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Scientists say a 305 million-year-old fossil is the closest relative to "true spiders" ever discovered - but is not itself a spider. Easily pre-dating the dinosaurs, the 1.5cm creature lived alongside the oldest known ancestors of modern spiders but its lineage is now extinct.
Scientists have taken another step in their quest to understand the bare genetic essentials of life. This minimal number is lower than in any known free-living bug in nature.
Why can't we stick to our goals? Blame the sloppy engineering of evolution. ... We're the only species smart enough to plan systematically for the future -- yet we remain dumb enough to ditch even our most carefully made plans in favor of short-term gratification. ... Trying to remember what to do next can be a little like trying to remember what you had for breakfast yesterday: There are too many breakfasts and too many...
2008-05-04
planning goals future memory evolution short-term long-term brain psychologyScientists studying the DNA of Neanderthals say they can find no evidence that this ancient species ever interbred with modern humans. But our closest ancestors may well have been able to speak as well as us.
2009-02-12
evolution Neanderthal interbreeding genetics speech homo sapiensOxford University's former Professor for the Public Understanding of Science, Richard Dawkins, is one of the world's staunchest defenders of the theory of evolution.
2009-02-14
evolution philosophy religion atheism Charles Darwin DNA genetics Richard DawkinsIt is the ultimate "gentleman's agreement". Rather than compete for females, male long-tailed manakins co-operate with their friends. The tropical birds pair up to perform a courtship song and dance, but the alpha male gets the girl every time. Meanwhile his "wingman" spends five years playing second fiddle. But he eventually inherits the mating site.
2009-02-15
dance bird cooperation competition social Facebook evolutionA sample taken from what are believed to be the only polar bear remains to have been found in Britain has defied DNA analysis, it has emerged.
2009-02-16
evolution polar bearFemale guppies, quail and finches tend to mate with males that look like the males they have seen other females paired with. Such “mate choice copying” can pay off. If it is difficult to choose the best mating material, or takes a lot of time and energy, it makes sense to go with what works for the other girls. Yet although human mate selection suffers just such difficulties, there has been little evidence that women do this, until now.
2007-01-17
evolution attraction mating women choice copying sexSome people may be genetically programmed to be unfaithful to their partner, a scientist has claimed. ... Focusing on women, he found that if one of a pair of twins had a history of infidelity, the chances her sister would also stray were about 55%. In general it is estimated that just 23% of women are not faithful.
2004-06-07
sex evolution attraction genetics love infidelity women fidelityInfidelity may be natural according to studies that show nine out of 10 mamals and birds that mate for life are unfaithful. Experts found animals that fool around are only following the urges of biology. New studies using genetic testing techniques show that even the most apparently devoted of partners often go in search of the sexual company of strangers. Females stray to gather the best possible genes for their offspring, while males are...
1998-09-25
sex evolution attraction love infidelity fidelity monogamyIn sociobiology and behavioral ecology, a mating system is any of the ways in which animal societies are structured in relation to sexual behavior. The mating system specifies which males mate with which females under which circumstances. For organisms such as plants, that do not necessarily have males and females, mating system is used to refer to the degree to which individuals are self fertilizing or outcrossing.
Why budding Valentines should look to the animal kingdom for tips on romantic attachment. Rabbits, deer, dogs, tigers... always at it, if you believe the innuendos. Humans, on the other hand, are considered more gentle and refined, due to their increased intelligence and heightened emotions. In fact, when it comes to the key qualities of attraction, humans and animals share more than one might think.
2005-02-14
sex evolution animal attraction loveA very clever cleric and scientist. He agrees with Dawkins to an incredible degree, throwing away most religious dogmas, agreeing with evolution, God having no designer role, etc. -- but he did not manage to explain why does he still believe in any god, if everything can be so well explained by the laws of nature (both known and probable)! Tomáš J. Fülöpp
2008-12-09
religion Catholic science faith god intelligent design evolutionPlants may be able to recognise themselves.
2009-06-01
communication botany intelligence evolution plants