Carbon dioxide in the ocean acts like alcohol on fish, leaving them less able to judge risks and prone to losing their senses. New Scientists reports Around 2.3 billion tonnes of human-caused CO2 emissions dissolve into the world’s oceans every year, turning the water more acidic. Philip Munday and colleagues at James Cook University in [...]
Author Archive
Dec
20
Obese dads leave their mark on sperm
The sins of the father are indeed passed onto the children. High fat diets cause tiny changes in sperm that may lead to metabolic disorders in pups. The discovery brings us closer to understanding how lifestyle choices affect the health of future generations. New Scientist reports Maria Ohlsson Teague and Michelle Lane at the University [...]
Dec
15
Rats free friends from cages and share chocolate
The rat race isn’t too harsh after all. Turns out the distress shown by a trapped rat will encourage another rat to spring the trap and free the rodent. New Scientist Magazine reports Inbal Ben-Ami Bartal and Peggy Mason at the University of Chicago housed 60 rats in pairs. Two weeks later, one of each [...]
Nov
2
Are animals that use tools smart?
We are impressed when chimps use tools to hunt, crack nuts and forage for honey. Or when an octopus cracks coconuts with his tentacles . But, a new study suggests that tool use is not related to cognitive ability. Using tools seems to be mentally demanding because it involves several skills, for example grabbing food [...]
Oct
21
Oil-caked penguins get slick new outfits
Penguins drenched in oil from New Zealand’s Oil Spill have something to look forward to – a slick new wardrobe. Over a thousand oil-soaked birds, including 22 little blue penguins, have died since the 236 metre cargo vessel ran aground on the 5th of October dumping at least 350 tonnes of fuel into the Bay [...]
Oct
16
Mosquitoes harmonize to have sex
Producing an annoying sound may seem like an unlikely way to attract a mate. But male and female mosquitoes buzz at each other to signal their interest, which sometimes leads to a harmonic duet (Click here to see them action). As New Scientist reports – to investigate why mosquitoes would bother harmonising Lauren Cator and [...]
Oct
16
World’s first High Rise factory to be built
New Scientist reports The world’s first high-rise factory will be built in Nanjing, China. The 24-storey industrial and commercial building, to be completed in 2024, will dwarf today’s tallest factories. According to the project architect Robert Caulfield of CK Designworks, based in Melbourne, Australia, existing factories don’t rise above eight storeys. The high-rise’s footprint is [...]
Sep
29
Can we blame evolution for domestic violence?
New Scientist reports What can evolution tell us about domestic violence? Two researchers in the US suggest such violence has ancient origins and that establishing evolution’s role could help to better identify those at risk. Others argue that the research makes simplistic assumptions, and warn that some people will interpret the research as an excuse [...]