New Scientist - Life https://www.newscientist.com/ https://www.newscientist.com/build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png https://www.newscientist.com daily 1 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435647-sick-chimpanzees-seek-out-range-of-plants-with-medicinal-properties/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 20 Jun 2024 20:00:52 +0100 Chimpanzees with wounds or gut infections seem to add unusual plants to their diet, and tests show that many of these plants have antibacterial or anti-inflammatory effects 2435647-sick-chimpanzees-seek-out-range-of-plants-with-medicinal-properties|2435647 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436064-watch-leeches-jump-by-coiling-their-bodies-like-cobras/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 20 Jun 2024 16:00:35 +0100 Researchers have confirmed a centuries-old rumour that leeches can jump, which they may do to land their next blood meal 2436064-watch-leeches-jump-by-coiling-their-bodies-like-cobras|2436064 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234960-200-could-we-merge-biologically-with-the-fungal-network-and-live-forever/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 19 Jun 2024 19:00:00 +0100 In this week's Future Chronicles column, which explores an imagined history of future inventions, we visit a cult in 2080s Japan that engineered a way of becoming chimeric with fungal biology. Rowan Hooper reveals their history mg26234960-200-could-we-merge-biologically-with-the-fungal-network-and-live-forever|2435731 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436255-triceratops-relative-had-the-weirdest-horns-ever-seen-on-a-dinosaur/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 20 Jun 2024 14:00:29 +0100 A new species of dinosaur discovered in Montana and related to Triceratops had one of the strangest, most asymmetrical skulls that scientists have ever studied 2436255-triceratops-relative-had-the-weirdest-horns-ever-seen-on-a-dinosaur|2436255 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436259-rare-corpse-flower-that-stinks-of-rotting-flesh-blooms-at-kew-gardens/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 19 Jun 2024 16:09:41 +0100 A giant flower, one of the smelliest in the world, is currently blooming at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2436259-rare-corpse-flower-that-stinks-of-rotting-flesh-blooms-at-kew-gardens|2436259 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2436112-why-herbs-evolved-to-smell-and-taste-so-delicious/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 18 Jun 2024 22:18:23 +0100 Humans may have shaped the development of aromatic herbs like lavender and mint, but did herbs also shape our own evolution? 2436112-why-herbs-evolved-to-smell-and-taste-so-delicious|2436112 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2435599-bring-back-the-light-the-mission-to-save-the-fireflies-in-bali/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 17 Jun 2024 11:33:32 +0100 How Indonesia’s only firefly conservation lab aims to repopulate Bali's jungle amid habitat loss and pollution   2435599-bring-back-the-light-the-mission-to-save-the-fireflies-in-bali|2435599 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2435229-australian-pterosaur-had-a-huge-tongue-to-help-gulp-down-prey/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:55:25 +0100 Scientists have identified a new species of pterosaur from a 100-million-year-old fossil in Australia, which appears to have had a massive tongue to push prey down its throat 2435229-australian-pterosaur-had-a-huge-tongue-to-help-gulp-down-prey|2435229 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434896-elephants-seem-to-invent-names-for-each-other/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:00:50 +0100 An analysis of their vocalisations suggests that African savannah elephants invent names for each other, making them the only animals other than humans thought to do so 2434896-elephants-seem-to-invent-names-for-each-other|2434896 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433852-a-surprisingly-quick-enzyme-could-shift-our-understanding-of-evolution/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 10 Jun 2024 15:00:45 +0100 Biological processes such as DNA replication or cellular structure formation may become more accurate when done as quickly as possible, offering new hints into life's origins 2433852-a-surprisingly-quick-enzyme-could-shift-our-understanding-of-evolution|2433852 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434206-bacteria-evolve-to-get-better-at-evolving-in-lab-experiment/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 10 Jun 2024 13:00:54 +0100 When bacteria were put in alternating environments, some became better at evolving to cope with the changes – evidence that “evolvability” can be gained through natural selection 2434206-bacteria-evolve-to-get-better-at-evolving-in-lab-experiment|2434206 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234941-100-why-i-wont-be-fertilising-plants-with-milk-despite-what-tiktok-says/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 05 Jun 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Social media is adamant that you can fertilise your houseplants with milk, but I'll be saving mine for a hot drink, says James Wong mg26234941-100-why-i-wont-be-fertilising-plants-with-milk-despite-what-tiktok-says|2433886 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434752-tiny-great-ape-fossils-identified-as-new-species-from-europe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 07 Jun 2024 20:00:46 +0100 A kneecap and two teeth found in Germany have been identified as belonging to a new species of ape from 11.6 million years ago, thought to have weighed as little as 10 kilograms 2434752-tiny-great-ape-fossils-identified-as-new-species-from-europe|2434752 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434477-male-lemurs-grow-bigger-testicles-when-there-are-other-males-around/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 07 Jun 2024 13:00:25 +0100 Dominant male Verreaux’s sifakas always have the largest testicles in their group to make the most sperm, and they can grow their gonads to make sure of it 2434477-male-lemurs-grow-bigger-testicles-when-there-are-other-males-around|2434477 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234940-500-striking-image-lets-you-see-inside-a-deep-sea-anglerfishs-killer-jaws/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 05 Jun 2024 19:00:00 +0100 This astonishing image may look like a deep-sea monster, with its big teeth and gaping mouth, but the humpback anglerfish is really no bigger than your hand mg26234940-500-striking-image-lets-you-see-inside-a-deep-sea-anglerfishs-killer-jaws|2433871 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434620-single-celled-predator-extends-its-neck-with-the-help-of-origami/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 06 Jun 2024 20:00:54 +0100 The mystery of how a single-celled predator extends its "neck" by more than 30 times its overall length has finally been solved 2434620-single-celled-predator-extends-its-neck-with-the-help-of-origami|2434620 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434640-origins-of-modern-horses-traced-to-breeding-revolution-4200-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 06 Jun 2024 17:00:36 +0100 A genetic analysis of ancient horses reveals that breeding techniques developed by people in the Pontic-Caspian steppes enabled the rapid spread of horse-powered travel 2434640-origins-of-modern-horses-traced-to-breeding-revolution-4200-years-ago|2434640 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2434025-how-bats-pick-out-their-own-calls-when-flying-in-enormous-swarms/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:00:50 +0100 Researchers trained a hawk outfitted with microphones to fly through a swarm of 600,000 bats, revealing how they can hear their own voice in a crowd 2434025-how-bats-pick-out-their-own-calls-when-flying-in-enormous-swarms|2434025 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433780-china-is-sending-giant-pandas-to-us-zoos-for-the-first-time-in-decades/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 04 Jun 2024 13:00:59 +0100 In recent years, China recalled pandas from three out of four US zoos that had the bears, signalling diplomatic tensions between the two countries – but this year China has offered two new pairs of giant pandas 2433780-china-is-sending-giant-pandas-to-us-zoos-for-the-first-time-in-decades|2433780 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433987-endangered-giant-pangolin-spotted-in-senegal-after-nearly-24-years/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 03 Jun 2024 18:46:31 +0100 A rare sighting of a giant pangolin revives hopes for the species' survival in West Africa, despite threats from poaching and deforestation 2433987-endangered-giant-pangolin-spotted-in-senegal-after-nearly-24-years|2433987 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433704-ancient-geese-stood-3-metres-tall-and-weighed-as-much-as-a-cow/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 03 Jun 2024 16:30:31 +0100 A rare fossil skull provides strong evidence that the Dromornithidae, an extinct group of Australian flightless birds, were related to geese and ducks 2433704-ancient-geese-stood-3-metres-tall-and-weighed-as-much-as-a-cow|2433704 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433364-snares-are-wiping-out-south-east-asian-wildlife-what-can-be-done/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 03 Jun 2024 09:00:54 +0100 Efforts to remove animal traps and discourage poaching in Vietnamese protected areas have been partly effective, but conservationists say other approaches are needed to safeguard threatened species 2433364-snares-are-wiping-out-south-east-asian-wildlife-what-can-be-done|2433364 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433815-asian-hornets-have-overwintered-in-the-uk-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 31 May 2024 18:37:46 +0100 Queen Asian hornets found in East Sussex this year are a genetic match to a 2023 nest, suggesting the invasive species is becoming established in the UK 2433815-asian-hornets-have-overwintered-in-the-uk-for-the-first-time|2433815 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433541-small-fern-species-has-a-genome-50-times-larger-than-that-of-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 31 May 2024 16:00:46 +0100 A small fern found only on a few Pacific islands has more than 100 metres of DNA in every single cell, more than any other organism that we know of 2433541-small-fern-species-has-a-genome-50-times-larger-than-that-of-humans|2433541 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433516-chicks-link-shapes-with-bouba-and-kiki-sounds-just-like-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 30 May 2024 17:00:27 +0100 Humans from many cultures tend to associate the nonsense words “bouba” and “kiki” with different shapes – and now it seems that 3-day-old chicks have the same inclinations 2433516-chicks-link-shapes-with-bouba-and-kiki-sounds-just-like-humans|2433516 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234933-300-the-dangers-of-amorous-ostriches-when-starting-an-ostrich-farm/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 29 May 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Feedback wonders if previous research into 'courtship behaviours of ostriches' in the UK will be taken into account by the owner of a new ostrich farm in New Hampshire mg26234933-300-the-dangers-of-amorous-ostriches-when-starting-an-ostrich-farm|2433166 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234930-100-why-we-cant-afford-to-ignore-the-worlds-smallest-freshwater-bodies/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 29 May 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Ponds have long been neglected by science, but we can't overlook these diverse and important nature hotspots any more, say Jeremy Biggs and Penny Williams mg26234930-100-why-we-cant-afford-to-ignore-the-worlds-smallest-freshwater-bodies|2432993 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2433014-fossil-trove-reveals-three-new-species-of-ancient-egg-laying-mammals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sun, 26 May 2024 16:00:24 +0100 A set of Australian fossils offers a rare glimpse of the ancient relatives of platypuses and echidnas that lived alongside the dinosaurs 100 million years ago 2433014-fossil-trove-reveals-three-new-species-of-ancient-egg-laying-mammals|2433014 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234921-300-quantum-biology-new-clues-on-how-life-might-make-use-of-weird-physics/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 21 May 2024 16:00:00 +0100 With tentative evidence for long-lasting quantum phenomena inside cells, researchers are beginning to rethink what we need to look for to find clinching evidence of quantum biology mg26234921-300-quantum-biology-new-clues-on-how-life-might-make-use-of-weird-physics|2432002 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2432727-hungry-deer-may-have-driven-tiny-plant-evolution-on-japanese-island/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 24 May 2024 15:00:06 +0100 On Yakushima island, sika deer might have forced flora to shrink as small as a tenth of the size of their mainland counterparts 2432727-hungry-deer-may-have-driven-tiny-plant-evolution-on-japanese-island|2432727 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2432974-an-amazing-great-bustard-gets-ready-for-a-new-nature-exhibition/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 24 May 2024 12:05:58 +0100 Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre, now on view at London’s Natural History Museum, showcases the extraordinary qualities of Earth’s “ultimate survivors” 2432974-an-amazing-great-bustard-gets-ready-for-a-new-nature-exhibition|2432974 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2431966-dont-forget-birds-and-bats-when-renovating-or-building-new-homes/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 24 May 2024 11:00:44 +0100 As newer homes are built or older homes are renovated, empty attic spaces are disappearing – this eliminates a vital refuge for birds and bats during a biodiversity crisis 2431966-dont-forget-birds-and-bats-when-renovating-or-building-new-homes|2431966 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2432370-ants-learn-faster-on-caffeine/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 23 May 2024 17:00:34 +0100 A dose of caffeine helped ants locate a sweet reward 30 per cent faster, suggesting the drug boosts learning in the insects 2432370-ants-learn-faster-on-caffeine|2432370 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234924-100-how-do-you-tell-apart-seemingly-identical-fanged-frogs-from-thailand/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 22 May 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Feedback is delighted to learn that there is a better approach to distinguishing different types of fanged frogs than just looking at them mg26234924-100-how-do-you-tell-apart-seemingly-identical-fanged-frogs-from-thailand|2432211 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2432576-huge-nose-of-male-proboscis-monkeys-is-key-to-mating-success/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 23 May 2024 11:00:11 +0100 Male proboscis monkeys use their enormous noses to make loud trumpeting sounds, and the organ’s size advertises their health and status to prospective mates and rivals 2432576-huge-nose-of-male-proboscis-monkeys-is-key-to-mating-success|2432576 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2432414-fungus-lost-to-science-for-42-years-found-again-in-chilean-mountains/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 22 May 2024 16:00:36 +0100 The big puma fungus hasn't been seen since it was discovered in 1982 in Chile’s Nahuelbuta mountains – now an expedition has finally rediscovered these tiny, elusive mushrooms 2432414-fungus-lost-to-science-for-42-years-found-again-in-chilean-mountains|2432414 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2432422-cattle-used-for-cuddling-therapy-may-prefer-women-over-men/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 22 May 2024 14:00:48 +0100 Cattle seem to be more willing to lick and accept food from women, and are more likely to act aggressively around men 2432422-cattle-used-for-cuddling-therapy-may-prefer-women-over-men|2432422 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2431834-worlds-only-lungless-frog-species-actually-does-have-lungs-after-all/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 20 May 2024 17:00:36 +0100 The rare Bornean flat-headed frog was thought to be the only frog with no lungs, but we now know it has very, very tiny ones 2431834-worlds-only-lungless-frog-species-actually-does-have-lungs-after-all|2431834 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2431887-auks-darwins-finches-and-a-mummified-falcon-inside-nhm-bird-archive/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 17 May 2024 18:00:19 +0100 The NHM Tring archive houses over 1 million bird specimens, including rare and extinct species such as Darwin's finches, great auk eggs and mummified falcons.  We take a peek inside the vast collection 2431887-auks-darwins-finches-and-a-mummified-falcon-inside-nhm-bird-archive|2431887 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2431620-orchids-feed-their-young-through-underground-fungal-connections/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 17 May 2024 17:00:37 +0100 A common species of orchid seems to pass food packages to nearby seedlings, in a kind of plant parental care 2431620-orchids-feed-their-young-through-underground-fungal-connections|2431620 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2431579-smiling-black-bear-caught-on-camera-in-pasadena-goes-viral/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 16 May 2024 14:15:53 +0100 Wildlife photographer Johanna Turner used a trail camera to capture this cheery shot of a black bear, which is going viral after she posted it on social media 2431579-smiling-black-bear-caught-on-camera-in-pasadena-goes-viral|2431579 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2431348-genetic-mutation-gives-cats-a-salty-liquorice-coat-colour/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 16 May 2024 12:56:50 +0100 Researchers have discovered the gene variant responsible for a distinctive colour pattern seen in cats in Finland, named salmiak after a variety of liquorice 2431348-genetic-mutation-gives-cats-a-salty-liquorice-coat-colour|2431348 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2431095-experience-the-world-from-a-bees-perspective/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 15 May 2024 11:00:37 +0100 A multi-sensory exhibition by artist Wolfgang Buttress allows us to experience the world as a bee and imagine the devastation of our planet without them 2431095-experience-the-world-from-a-bees-perspective|2431095 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2430295-pigs-seem-less-stressed-if-their-barn-is-scented-with-lavender/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 13 May 2024 11:00:46 +0100 If a lavender scent is sprayed into pig pens three times a day, the animals show less aggressive behaviour and appear more relaxed 2430295-pigs-seem-less-stressed-if-their-barn-is-scented-with-lavender|2430295 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2430007-longest-living-cat-breeds-revealed-by-life-expectancy-study/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 08 May 2024 02:00:33 +0100 Birman and Burmese cats typically live for more than 14 years while sphynxes live less than half as long on average, finds a study of pet cats in the UK 2430007-longest-living-cat-breeds-revealed-by-life-expectancy-study|2430007 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2430491-kew-gardens-exhibition-confronts-our-disjointed-connection-with-nature/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sat, 11 May 2024 11:00:26 +0100 Contemporary artist Marc Quinn's new exhibition 'Light into Life' opens at Kew Gardens 2430491-kew-gardens-exhibition-confronts-our-disjointed-connection-with-nature|2430491 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2430264-monkeys-can-learn-to-tap-to-the-beat-of-the-backstreet-boys/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 10 May 2024 10:00:10 +0100 With a bit of training, macaques can make rhythmic movements in time with music, an ability only shown before by a handful of animals 2430264-monkeys-can-learn-to-tap-to-the-beat-of-the-backstreet-boys|2430264 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2430024-can-genetically-modifying-a-rare-marsupial-save-it-from-extinction/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 08 May 2024 06:31:25 +0100 Researchers are aiming to make the northern quoll resistant to the toxic cane toads wiping it out in Australia, but little progress has been made 2430024-can-genetically-modifying-a-rare-marsupial-save-it-from-extinction|2430024 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2429941-sperm-whale-clicks-could-be-the-closest-thing-to-a-human-language-yet/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 07 May 2024 17:00:23 +0100 Analysis of thousands of exchanges between the intelligent cetaceans suggests they combine short click patterns – similar to letters of the alphabet - into longer sequences 2429941-sperm-whale-clicks-could-be-the-closest-thing-to-a-human-language-yet|2429941 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2429632-zebras-bob-their-heads-at-each-other-to-signal-cooperation/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 06 May 2024 13:00:09 +0100 Head-bobbing seems to be a way for zebras to invite others to groom, graze or move together, suggesting sophisticated social and cognitive capabilities 2429632-zebras-bob-their-heads-at-each-other-to-signal-cooperation|2429632 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2429711-stink-bugs-grow-a-fungal-garden-on-their-legs-to-fight-parasitic-wasps/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 06 May 2024 09:00:39 +0100 A surprise discovery has revealed that female stink bugs have a small indent on their hind legs that they use for cultivating fungi before spreading it on their eggs 2429711-stink-bugs-grow-a-fungal-garden-on-their-legs-to-fight-parasitic-wasps|2429711 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234890-800-heres-an-easier-way-to-improve-the-drainage-of-heavy-clay-soil/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 01 May 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Digging sand or grit into clay soils is a drainage fix that has been around for years, but James Wong turns to nature to find a less backbreaking solution mg26234890-800-heres-an-easier-way-to-improve-the-drainage-of-heavy-clay-soil|2428775 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2429827-jurassic-park-to-the-martian-5-movies-that-get-botany-mostly-wrong/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Sat, 04 May 2024 11:00:13 +0100 From Jurassic Park to The Martian, botanist James Wong explores the major science fiction films that get botany spectacularly wrong 2429827-jurassic-park-to-the-martian-5-movies-that-get-botany-mostly-wrong|2429827 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2429191-seven-surprising-things-you-may-not-know-about-roots/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 03 May 2024 10:00:25 +0100 Plants are often celebrated for the parts that are easy to see – flower, leaves, fruit – but scientists are uncovering the secrets of their more mysterious underground networks 2429191-seven-surprising-things-you-may-not-know-about-roots|2429191 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2428847-protocells-on-early-earth-may-have-been-formed-by-squeezing-geysers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 03 May 2024 15:00:17 +0100 Simulations of the crust of early Earth show that cycles of pressure caused by geysers or tidal forces could have generated cell-like structures and even very simple proteins 2428847-protocells-on-early-earth-may-have-been-formed-by-squeezing-geysers|2428847 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2429559-red-squirrels-were-hosts-for-leprosy-in-medieval-england/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 03 May 2024 17:00:26 +0100 DNA analysis of remains found at medieval sites has identified closely related strains of leprosy-causing bacteria in the bones of humans and a red squirrel 2429559-red-squirrels-were-hosts-for-leprosy-in-medieval-england|2429559 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2428522-flies-undertake-epic-migrations-that-may-be-vital-for-pollination/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 03 May 2024 13:00:05 +0100 Migrating flies can carry pollen hundreds or thousands of kilometres, and this could help plants adapt to climate change 2428522-flies-undertake-epic-migrations-that-may-be-vital-for-pollination|2428522 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2428811-these-stunning-close-up-photos-offer-a-window-onto-the-world-of-bees/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 01 May 2024 19:00:00 +0100 From an orchid bee to a violet carpenter bee, these images show the insects in amazing detail 2428811-these-stunning-close-up-photos-offer-a-window-onto-the-world-of-bees|2428811 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2429636-rising-temperatures-are-cooking-bumblebee-nests-and-killing-larvae/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 03 May 2024 06:00:32 +0100 Climate change could be fueling bumblebee population loss by making hives too hot to handle 2429636-rising-temperatures-are-cooking-bumblebee-nests-and-killing-larvae|2429636 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2429583-orangutan-is-first-non-human-seen-treating-wounds-with-medicinal-plant/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 02 May 2024 17:00:29 +0100 A male Sumatran orangutan chewed the leaves of a plant used in Indonesian traditional medicine and placed them on a wound on his face 2429583-orangutan-is-first-non-human-seen-treating-wounds-with-medicinal-plant|2429583 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2428942-odd-bump-on-praying-mantis-chest-is-actually-worlds-weirdest-tongue/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 01 May 2024 13:00:47 +0100 A bristly bump on some mantises’ chests is a never-before-seen “gustifolium”, which may have evolved to help the insects with their highly specialised lifestyles 2428942-odd-bump-on-praying-mantis-chest-is-actually-worlds-weirdest-tongue|2428942 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2428883-foxes-skulls-are-specially-adapted-for-diving-into-snow/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 29 Apr 2024 21:00:59 +0100 Red foxes and Arctic foxes dive headfirst into snow at up to 4 metres per second to catch small rodents, and the shape of their snouts reduces the impact force 2428883-foxes-skulls-are-specially-adapted-for-diving-into-snow|2428883 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2428699-bowhead-whales-still-harmed-from-whaling-that-ended-a-century-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 26 Apr 2024 23:00:00 +0100 Commercial bowhead whaling ended in the early 20th century, but the industry’s lasting effects on the whales’ genetic diversity are leading to declines again 2428699-bowhead-whales-still-harmed-from-whaling-that-ended-a-century-ago|2428699 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2428529-alpacas-are-the-only-mammals-known-to-directly-inseminate-the-uterus/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:00:52 +0100 When alpacas mate, males deposit sperm directly into the uterus, a reproductive strategy not confirmed in any other mammals 2428529-alpacas-are-the-only-mammals-known-to-directly-inseminate-the-uterus|2428529 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2428584-wasps-use-face-recognition-brain-cells-to-identify-each-other/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 25 Apr 2024 21:57:08 +0100 The neurons in wasp brains that help them recognise hive mates are similar to those in the brains of primates, including humans 2428584-wasps-use-face-recognition-brain-cells-to-identify-each-other|2428584 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2428026-modern-rose-hybrids-have-a-worrying-lack-of-genetic-diversity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:00:31 +0100 Intensive breeding since the 19th century has created thousands of varieties of rose, but a reduction in genetic diversity could leave them vulnerable to diseases and climate change 2428026-modern-rose-hybrids-have-a-worrying-lack-of-genetic-diversity|2428026 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2428310-culling-predatory-starfish-conserves-coral-on-the-great-barrier-reef/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 24 Apr 2024 20:00:18 +0100 Targeted culling of crown-of-thorns starfish has resulted in parts of the Great Barrier Reef maintaining and even increasing coral cover, leading researchers to call for the programme to be dramatically scaled up 2428310-culling-predatory-starfish-conserves-coral-on-the-great-barrier-reef|2428310 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2428359-huge-genetic-study-redraws-the-tree-of-life-for-flowering-plants/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 24 Apr 2024 17:00:45 +0100 Using genomic data from more than 9500 species, biologists have mapped the evolutionary relationships between flowering plants 2428359-huge-genetic-study-redraws-the-tree-of-life-for-flowering-plants|2428359 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2428138-huge-dinosaur-footprints-belonged-to-one-of-the-largest-raptors-ever/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 24 Apr 2024 06:00:57 +0100 A set of large, distinctive footprints suggest a raptor dinosaur that lived in East Asia 96 million years ago grew to a length of 5 metres 2428138-huge-dinosaur-footprints-belonged-to-one-of-the-largest-raptors-ever|2428138 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2428109-exquisite-fossils-of-cretaceous-shark-solve-mystery-of-how-it-hunted/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 24 Apr 2024 01:01:03 +0100 Six full-body fossils of Ptychodus sharks have been formally analysed for the first time, revealing that they were fast swimmers that preyed on shelled creatures 2428109-exquisite-fossils-of-cretaceous-shark-solve-mystery-of-how-it-hunted|2428109 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2427975-some-scientists-say-insects-are-conscious-it-doesnt-settle-anything/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 22 Apr 2024 22:03:44 +0100 A group of around 40 scientists signed a declaration calling for formal acknowledgement of consciousness in a range of animals, including insects and fish – but the evidence is still lacking 2427975-some-scientists-say-insects-are-conscious-it-doesnt-settle-anything|2427975 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2427569-nocturnal-ants-use-polarised-moonlight-to-find-their-way-home/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 22 Apr 2024 07:00:07 +0100 An Australian bull ant is the first animal known to use the patterns produced by polarised moonlight to navigate its environment 2427569-nocturnal-ants-use-polarised-moonlight-to-find-their-way-home|2427569 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2427138-songs-that-birds-sing-in-their-dreams-translated-into-sound/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 19 Apr 2024 18:00:01 +0100 By measuring how birds’ vocal muscles move while they are asleep and using a physical model for how those muscles produce sound, researchers have pulled songs from the minds of sleeping birds 2427138-songs-that-birds-sing-in-their-dreams-translated-into-sound|2427138 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2427606-fossil-snake-discovered-in-india-may-have-been-the-largest-ever/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 18 Apr 2024 17:00:50 +0100 The vertebrae of Vasuki indicus, a snake that lived 47 million years ago, suggest it could have been as long as 15 metres 2427606-fossil-snake-discovered-in-india-may-have-been-the-largest-ever|2427606 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426909-ancient-marine-reptile-found-on-uk-beach-may-be-the-largest-ever/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 Apr 2024 20:00:50 +0100 The jawbone of an ichthyosaur uncovered in south-west England has been identified as a new species, and researchers estimate that the whole animal was 20 to 25 metres long 2426909-ancient-marine-reptile-found-on-uk-beach-may-be-the-largest-ever|2426909 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426805-turning-plants-blue-with-gene-editing-could-make-robot-weeding-easier/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 Apr 2024 17:00:22 +0100 Weeding robots can sometimes struggle to tell weeds from crops, but genetically modifying the plants we want to keep to make them brightly coloured would make the job easier, suggest a group of researchers 2426805-turning-plants-blue-with-gene-editing-could-make-robot-weeding-easier|2426805 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2427004-a-cicada-double-brood-is-coming-its-less-rare-than-you-think/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 Apr 2024 15:53:07 +0100 Up to 17 US states could be peppered with more than a trillion cicadas this spring, and though it has been a while since these two specific broods emerged at once, double broods are not that rare 2427004-a-cicada-double-brood-is-coming-its-less-rare-than-you-think|2427004 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2427117-sleeping-bumblebees-can-survive-underwater-for-a-week/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 Apr 2024 01:01:46 +0100 A serendipitous lab accident revealed that hibernating bumblebee queens can make it through days of flooding, revealing that they are less vulnerable to extreme weather than previously thought 2427117-sleeping-bumblebees-can-survive-underwater-for-a-week|2427117 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426811-colonies-of-single-celled-creatures-could-explain-how-embryos-evolved/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 Apr 2024 07:00:46 +0100 We know little about how embryonic development in animals evolved from single-celled ancestors, but simple organisms with a multicellular life stage offer intriguing clues 2426811-colonies-of-single-celled-creatures-could-explain-how-embryos-evolved|2426811 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2427082-starfish-have-hundreds-of-feet-but-no-brain-heres-how-they-move/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 16 Apr 2024 17:00:26 +0100 Starfish feet are coordinated purely through mechanical loading, enabling the animals to bounce rhythmically along the seabed without a central nervous system 2427082-starfish-have-hundreds-of-feet-but-no-brain-heres-how-they-move|2427082 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426979-tiny-nematode-worms-can-grow-enormous-mouths-and-become-cannibals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 15 Apr 2024 21:27:17 +0100 One species of nematode worm turns into a kin-devouring nightmare if it grows up in a crowded environment with a poor diet 2426979-tiny-nematode-worms-can-grow-enormous-mouths-and-become-cannibals|2426979 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426773-are-panda-sex-lives-being-sabotaged-by-the-wrong-gut-microbes/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 12 Apr 2024 22:46:55 +0100 Conservationists think tweaking pandas’ diets might shift their gut microbiomes in a way that could encourage them to mate 2426773-are-panda-sex-lives-being-sabotaged-by-the-wrong-gut-microbes|2426773 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426749-see-inside-an-endangered-california-condor-egg-just-before-it-hatches/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 12 Apr 2024 18:27:48 +0100 The hatching of the 250th California condor chick at the San Diego Zoo marks a notable milestone for a species that narrowly evaded extinction 2426749-see-inside-an-endangered-california-condor-egg-just-before-it-hatches|2426749 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426678-peaceful-male-bonobos-may-actually-be-more-aggressive-than-chimps/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 12 Apr 2024 17:00:34 +0100 Bonobos have long been regarded as the peaceful ape, in sharp contrast with violent chimpanzees, but a study based on thousands of hours of observations suggests the real story is more nuanced 2426678-peaceful-male-bonobos-may-actually-be-more-aggressive-than-chimps|2426678 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426468-a-bacterium-has-evolved-into-a-new-cellular-structure-inside-algae/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 11 Apr 2024 20:00:40 +0100 A once-independent bacterium has evolved into an organelle that provides nitrogen to algal cells – an event so rare that there are only three other known cases 2426468-a-bacterium-has-evolved-into-a-new-cellular-structure-inside-algae|2426468 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26234860-400-the-photographer-who-captured-shots-of-nature-daily-for-over-a-decade/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 Apr 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Since 2012, Mary Jo Hoffman has taken one snap a day of the natural objects around her. She explains what lies behind two of them - and what the "art of noticing" has brought to her life mg26234860-400-the-photographer-who-captured-shots-of-nature-daily-for-over-a-decade|2425880 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426275-fractal-pattern-identified-at-molecular-scale-in-nature-for-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 Apr 2024 17:00:02 +0100 An enzyme in a cyanobacterium can take the unusual form a triangle containing ever-smaller triangular gaps, making a fractal pattern 2426275-fractal-pattern-identified-at-molecular-scale-in-nature-for-first-time|2426275 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2425679-northern-white-rhino-could-be-saved-from-extinction-using-frozen-skin/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:01:59 +0100 We have enough genetic material to bring back the northern white rhino, but doing so won’t be easy 2425679-northern-white-rhino-could-be-saved-from-extinction-using-frozen-skin|2425679 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2425794-suppressing-wildfires-is-harming-californias-giant-sequoia-trees/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 05 Apr 2024 21:23:10 +0100 California’s rare sequoias rely on high heat to disperse their seeds, and efforts to reduce the size of wildfires may be damaging their ability to reproduce 2425794-suppressing-wildfires-is-harming-californias-giant-sequoia-trees|2425794 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2425718-left-handed-monkeys-prompt-rethink-about-evolution-of-right-handedness/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 05 Apr 2024 16:00:09 +0100 A popular idea links primates living on the ground with a tendency for right-handedness, but findings from urban langurs in India cast doubt on the idea 2425718-left-handed-monkeys-prompt-rethink-about-evolution-of-right-handedness|2425718 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2425502-climate-change-can-disturb-the-accuracy-of-trees-biological-clocks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 03 Apr 2024 22:00:35 +0100 Trees use circadian genes to time photosynthesis and reproduction – but as temperatures rise, the clocks may not work as well 2425502-climate-change-can-disturb-the-accuracy-of-trees-biological-clocks|2425502 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2425247-lifes-vital-chemistry-may-have-begun-in-hot-cracked-rock/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 03 Apr 2024 17:00:29 +0100 Amino acids and other molecules important to the origin of life can be enriched within networks of rocky fractures, which would have been common on the early Earth 2425247-lifes-vital-chemistry-may-have-begun-in-hot-cracked-rock|2425247 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2425187-snakes-show-signs-of-self-recognition-in-a-smell-based-mirror-test/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 03 Apr 2024 01:01:17 +0100 Garter snakes may recognise their own scent and react differently when it is altered, hinting at self-awareness in reptiles 2425187-snakes-show-signs-of-self-recognition-in-a-smell-based-mirror-test|2425187 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134840-600-why-ivy-growing-on-your-walls-may-actually-be-beneficial/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 27 Mar 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Long considered damaging to walls, a living coating of ivy can actually stabilise temperature and humidity and lower your energy bills, finds James Wong mg26134840-600-why-ivy-growing-on-your-walls-may-actually-be-beneficial|2423643 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2424125-is-every-species-necessary-or-can-we-let-some-die-out/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 27 Mar 2024 16:00:26 +0000 There are thousands of species at risk of extinction, and we can’t save them all – how do conservationists think about which ones to focus on? 2424125-is-every-species-necessary-or-can-we-let-some-die-out|2424125 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2424100-horses-used-in-therapy-often-avoid-people-if-they-are-given-a-choice/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 27 Mar 2024 06:00:55 +0000 Horses show signs of stress if people touch them while they are tethered, but they appear much less anxious if they are able to walk away 2424100-horses-used-in-therapy-often-avoid-people-if-they-are-given-a-choice|2424100 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423980-birds-make-an-after-you-gesture-to-prompt-their-mate-to-enter-nest/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 25 Mar 2024 14:00:15 +0000 Japanese tits sometimes flutter their wings in an apparent gesture of encouraging their mate to enter their shared nest first 2423980-birds-make-an-after-you-gesture-to-prompt-their-mate-to-enter-nest|2423980 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423866-tiny-deer-from-the-dry-valleys-of-peru-recognised-as-new-species/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 25 Mar 2024 10:00:04 +0000 A 38-centimetre-tall deer, found in an arid region in the central Andes, is the first new deer species found in South America for over 60 years 2423866-tiny-deer-from-the-dry-valleys-of-peru-recognised-as-new-species|2423866 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423634-dogs-really-do-understand-that-words-stand-for-objects/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 22 Mar 2024 15:00:08 +0000 Pet dogs have different patterns of brain activity when they are shown an object that doesn’t match the word they hear, suggesting they have a mental representation of what words mean 2423634-dogs-really-do-understand-that-words-stand-for-objects|2423634 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423685-ant-queens-have-good-reasons-for-eating-their-own-babies/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 22 Mar 2024 10:00:49 +0000 Feasting on family members may be an unorthodox way for ant queens to keep their fledgling colonies from being overrun by lethal fungi 2423685-ant-queens-have-good-reasons-for-eating-their-own-babies|2423685