Homing Pigeons Get Their Bearings From Their Beaks:
It has long been recognized that birds possess the ability to use the Earth's magnetic field for their navigation, although just how this is done has not yet been clarified. However, the discovery of iron-containing structures in the beaks of homing pigeons in a new study1 by Gerta Fleissner and her colleagues at the University of Frankfurt offers a promising insight into this complex topic. The article will be published online mid-March in Springer's journal Naturwissenschaften.
Social Life Of Honeybees Coordinated By A Single Gene:
Students of the evolution of social behavior got a big boost with the publication of the newly sequenced honeybee genome in October 2006. The honeybee (Apis mellifera) belongs to the rarified cadre of insects that pool resources, divide tasks, and communicate with each other in highly structured colonies. Understanding how this advanced state of organization evolved from a solitary lifestyle has been an enduring question in biology.
Long Legs Are More Efficient, According To New Math Model:
Scientists have known for years that the energy cost of walking and running is related primarily to the work done by muscles to lift and move the limbs. But how much energy does it actually take to get around? Does having longer legs really make a difference?
The Penalty Of Having A Sister: Why Sibling Sex Matters For Male Antelopes:
Having a twin sister could put male saiga antelopes at a reproductive disadvantage, says new research. The study shows that male twins with a sister are born lighter than those with a brother, making them smaller than the optimal size for males. The research also shows that saigas are the supermums of the hoofed animal world with no other similar species investing more in their offspring during pregnancy.
Why Some Antifreeze Proteins Inhibit Ice Growth Better Than Others:
Antifreeze or "ice structuring" proteins - found in some fish, insects, plants, fungi and bacteria - attach to the surface of ice crystals to inhibit their growth and keep the host organism from freezing to death. Scientists have been puzzled, however, about why some ice structuring proteins, such as those found in the spruce budworm, are more active than others.
Cold Is Hot In Evolution: Researchers Debunk Belief Species Evolve Faster In Tropics:
University of British Columbia researchers have discovered that contrary to common belief, species do not evolve faster in warmer climates. UBC Zoology PhD candidate Jason Weir and his mentor Prof. Dolph Schluter, director of the UBC Biodiversity Research Centre, charted the genetic family tree of 618 mammal and bird species in the Americas over the last several million years.