Nature : Science World Report

Apr 12, 2012 04:44 PM EDT

Athletic Frogs Have Faster-changing Genomes

Physically fit frogs have faster-changing genomes, says a new study of poison frogs from Central and South America.

Apr 12, 2012 01:42 PM EDT

Study Finds Significant Skull Differences Between Closely Linked Groups

In order to accurately identify skulls as male or female, forensic anthropologists need to have a good understanding of how the characteristics of male and female skulls differ between populations. A new study from North Carolina State University shows that these differences can be significant, even...

Apr 12, 2012 01:35 PM EDT

Do Monkeys Know What Others Need?

If you have seen a child just eat an entire ice-cream, and she begs you to buy her one, what will your reaction be?

Apr 12, 2012 09:52 AM EDT

Exotic Manure Is Sure to Lure the Dung Connoisseur

Although the preference of dung beetles for specific types and conditions of dung has been given substantial attention, little has been done to investigate their preference for dung from exotic mammals found on game farms or rewilding projects.

Apr 12, 2012 06:35 AM EDT

U.S. and Russian Scientists Launch Ice Seal Survey

A team of U.S. and Russian scientists has launched the biggest population survey to date of Bering Sea ice seals as federal authorities consider endangered species protections for the marine mammals, a U.S. government spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Apr 11, 2012 05:22 PM EDT

Duck-billed Dinosaurs Endured Long, Dark Polar Winters

Duck-billed dinosaurs that lived within Arctic latitudes approximately 70 million years ago likely endured long, dark polar winters instead of migrating to more southern latitudes, a recent study by researchers from the University of Cape Town, Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas and Temple Unive...

Apr 11, 2012 04:21 PM EDT

Discovery Reveals Chromosomes Organize into 'Yarns'

Chromosomes, the molecular basis of genetic heredity, remain enigmatic 130 years after their discovery in 1882 by Walther Flemming. New research published online in Nature by the team of Edith Heard, PhD, from the Curie Institute and Job Dekker, PhD, from the University of Massachusetts Medical Scho...

Apr 11, 2012 03:19 PM EDT

New Technology Tracks Sparrow Migration for First Time from California to Alaska

Using tiny tags to track a bird's location, biologists from PRBO Conservation Science (PRBO) have unlocked the mystery of where Golden-crowned Sparrows, which overwinter in California, go to breed in the spring. Published this week in the journal PLoS ONE, the study reveals for the first time the ex...

Apr 11, 2012 01:15 PM EDT

Could 'Advanced' Dinosaurs Rule Other Planets?

New scientific research raises the possibility that advanced versions of T. rex and other dinosaurs - monstrous creatures with the intelligence and cunning of humans - may be the life forms that evolved on other planets in the universe. "We would be better off not meeting them," concludes the study,...

Apr 11, 2012 11:23 AM EDT

Invasive Pythons Are Wiping out Small Mammal Populations in Everglades

John "J.D." Willson, a post-doctoral researcher in Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment, came to the university to study the effects of pollution on native reptiles and amphibians. Now, however, he's getting national attention for his collaborative study on the environmental ...

Apr 10, 2012 04:01 PM EDT

Restoring Flood Plains, Creating Cash Crop, Growing Biomass Are Goals of New MU Study

Storm water runoff is key to any developer's request when creating new roads or other impervious surfaces. Yet, storm water runoff can carry sediment, fertilizers and other chemicals directly into a stream or creek, potentially harming the waterway for years. Now, using 777 willow trees, a Universit...

Apr 10, 2012 03:46 PM EDT

Research Offers New Clues to Prevent Infection in Cardiac Devices

Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, the 'superbug' behind MRSA, can be a major problem for patients who have a medical implant, such as a replacement heart valve or pacemaker.