-experiment-reveals-a-big-unexpected-problem-with-cloning/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:44:47 +0000 A 20-year study has shown that, like photocopying photocopies, cloning doesn't produce perfect copies – with big implications for farming, conservation and de-extinction 2520756-landmark-experiment-reveals-a-big-unexpected-problem-with-cloning|2520756 /article/2520049-adrian-tchaikovsky-i-try-and-do-interesting-aliens/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:00:55 +0000 As the science fiction author publishes the latest novel in his Children of Time series, Children of Strife, he talks to Alison Flood about mantis shrimp, the pleasures of sci-fi and why empathy is so important in his writing 2520049-adrian-tchaikovsky-i-try-and-do-interesting-aliens|2520049 /article/2520182-zombie-cells-created-by-transplanting-genomes-into-dead-bacteria/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:47:41 +0000 Researchers have created the first living synthetic bacterium made from non-living parts by killing a bacterial cell and then transplanting the genome of another species into it, blurring the boundary between life and death 2520182-zombie-cells-created-by-transplanting-genomes-into-dead-bacteria|2520182 /video/2519939-what-we-still-get-wrong-about-dinosaurs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 18 Mar 2026 22:39:10 +0000 Did Velociraptor hunt in packs? Were Spinosaurus aquatic? How did pterosaurs fly? Forget what you’ve seen in Jurassic Park – the truth is far wilder 2519939-what-we-still-get-wrong-about-dinosaurs|2519939 /article/2519284-single-celled-organism-with-no-brain-is-capable-of-pavlovian-learning/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:00:32 +0000 A trumpet-shaped, single-celled organism seems able to predict one thing will follow another, hinting that such associative learning emerged long before multicellular nervous systems 2519284-single-celled-organism-with-no-brain-is-capable-of-pavlovian-learning|2519284 /article/2519241-can-species-evolve-fast-enough-to-survive-as-the-planet-heats-up/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:00:29 +0000 The story of a wildflower that adapted to a severe drought in California raises hopes that evolution will come to the rescue of species hit by climate change, but there are limits 2519241-can-species-evolve-fast-enough-to-survive-as-the-planet-heats-up|2519241 /article/2519046-king-penguins-are-thriving-in-a-warmer-climate-but-it-may-not-last/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:00:53 +0000 Longer summers are allowing more king penguin chicks to bulk up and survive the winter, but the penguins' main fishing area is shifting further away as temperatures rise 2519046-king-penguins-are-thriving-in-a-warmer-climate-but-it-may-not-last|2519046 /article/2518849-orcas-may-be-to-blame-for-some-mass-dolphin-strandings/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:01:07 +0000 Two mass strandings involving hundreds of dolphins in Argentina probably happened because the pods were being hunted by orcas, highlighting the role of predators in these mysterious events 2518849-orcas-may-be-to-blame-for-some-mass-dolphin-strandings|2518849 /article/2518775-i-was-accused-of-killing-over-100-million-rabbits-across-australia/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:00:33 +0000 When New Scientist reporter James Woodford was assigned to a story about a virus designed to kill rabbits, he never expected to be accused of spreading it 2518775-i-was-accused-of-killing-over-100-million-rabbits-across-australia|2518775 /article/2518339-singing-dogs-may-show-the-evolutionary-roots-of-musicality/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:00:21 +0000 Some Samoyeds adjust the pitch of their howls depending on the music being played, showing a form of vocal ability they might have inherited from their wolf ancestors 2518339-singing-dogs-may-show-the-evolutionary-roots-of-musicality|2518339 /article/2518365-ancient-weirdo-reptile-graduated-from-4-legs-to-2-in-adolescence/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:00:03 +0000 Sonselasuchus cedrus, discovered in fossils from Arizona, was a crocodile relative from the Triassic period that grew into an ostrich-like adult 2518365-ancient-weirdo-reptile-graduated-from-4-legs-to-2-in-adolescence|2518365 /article/2518082-two-marsupials-believed-extinct-for-6000-years-found-alive/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:00:23 +0000 Indigenous people in Papua, Indonesia, have helped scientists track down two animals that were thought to have gone extinct thousands of years ago: a relative of Australia’s greater glider and a palm-sized possum with a bizarre, elongated finger 2518082-two-marsupials-believed-extinct-for-6000-years-found-alive|2518082 /article/2518096-the-secret-of-how-cats-twist-in-mid-air-to-land-on-their-feet/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:00:55 +0000 An exceptionally flexible region of the spine enables falling cats to twist the front and back halves of their body sequentially to ensure a safe landing 2518096-the-secret-of-how-cats-twist-in-mid-air-to-land-on-their-feet|2518096 /article/2517930-top-predators-still-prowled-the-seas-after-the-biggest-mass-extinction/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:49:39 +0000 The end-Permian extinction 252 million years ago wiped out over 80 per cent of marine species, but many ecosystems still had complex food webs despite the losses 2517930-top-predators-still-prowled-the-seas-after-the-biggest-mass-extinction|2517930 /article/2517419-ants-capture-carbon-dioxide-from-the-air-and-turn-it-into-armour/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:00:53 +0000 Fungus-farming ants have evolved a remarkable solution to the danger of excess carbon dioxide inside their nests – which could inspire ways for humans to capture CO2 2517419-ants-capture-carbon-dioxide-from-the-air-and-turn-it-into-armour|2517419 /article/2517011-tiny-predatory-dinosaur-weighed-less-than-a-chicken/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:00:42 +0000 The alvarezsaurs were thought to have evolved a smaller stature because of their diet of ants and termites, but a new fossil found in Argentina casts doubt on that theory 2517011-tiny-predatory-dinosaur-weighed-less-than-a-chicken|2517011 /article/2516860-cannibalism-may-explain-why-some-orcas-stay-in-family-groups/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:00:27 +0000 Fins washing up in the North Pacific suggest that orcas from one subspecies are snacking on other orcas, and researchers think that may explain their different social dynamics 2516860-cannibalism-may-explain-why-some-orcas-stay-in-family-groups|2516860 /article/2516695-everyones-a-queen-the-ant-species-with-no-males-or-workers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:00:38 +0000 Temnothorax kinomurai, a parasitic ant species found in Japan, reproduces asexually and all of its young develop into queens that try to take over other ants’ colonies 2516695-everyones-a-queen-the-ant-species-with-no-males-or-workers|2516695 /article/2516446-a-horses-whinny-is-unlike-any-other-sound-in-nature/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:00:06 +0000 Horses use their larynx to make two sounds simultaneously, so they are effectively singing and whistling at the same time 2516446-a-horses-whinny-is-unlike-any-other-sound-in-nature|2516446 /article/2516516-fish-based-pet-food-may-expose-cats-and-dogs-to-forever-chemicals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:00:54 +0000 A survey of 100 commercial foods for dogs and cats revealed that PFAS chemicals appear in numerous brands and types, with fish-based products among those with the highest levels 2516516-fish-based-pet-food-may-expose-cats-and-dogs-to-forever-chemicals|2516516 /article/mg26935830-300-new-scientist-recommends-the-big-oyster-history-on-the-half-shell/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0000 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week mg26935830-300-new-scientist-recommends-the-big-oyster-history-on-the-half-shell|2515555 /article/2516314-new-fossils-may-settle-debate-over-mysterious-sail-backed-spinosaurs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 19 Feb 2026 19:00:59 +0000 Spinosaurs have sometimes been portrayed as swimmers or divers, but a new species of these dinosaurs bolsters the idea that they were more like gigantic herons 2516314-new-fossils-may-settle-debate-over-mysterious-sail-backed-spinosaurs|2516314 /article/mg26935834-000-weird-and-wonderful-fungi-should-be-so-much-more-than-sci-fi-villains/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Fungi have become Hollywood’s go-to bad guys. But as yet another story focuses on Cordyceps, Nick Crumpton says we are missing a chance to broaden our fictional horizons mg26935834-000-weird-and-wonderful-fungi-should-be-so-much-more-than-sci-fi-villains|2515984 /article/2516163-microbe-with-the-smallest-genome-yet-pushes-the-boundaries-of-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 19 Feb 2026 09:00:03 +0000 Symbiotic bacteria living inside insect cells have lost much of their DNA over hundreds of millions of years, much like the ancient microbes that evolved into mitochondria 2516163-microbe-with-the-smallest-genome-yet-pushes-the-boundaries-of-life|2516163 /article/2516119-more-dog-breeds-found-to-have-high-risk-of-breathing-condition/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 18 Feb 2026 19:00:54 +0000 An assessment of nearly 900 dogs has identified 12 breeds prone to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, which can affect dogs' ability to sleep and exercise 2516119-more-dog-breeds-found-to-have-high-risk-of-breathing-condition|2516119 /article/2515941-giant-viruses-may-be-more-alive-than-we-thought/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:00:09 +0000 A giant virus encodes part of the protein-making toolkit of cells that gives it greater control over its amoeba host, raising questions about how it evolved and how such beings relate to living organisms 2515941-giant-viruses-may-be-more-alive-than-we-thought|2515941 /article/2514915-newborn-marsupials-seen-crawling-to-mothers-pouch-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:01:16 +0000 Scientists have captured remarkable footage of the young of a mouse-sized marsupial, called a fat-tailed dunnart, making their way to their mother’s pouch soon after being born 2514915-newborn-marsupials-seen-crawling-to-mothers-pouch-for-the-first-time|2514915 /article/2514247-five-stunning-images-from-the-close-up-photographer-of-the-year-awards/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:00:58 +0000 An otherworldly coral, a very cute moth and an intricately beautiful mushroom are among the winners in the prize this year 2514247-five-stunning-images-from-the-close-up-photographer-of-the-year-awards|2514247 /article/2514366-bonobos-pretend-tea-party-shows-capacity-for-imagination/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:00:10 +0000 Kanzi, a bonobo with exceptional language skills, took part in a make-believe tea party that demonstrated cognitive abilities never seen before in non-human primates 2514366-bonobos-pretend-tea-party-shows-capacity-for-imagination|2514366 /video/2514466-have-scientists-finally-figured-out-spinosaurus/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:59:11 +0000 From a tail adjusted for water propulsion, to fish-capturing jaws, Spinosaurus is perfectly adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle, but there's still much more to discover, says paleontologist Nizar Ibrahim 2514466-have-scientists-finally-figured-out-spinosaurus|2514466 /article/2512772-ants-attack-their-nest-mates-because-pollution-changes-their-smell/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:00:07 +0000 Ants rely on scent to recognise their comrades, and when they are exposed to common air pollutants, other members of their colony react as if they are enemies 2512772-ants-attack-their-nest-mates-because-pollution-changes-their-smell|2512772 /article/2513878-can-we-genetically-improve-humans-using-george-churchs-famous-list/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:30:04 +0000 Columnist Michael Le Page delves into a catalogue of hundreds of potentially beneficial gene mutations and variants that is popular with transhumanists 2513878-can-we-genetically-improve-humans-using-george-churchs-famous-list|2513878 /article/2513712-polar-bears-are-getting-fatter-in-the-fastest-warming-place-on-earth/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:00:03 +0000 Shrinking sea ice has made life harder for polar bears in many parts of the Arctic, but the population in Svalbard seems to be thriving 2513712-polar-bears-are-getting-fatter-in-the-fastest-warming-place-on-earth|2513712 /article/2513485-huge-fossil-bonanza-preserves-512-million-year-old-ecosystem/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:00:14 +0000 A treasure trove of Cambrian fossils has been discovered in southern China, providing a window on marine life shortly after Earth’s first mass extinction event 2513485-huge-fossil-bonanza-preserves-512-million-year-old-ecosystem|2513485 /article/2512742-why-did-magic-mushrooms-evolve-we-may-finally-have-the-answer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 23 Jan 2026 08:00:48 +0000 Many species of fungus across the world produce psilocybin, a chemical with psychedelic effects in humans, but its evolutionary purpose may be to deter mushroom-munching insects 2512742-why-did-magic-mushrooms-evolve-we-may-finally-have-the-answer|2512742 /article/mg26935791-700-how-and-why-we-chose-the-best-21-ideas-of-the-21st-century/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0000 From smartphones to net zero, there has been no shortage of innovative ideas in the past 25 years, which is why we have taken a look back to choose the best mg26935791-700-how-and-why-we-chose-the-best-21-ideas-of-the-21st-century|2512400 /article/2512923-sea-turtles-may-be-more-resilient-to-global-warming-than-we-thought/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 23 Jan 2026 17:00:44 +0000 An “epigenetic” adaptation could prevent large numbers of loggerhead turtles from hatching as female due to climate change – a threat that was feared to lead to population collapse 2512923-sea-turtles-may-be-more-resilient-to-global-warming-than-we-thought|2512923 /article/2511579-stunning-images-reveal-the-rich-biodiversity-of-remotest-tanzania/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:00:13 +0000 Photographer Frédéric Noy's shots give an insight into life around the rainforests of Udzungwa Mountains National Park – and efforts to protect it 2511579-stunning-images-reveal-the-rich-biodiversity-of-remotest-tanzania|2511579 /article/2508954-ancient-giant-kangaroos-could-have-hopped-despite-their-huge-size/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:00:20 +0000 Long thought to have walked bipedally, like us, Australia’s extinct giant kangaroos have features that indicate they could also have bounced 2508954-ancient-giant-kangaroos-could-have-hopped-despite-their-huge-size|2508954 /article/mg26935790-300-a-fascinating-book-reveals-the-ancient-story-of-horses-and-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Ludovic Orlando's Horses is an enthralling account by one of the main players, detailing how genetics has rewritten what we know about the intertwined story of horses and humans, now spanning over 4000 years mg26935790-300-a-fascinating-book-reveals-the-ancient-story-of-horses-and-humans|2511932 /article/2511807-piercing-crocodile-close-up-wins-ecology-photo-competition/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:01:57 +0000 A striking shot of biting flies on the head of a crocodile is among the winning entries in the British Ecological Society’s annual Capturing Ecology photography competition 2511807-piercing-crocodile-close-up-wins-ecology-photo-competition|2511807 /article/2512668-our-earliest-vertebrate-ancestors-may-have-had-four-eyes/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:00:50 +0000 Extraordinary fossils of 518-million-year-old jawless fish, among the earliest known vertebrates, appear to show that these animals had two pairs of eyes 2512668-our-earliest-vertebrate-ancestors-may-have-had-four-eyes|2512668 /article/2512692-bird-retinas-work-without-oxygen-and-now-scientists-know-how/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:00:21 +0000 The light-sensitive tissue of birds’ eyes is not supplied with oxygen by blood vessels – instead, it powers itself with a flood of sugar, and this may have evolutionary benefits 2512692-bird-retinas-work-without-oxygen-and-now-scientists-know-how|2512692 /article/2512336-octopuses-prompt-rethink-of-why-animals-evolve-big-brains/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:00:29 +0000 A popular idea suggests a link between big brains and a rich social life, but octopuses don't fit the pattern, which suggests something else is going on 2512336-octopuses-prompt-rethink-of-why-animals-evolve-big-brains|2512336 /article/2512344-bubble-feeding-trick-spreads-through-humpback-whale-social-groups/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:01:20 +0000 Humpback whales off the west coast of Canada have learned a cooperative hunting technique from whales migrating into the area, and this cultural knowledge may help the population cope as food becomes scarce 2512344-bubble-feeding-trick-spreads-through-humpback-whale-social-groups|2512344 /article/2511920-why-a-tool-using-cow-could-change-how-we-see-farm-animals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:00:47 +0000 A pet cow has learned to scratch herself with a broom, showing creative problem-solving skills that make it harder to ignore the fact that these animals have minds, says Marta Halina 2511920-why-a-tool-using-cow-could-change-how-we-see-farm-animals|2511920 /article/2511634-giving-astronauts-tardigrade-toughness-will-be-harder-than-we-hoped/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:00:52 +0000 The protein that protects tardigrade DNA from radiation and mutagenic chemicals was thought to be harmless, but can in fact have major downsides 2511634-giving-astronauts-tardigrade-toughness-will-be-harder-than-we-hoped|2511634 /article/2511711-fossil-may-solve-mystery-of-what-one-of-the-weirdest-ever-animals-ate/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:00:53 +0000 Hallucigenia was such an odd animal that palaeontologists reconstructed it upside-down when they first analysed its fossils - and now we may know what it ate 2511711-fossil-may-solve-mystery-of-what-one-of-the-weirdest-ever-animals-ate|2511711 /article/mg26935783-900-why-non-human-culture-should-change-how-we-see-nature/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Our growing understanding of how other animals also share skills and knowledge will help us chip away at the folly of human exceptionalism, say Philippa Brakes and Marc Bekoff mg26935783-900-why-non-human-culture-should-change-how-we-see-nature|2511183 /article/2511557-woolly-rhino-genome-recovered-from-meat-in-frozen-wolf-pups-stomach/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:01:56 +0000 A piece of woolly rhinoceros flesh hidden inside a wolf that died 14,400 years ago has yielded genetic information that improves our understanding of why one of the most iconic megafauna species of the last glacial period went extinct 2511557-woolly-rhino-genome-recovered-from-meat-in-frozen-wolf-pups-stomach|2511557 /article/2511500-t-rex-took-40-years-to-become-fully-grown/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Jan 2026 12:00:45 +0000 An analysis of growth rings in the leg bones of 17 Tyrannosaurus rex individuals reveals that the dinosaurs matured much more slowly than previously thought, and adds to the evidence that they weren't all one species 2511500-t-rex-took-40-years-to-become-fully-grown|2511500 /article/2511222-greenland-sharks-survive-for-centuries-with-diseased-hearts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:00:08 +0000 A study of the hearts of Greenland sharks has found that the long-lived deep-sea predator has massive accumulations of ageing markers, such as severe scarring, but this doesn't appear to affect their health or longevity 2511222-greenland-sharks-survive-for-centuries-with-diseased-hearts|2511222 /article/2511053-is-there-an-evolutionary-reason-for-same-sex-sexual-behaviour/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:00:19 +0000 Sexual behaviour among same-sex pairs is common in apes and monkeys, and a wide-ranging analysis suggests it does boost survival 2511053-is-there-an-evolutionary-reason-for-same-sex-sexual-behaviour|2511053 /article/2505167-a-sinister-deadly-brain-protein-could-reveal-the-origins-of-all-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 01 Dec 2025 16:00:16 +0000 We have long struggled to determine how the first living organisms on Earth came together. Now, surprising evidence hints that poorly understood prions may have been the vital missing ingredient 2505167-a-sinister-deadly-brain-protein-could-reveal-the-origins-of-all-life|2505167 /article/mg26935773-600-why-connecting-with-nature-shouldnt-mean-disconnecting-from-science/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0000 There is a growing trend to see our relationship with nature as a spiritual thing. This is a mistake, argues Richard Smyth mg26935773-600-why-connecting-with-nature-shouldnt-mean-disconnecting-from-science|2510229 /article/2509909-jellyfish-sleep-about-as-much-as-humans-do-and-nap-like-us-too/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 06 Jan 2026 16:00:30 +0000 The benefits of sleep may be more universal than we thought. We know it helps clear waste from the brain in humans, and now it seems that even creatures without brains like ours get similar benefits 2509909-jellyfish-sleep-about-as-much-as-humans-do-and-nap-like-us-too|2509909 /article/mg26935760-900-why-stroking-seedlings-can-help-them-grow-big-and-strong/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0000 The science behind why stroking your seedlings actually works. If you’re worried about your seedlings getting long and leggy, try a bit of home thigmomorphogenesis, advises James Wong mg26935760-900-why-stroking-seedlings-can-help-them-grow-big-and-strong|2509356 /article/mg26935760-200-could-james-and-the-giant-peach-inspire-the-future-of-food/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0000 In the latest in our imagined history of inventions yet to come, Future Chronicles columnist Rowan Hooper reveals how by the 2030s, botanists had worked out how to grow hybridised superplants to help feed the world mg26935760-200-could-james-and-the-giant-peach-inspire-the-future-of-food|2509340 /article/2508876-human-plant-hybrid-cells-reveal-truth-about-dark-dna-in-our-genome/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 29 Dec 2025 08:00:24 +0000 It has been claimed that because most of our DNA is active, it must be important, but now human-plant hybrid cells have been used to show this activity is mostly random noise 2508876-human-plant-hybrid-cells-reveal-truth-about-dark-dna-in-our-genome|2508876 /video/2513008-low-tech-device-reduces-human-wildlife-conflict-in-kenya/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 22 Jan 2026 20:01:15 +0000 Low-tech Kasaine fence reduces human-wildlife conflict in Kenya 2513008-low-tech-device-reduces-human-wildlife-conflict-in-kenya|2513008 /article/2502978-a-ghostly-glow-was-seen-emanating-from-living-things-in-2025/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 25 Dec 2025 17:00:38 +0000 The detection of mercurial particles of light emanating from mice led to a flurry of interest in biophotons, a mysterious phenomenon that could have applications in agriculture 2502978-a-ghostly-glow-was-seen-emanating-from-living-things-in-2025|2502978 /article/2507368-6-incredible-new-dinosaurs-we-discovered-in-2025/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 25 Dec 2025 14:00:37 +0000 Palaeontologists reported some remarkable dinosaur fossils this year, including a Velociraptor relative, a dome-headed pachycephalosaur and one of the most heavily armoured creatures that ever lived 2507368-6-incredible-new-dinosaurs-we-discovered-in-2025|2507368 /article/2507184-a-spectacular-showcase-of-animal-pictures-from-2025/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:00:32 +0000 Our visual highlights from the animal world this year include a mouse caring for its companion, dolphins communicating in an unexpected way and a colossal squid caught on camera for the first time 2507184-a-spectacular-showcase-of-animal-pictures-from-2025|2507184 /article/2496622-what-the-family-drama-of-interbreeding-polar-and-grizzly-bears-reveals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 08 Dec 2025 16:00:21 +0000 A hybrid grolar bear saga is unfolding in the Arctic, and the tale of this strange family has much to tell us about nature on our changing planet 2496622-what-the-family-drama-of-interbreeding-polar-and-grizzly-bears-reveals|2496622 /article/2505223-de-extinction-was-big-news-in-2025-but-didnt-live-up-to-the-hype/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:00:42 +0000 Biologists poured cold water on Colossal Biosciences’ claim to have brought the dire wolf back from extinction, and some worry the overblown headlines will undermine conservation work 2505223-de-extinction-was-big-news-in-2025-but-didnt-live-up-to-the-hype|2505223 /article/mg26835731-000-can-you-work-out-what-these-enigmatic-close-up-photos-are-of/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0000 Scientist and photographer Felice Frankel has zoomed in on everyday occurrences with her camera for her new book, Phenomenal Moments, which reveals the hidden science in our daily lives mg26835731-000-can-you-work-out-what-these-enigmatic-close-up-photos-are-of|2507256 /article/2508338-killer-whales-and-dolphins-are-being-friends-to-hunt-salmon-together/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:00:31 +0000 White-sided dolphins seem to help killer whales "scout" and catch Chinook salmon near Vancouver Island, then eat the leftovers 2508338-killer-whales-and-dolphins-are-being-friends-to-hunt-salmon-together|2508338 /article/2508035-genetic-trick-to-make-mosquitoes-malaria-resistant-passes-key-test/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:00:24 +0000 The rollout of a type of genetic technology called a gene drive for tackling malaria could be edging closer after a lab study supports its success 2508035-genetic-trick-to-make-mosquitoes-malaria-resistant-passes-key-test|2508035 /article/2507698-dinosaurs-like-diplodocus-may-have-been-as-colourful-as-birds/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:01:10 +0000 Skin fossils from a sauropod dinosaur examined with an electron microscope feature structures called melanosomes, which are similar to those that create the bright colours in birds' feathers 2507698-dinosaurs-like-diplodocus-may-have-been-as-colourful-as-birds|2507698 /article/2506729-incredible-close-up-of-spider-silk-wins-science-photo-prize/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:01:41 +0000 Duelling prairie chickens, a snake-mimicking moth and a once-a-year sunrise at the South Pole feature in the best images from the Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition 2025 2506729-incredible-close-up-of-spider-silk-wins-science-photo-prize|2506729 /article/2505906-images-reveal-the-astonishing-complexity-of-the-microscopic-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:39:30 +0000 From a dragonfly to marine organisms, photographer Michael Benson zoomed in with powerful scanning electron microscopes to take these extraordinary shots for his book Nanocosmos 2505906-images-reveal-the-astonishing-complexity-of-the-microscopic-world|2505906 /article/mg26835720-100-stop-treating-your-pet-like-a-fur-baby-youre-damaging-its-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0000 Pet owners' increasing tendency to see their animals as children rather than dogs or cats can have dire consequences. Owners, and veterinarians, should be wary, warns Eddie Clutton mg26835720-100-stop-treating-your-pet-like-a-fur-baby-youre-damaging-its-health|2506304 /article/2506856-could-the-super-rich-be-cloning-themselves-and-why-would-they/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:30:02 +0000 Nearly three decades since the remarkable cloning of Dolly the sheep, it has all gone quiet on the human cloning front. Michael Le Page wonders what's happening behind the scenes 2506856-could-the-super-rich-be-cloning-themselves-and-why-would-they|2506856 /article/2506902-tigers-seem-to-be-bouncing-back-in-remote-sumatran-jungle/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 04 Dec 2025 05:00:27 +0000 Camera traps in an area of the Leuser rainforest patrolled by NGOs spotted 17 tigers in 2023 and 18 Sumatran tigers in 2024, while surveys elsewhere on the island averaged seven 2506902-tigers-seem-to-be-bouncing-back-in-remote-sumatran-jungle|2506902 /article/2506376-cats-can-overcome-fear-of-water-to-benefit-from-aquatic-therapy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:05:28 +0000 Vets have developed a training protocol to help cats benefit from water-based rehabilitation therapies, in spite of their natural aversion to water 2506376-cats-can-overcome-fear-of-water-to-benefit-from-aquatic-therapy|2506376 /article/2504250-the-long-overlooked-insects-that-could-save-our-crops/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:00:00 +0000 Hoverflies, often mistaken for bees and wasps, pollinate three quarters of our crops. Now we’re discovering we can train them to be even more efficient 2504250-the-long-overlooked-insects-that-could-save-our-crops|2504250 /article/2506054-origin-story-of-domestic-cats-rewritten-by-genetic-analysis/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 27 Nov 2025 19:00:11 +0000 Domestic cats originated in North Africa and spread to Europe in the past 2000 years, according to DNA evidence, while in China a different species of cat lived alongside people much earlier 2506054-origin-story-of-domestic-cats-rewritten-by-genetic-analysis|2506054 /article/2504831-horrific-and-beautiful-whale-rescue-image-wins-photography-prize/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 25 Nov 2025 12:00:24 +0000 See some of the winning entries for this year's Oceania Photo Contest, including Miesa Grobbelaar's shot of a whale, which took the top prize 2504831-horrific-and-beautiful-whale-rescue-image-wins-photography-prize|2504831 /article/2506088-deadly-fungus-makes-sick-frogs-jump-far-possibly-to-find-mates/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 27 Nov 2025 15:00:26 +0000 Chytrid fungus is a scourge to global amphibian populations, but before it kills some frogs, it can produce symptoms that may help the infected animals find mates and spread the fungus further 2506088-deadly-fungus-makes-sick-frogs-jump-far-possibly-to-find-mates|2506088 /article/2506034-pandas-use-tools-to-scratch-thanks-to-a-strange-evolutionary-quirk/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 26 Nov 2025 16:25:12 +0000 Captive giant pandas have been seen breaking off twigs and bamboo pieces to scratch hard-to-reach spots, using a crude opposable thumb that other bears don’t have 2506034-pandas-use-tools-to-scratch-thanks-to-a-strange-evolutionary-quirk|2506034 /article/2505398-sperms-evolutionary-origins-go-back-before-multicellular-animals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:00:09 +0000 Analysis of the DNA and proteins of a range of animals has revealed that sperm’s molecular toolkit arose in our single-celled ancestors, perhaps more than a billion years ago 2505398-sperms-evolutionary-origins-go-back-before-multicellular-animals|2505398 /article/2505369-extinct-animals-in-prehistoric-planet-ice-age-make-it-a-must-watch/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sun, 23 Nov 2025 08:01:59 +0000 From woolly mammoths to giant sloths, via some lesser-known ice-age beasts like 'killer koalas', the visuals in this documentary are simply astounding 2505369-extinct-animals-in-prehistoric-planet-ice-age-make-it-a-must-watch|2505369 /article/mg26835700-800-is-there-any-evidence-that-playing-music-to-plants-is-beneficial/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +0000 Botanist James Wong is constantly asked if he plays music to his army of plants. Time to put this notion to the test... mg26835700-800-is-there-any-evidence-that-playing-music-to-plants-is-beneficial|2504492