Animals

Life

Light pollution can foil plant-insect hookups, and not just at night

Upsetting nocturnal pollinators has daylight after-effects for Swiss meadow flowers.

Animals

Newly discovered lymph hydraulics give tunas their fancy moves

There’s still some anatomy to discover in fishes as familiar as bluefin and yellowfin tunas.

Genetics

Tardigrades aren’t champion gene swappers after all

Genetic studies reveal more secrets of the bizarre creatures known as tardigrades.

Materials Science

Slug slime inspires a new type of surgical glue

A new glue that mimics a slug’s mucus secretions sticks well, even when wet. The adhesive could be used in place of sutures or staples in surgeries.

Anthropology

Readers question hominid family tree

Readers sent feedback on hominid origins, fast cameras, slimy sea creatures and more.

Animals

Fire ants build towers with three simple rules

Fire ants use the same set of simple rules to produce static rafts and perpetually moving towers.

Genetics

Resistance to CRISPR gene drives may arise easily

New tools for pest and disease control could become useless without improvements.

Animals

Elephant seals recognize rivals by the tempo of their calls

The distinct sputtering-lawnmower sound of a male elephant seal’s call has a tempo that broadcasts his identity to competitors.

Genetics

These genes may be why dogs are so friendly

Dog domestication may be the result of just a few genetic changes, including ones that made canines more interested in interacting with people.

Genetics

Dog domestication happened just once, ancient DNA study suggests

DNA of ancient canines counters idea that dogs were domesticated twice, in Europe and Asia.

Animals

Water bears will survive the end of the world as we know it

Water bears have a till-death-do-us-part pact with the sun, study suggests.

Animals

Ravens pass tests of planning ahead in unnatural tasks

Clever birds may have evolved their own broad powers of apelike thinking about the future.