Wednesday, 8 February, 2012

Cooperation is a classic human trait, but chimps do it too. A new study sheds light on the “what’s-in-it-for-me” angle of cooperation: It’s good for your genes.

Big sharks eat little sharks and rays, which eat shellfish. So ultimately, hunting big sharks may cause shellfish to disappear.

Toxins are nature’s best defenses. The Asian snake can get toxin by eating toxic food. If an Asian snake offers to let you gobble its pretty neck, don’t be tempted!

The Argentine ant invaded California 100 years ago, forming “super-colonies” that stretch hundreds of miles. Most ants attack nearby nests. Why have Argentine ants declared peace with neighbors?

After its seed sprouts, this parasitic plant must find a host in four days, or else it dies. Solution? Smell the host plant’s unique bouquet.

Neanderthals survived thousands of years longer in Europe, a new study finds. What does this tell us about the demise of the caveman and the triumph of modern humans?

Malaria harms people and mosquitoes. Some skeeters already kill malaria. Shouldn’t we work together to control this global blood parasite?

Small rodents spread lots of seeds in nature, but they were absent from New Zealand. Do giant grasshoppers replace mice and rats in transporting seeds?

How do smart diners decide from an unfamiliar menu? They take advice. Ditto for bees. If they haven’t seen the flowers before, they follow the lead of another bee.

When chickadees see hawks or owls, what do they “say?” Their warning is more complex than expected. In the presence of a really dangerous predator, the warning is more alarming!