Vast Seabird Colony Creates “Halo” of Depleted Fish Stocks
A vast seabird colony on Ascension Island creates a “halo” in which fewer fish live, new research shows. Ascension, a UK Overseas Territory, is home…
University of Exeter
A Fair Society Evolves From “Veil of Ignorance” – Mongooses Solve Inequality Problem
A fair society has evolved in banded mongooses because parents don’t know which pups are their own, new research shows. Mothers in banded mongoose groups…
Seabird Eggs Contaminated With Chemical Cocktail of Plastic Additives
Chemical additives used in plastic production have been found in herring gull eggs, new research shows. Phthalates are a group of chemicals added to plastics…
Social Secrets of Killer Whales Revealed by Drone Footage
Killer whales have complex social structures including close “friendships,” according to a new study that used drones to film the animals. The findings show that…
Evolutionary Experiments Show Natural Selection Opposes Sexual Selection
Natural selection can reverse evolution that occurs through sexual selection and this can lead to better females, new research shows. The study — led by…
Defying Your Natural Body Clock Linked to Depression and Lower Wellbeing
People whose sleep pattern goes against their natural body clock are more likely to have depression and lower levels of wellbeing, according to a largescale…
Scent Trails of Dung and Urine Could Boost Elephant Conservation
Traveling elephants pay close attention to scent trails of dung and urine left by other elephants, new research shows. Scientists monitored well-used pathways and found…
Scientists Call for Global Action Plan: Save Our Oceans to Protect Human Health
Scientists have proposed the first steps towards a united global plan to save our oceans, for the sake of human health. An interdisciplinary European collaboration…
Antarctic Ice Sheet Retreat Could Trigger Chain Reaction – Possibly Came Close to Collapse in the Past
The Antarctic ice sheet was even more unstable in the past than previously thought, and at times possibly came close to collapse, new research suggests….
Thousands of Sharks Illegally Caught in Marine Protected Area in the Indian Ocean
Thousands of sharks have been illegally caught in a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Indian Ocean, new research shows. The MPA was created in…
Pace of Life: Friends and Enemies “Make Sense” for Long-Lived Animals
It makes evolutionary sense for long-lived animals to have complex social relationships — such as friends and enemies — researchers say. Some species and individuals…
New “Key-Hole Surgery” Technique to Extract Metals From the Earth – Could Revolutionize the Future of Mining
A team of international researchers, including Dr. Rich Crane from the Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, have developed a new method to extract…
Climate “Tipping Points” Need Not Be the End of the World – Disastrous Consequences Could Be Averted
The disastrous consequences of climate “tipping points” could be averted if global warming was reversed quickly enough, new research suggests. Once triggered, tipping points may…
Ocean’s Mammals at Crucial Crossroads – 25% of Species at Risk of Extinction
The ocean’s mammals are at a crucial crossroads — with some at risk of extinction and others showing signs of recovery, researchers say. In a…
Fisherman at Risk in “Perfect Storm” – Forced to Choose Between Safety and Income
Stormier weather will increasingly force fishers to choose between their safety and income, researchers say. Climate change is causing more extreme weather in many locations….
Medieval Lawyers Wrote on Sheepskin Parchment Because It Helped Prevent Fraud
Lawyers used sheepskin as anti-fraud device for hundreds of years to stop fraudsters pulling the wool over people’s eyes, study shows. Medieval and early modern…
Global Warming Poses Threat to Food Chains – “Impact Could Be Severe”
Rising temperatures could reduce the efficiency of food chains and threaten the survival of larger animals, new research shows. Scientists measured the transfer of energy…
Western Chimpanzees – a Critically Endangered Species – Share Overlapping Territories With Humans
Chimpanzees and humans “overlap” in their use of forests and even villages, new research shows. Scientists used camera traps to track the movements of western…
