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/mg26435162-600-new-scientist-recommends-the-pier-26-science-playground/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 06 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0000 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week mg26435162-600-new-scientist-recommends-the-pier-26-science-playground|2454624 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435160-300-see-nature-in-close-up-in-these-stunning-photographs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 06 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Shortlisted for the Close-up Photographer of the Year contest, these images zoom in on animals in all their glory mg26435160-300-see-nature-in-close-up-in-these-stunning-photographs|2454441 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2454693-marmots-could-have-the-solution-to-a-long-running-debate-in-evolution/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 07 Nov 2024 18:00:29 +0000 When it comes to the survival of animals living in the wild, the characteristics of the group can matter as much as the traits of the individual, according to a study in marmots 2454693-marmots-could-have-the-solution-to-a-long-running-debate-in-evolution|2454693 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2454532-vampire-bats-run-on-a-treadmill-to-reveal-their-strange-metabolism/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 06 Nov 2024 00:01:15 +0000 Experiments where vampire bats were made to run on a treadmill have revealed how they extract energy from protein in their latest blood meal 2454532-vampire-bats-run-on-a-treadmill-to-reveal-their-strange-metabolism|2454532 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2454482-worlds-largest-tree-is-also-among-the-oldest-living-organisms/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 01 Nov 2024 14:14:22 +0000 DNA analysis suggests Pando, a quaking aspen in Utah with thousands of stems connected by their roots, is between 16,000 and 81,000 years old 2454482-worlds-largest-tree-is-also-among-the-oldest-living-organisms|2454482 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435154-600-tense-docu-thriller-exposes-the-cruelties-of-commercial-whale-trade/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Orca – Black & White Gold digs deep into the dirty waters surrounding the killer whale trade and captures a daring rescue mission mg26435154-600-tense-docu-thriller-exposes-the-cruelties-of-commercial-whale-trade|2453795 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2454031-oldest-tadpole-fossil-known-to-science-dates-back-161-million-years/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 30 Oct 2024 16:00:17 +0000 A fossil of a tadpole from Argentina is 161 million years old - and isn't that different from some modern species 2454031-oldest-tadpole-fossil-known-to-science-dates-back-161-million-years|2454031 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2453548-weird-microbes-could-help-rewrite-the-origin-of-multicellular-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 28 Oct 2024 11:30:00 +0000 Single-celled organisms called archaea can become multicellular when compressed, highlighting the role of physical forces in evolution 2453548-weird-microbes-could-help-rewrite-the-origin-of-multicellular-life|2453548 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435143-700-why-a-potted-plant-isnt-the-easiest-option-for-would-be-gardeners/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 23 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0100 For nervous newbie gardeners, starting out with a single plant in a small pot is pitched as an easy win by the horticultural industry. James Wong explains why it isn't mg26435143-700-why-a-potted-plant-isnt-the-easiest-option-for-would-be-gardeners|2452933 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435140-500-new-scientist-recommends-documentary-hunt-for-the-oldest-dna/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 23 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0100 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week mg26435140-500-new-scientist-recommends-documentary-hunt-for-the-oldest-dna|2452427 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2453218-your-gut-bacteria-are-at-war-and-force-their-enemies-to-switch-sides/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 24 Oct 2024 20:00:32 +0100 Rival tribes of bacteria armed with poison darts are fighting it out in your gut, with armies of traitors often winning the day 2453218-your-gut-bacteria-are-at-war-and-force-their-enemies-to-switch-sides|2453218 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452774-morphing-red-blood-cells-help-bats-hibernate-and-we-could-do-it-too/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 22 Oct 2024 15:00:56 +0100 Animals that hibernate need a way to keep their blood flowing as their body temperature drops, and it seems that the mechanical properties of red blood cells may be key 2452774-morphing-red-blood-cells-help-bats-hibernate-and-we-could-do-it-too|2452774 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452672-preserved-tracks-suggest-non-avian-dinosaurs-used-their-wings-to-run/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 21 Oct 2024 20:00:21 +0100 Not all winged dinosaurs were necessarily capable of full flight, but this anatomical feature may have enabled them to travel further by flapping or gliding 2452672-preserved-tracks-suggest-non-avian-dinosaurs-used-their-wings-to-run|2452672 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452557-hornets-can-hold-their-alcohol-like-no-other-animal-on-earth/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 21 Oct 2024 21:00:35 +0100 The oriental hornet shows no ill effects – or behavioural changes – when it spends a week drinking an 80 per cent alcohol solution 2452557-hornets-can-hold-their-alcohol-like-no-other-animal-on-earth|2452557 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452196-de-extinction-company-claims-it-has-nearly-complete-thylacine-genome/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 17 Oct 2024 05:00:25 +0100 Colossal, a US firm that is aiming to revive lost species such as the woolly mammoth, says it now has a near-complete genome of the extinct thylacine 2452196-de-extinction-company-claims-it-has-nearly-complete-thylacine-genome|2452196 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452302-these-stunning-photos-celebrate-the-intricacy-of-the-microscopic-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 17 Oct 2024 16:00:42 +0100 A mouse's tumours, scales from a butterfly's wings and a smiling cross-section of a bracken fern are some of the incredible images from the Nikon Small World photography competition 2452302-these-stunning-photos-celebrate-the-intricacy-of-the-microscopic-world|2452302 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451504-invasive-snake-is-surviving-in-britain-by-living-in-attics-and-walls/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 16 Oct 2024 13:00:52 +0100 Britain should be too cold for the invasive Aesculapian snake to survive, but it is thriving by exploiting the warmth of attics, wall cavities and compost heaps 2451504-invasive-snake-is-surviving-in-britain-by-living-in-attics-and-walls|2451504 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452327-motor-made-from-bacteria-parts-is-one-of-the-smallest-ever-built/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 17 Oct 2024 13:00:11 +0100 The natural motors that power tail-like appendages in bacteria seem to have a single evolutionary origin, allowing parts from different species to be combined to create a tiny new engine 2452327-motor-made-from-bacteria-parts-is-one-of-the-smallest-ever-built|2452327 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452155-dolphins-breathe-in-microplastics-and-it-could-be-damaging-their-lungs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 16 Oct 2024 20:00:02 +0100 Dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico have tiny bits of plastic in their breath, and this is probably a worldwide problem 2452155-dolphins-breathe-in-microplastics-and-it-could-be-damaging-their-lungs|2452155 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451874-male-mice-flee-to-female-mice-to-de-escalate-fights/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 15 Oct 2024 20:00:46 +0100 During a fight between two male mice, one will often run to a female mouse to distract their aggressor, a bait-and-switch strategy that could help abate social conflicts 2451874-male-mice-flee-to-female-mice-to-de-escalate-fights|2451874 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451644-puppies-as-young-as-6-weeks-old-know-to-ask-people-for-help/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:00:13 +0100 Puppies that are raised in someone's home seem to benefit from that extra human interaction, by asking for help at a younger age than those brought up in kennels 2451644-puppies-as-young-as-6-weeks-old-know-to-ask-people-for-help|2451644 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451789-seven-newly-named-frog-species-make-whistles-that-sound-like-star-trek/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 15 Oct 2024 11:00:24 +0100 A group of frogs from Madagascar have mating calls that sound like Star Trek sound effects – now their species names honour captains from the series 2451789-seven-newly-named-frog-species-make-whistles-that-sound-like-star-trek|2451789 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2451354-beth-shapiro-the-ancient-dna-pioneers-mission-to-bring-back-the-dodo/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 11 Oct 2024 15:30:22 +0100 Evolutionary molecular biologist Beth Shapiro on the hunt for ancient DNA and her groundbreaking de-extinction and environmental mission   2451354-beth-shapiro-the-ancient-dna-pioneers-mission-to-bring-back-the-dodo|2451354 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435120-500-richard-dawkinss-latest-crams-gorgeous-writing-in-an-ill-fitting-box/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 09 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0100 A new book from the science-writing legend is an Attenborough-esque romp through some of the wonders of the natural world. Just beware the title's misfiring metaphor mg26435120-500-richard-dawkinss-latest-crams-gorgeous-writing-in-an-ill-fitting-box|2450637 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451401-there-could-be-30000-species-of-earthworms-wriggling-around-the-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:00:46 +0100 Nearly 6000 species and subspecies of earthworms have been identified by scientists – but the true number could top 30,000 2451401-there-could-be-30000-species-of-earthworms-wriggling-around-the-world|2451401 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451390-living-microbes-found-deep-inside-2-billion-year-old-rock/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 10 Oct 2024 11:44:56 +0100 Ancient volcanic rock from South Africa has been found to harbour primitive bacteria, which may shed light on some of the earliest forms of life on Earth 2451390-living-microbes-found-deep-inside-2-billion-year-old-rock|2451390 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2451159-paramotorists-collect-rare-plant-species-from-peruvian-desert-oases/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 09 Oct 2024 09:00:47 +0100 Kew scientists use paramotorists to collect rare plant species from Peruvian desert oases 2451159-paramotorists-collect-rare-plant-species-from-peruvian-desert-oases|2451159 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450872-see-the-stunning-winners-from-the-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 09 Oct 2024 00:31:59 +0100 An army of tadpoles and a stretching lynx are just some of the incredible photos winning accolades at the annual competition 2450872-see-the-stunning-winners-from-the-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year|2450872 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450693-two-injured-comb-jellies-can-merge-to-form-one-individual/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 07 Oct 2024 17:00:39 +0100 A pair of ctenophores, or comb jellies, can fuse their bodies together, merging their digestive and nervous systems, without any issues with immune rejection 2450693-two-injured-comb-jellies-can-merge-to-form-one-individual|2450693 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450495-ants-can-be-used-to-make-yogurt-and-now-we-know-how-it-works/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:00:00 +0100 A traditional yogurt-making practice from south-eastern Europe uses live ants as a starter, with the insects providing the bacteria and acid needed to initiate fermentation 2450495-ants-can-be-used-to-make-yogurt-and-now-we-know-how-it-works|2450495 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435110-300-its-time-to-celebrate-a-renaissance-in-english-nature-writing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 02 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Musing on John Lewis-Stempel's latest book, England: A natural history, James McConnachie marks the flowering of other, more diverse voices in nature writing mg26435110-300-its-time-to-celebrate-a-renaissance-in-english-nature-writing|2449842 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450346-dolphin-smiles-may-truly-be-a-sign-of-playfulness/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 02 Oct 2024 17:00:48 +0100 Captive dolphins are more likely to make an open-mouthed expression when their playmate can see them and they often reciprocate, hinting that it is a form of visual communication 2450346-dolphin-smiles-may-truly-be-a-sign-of-playfulness|2450346 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450104-some-fish-regrow-injured-fins-and-were-closer-to-understanding-how/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 01 Oct 2024 12:00:46 +0100 Unravelling the complex biological process that allows fish to regrow injured fins could help advance regenerative medicine in humans 2450104-some-fish-regrow-injured-fins-and-were-closer-to-understanding-how|2450104 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2449993-a-shark-survived-being-stabbed-through-the-head-by-a-swordfish/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 01 Oct 2024 12:00:35 +0100 Fishers in Albania caught a blue shark with an 18-centimetre fragment of swordfish bill embedded in its skull, in the first known case of a shark surviving such an injury 2449993-a-shark-survived-being-stabbed-through-the-head-by-a-swordfish|2449993 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335100-500-richard-powerss-new-novel-is-a-beautiful-love-letter-to-our-oceans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 25 Sep 2024 19:00:00 +0100 From colonialism to AI, this Booker-longlisted novel urges us to wake up to how we treat wild creatures and places mg26335100-500-richard-powerss-new-novel-is-a-beautiful-love-letter-to-our-oceans|2448804 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448167-bacteria-can-work-as-a-team-to-spot-prime-numbers-and-vowels/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 27 Sep 2024 13:00:09 +0100 Bacteria that have been genetically engineered to work like computers can solve a range of problems, using a very simple type of artificial intelligence 2448167-bacteria-can-work-as-a-team-to-spot-prime-numbers-and-vowels|2448167 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2449617-these-fish-have-evolved-legs-that-can-find-and-taste-buried-food/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:00:48 +0100 Northern sea robins are formidable marine hunters, and they owe their success to modified fin rays that let them find prey buried in the seabed 2449617-these-fish-have-evolved-legs-that-can-find-and-taste-buried-food|2449617 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2449446-dinosaurs-may-have-run-like-emus-by-keeping-one-foot-on-the-ground/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 25 Sep 2024 20:00:03 +0100 It seems to be more energy efficient for emus to keep one foot on the ground when running at a moderate pace, and the same may have been true for dinosaurs 2449446-dinosaurs-may-have-run-like-emus-by-keeping-one-foot-on-the-ground|2449446 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2449128-axolotls-seem-to-pause-their-biological-clocks-and-stop-ageing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 24 Sep 2024 17:00:07 +0100 In most vertebrates, a pattern of chemical marks on the genome is a reliable indicator of age, but in axolotls this clock seems to stop after the first four years of life 2449128-axolotls-seem-to-pause-their-biological-clocks-and-stop-ageing|2449128 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448908-octopuses-and-fish-hunt-as-a-team-to-catch-more-prey/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 23 Sep 2024 17:00:03 +0100 An octopus will work with several different species of fish to find and catch prey - and punch those that aren't helping 2448908-octopuses-and-fish-hunt-as-a-team-to-catch-more-prey|2448908 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335091-100-is-it-really-cheaper-to-cultivate-your-own-fruit-and-vegetables/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 18 Sep 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Our gardening columnist James Wong isn’t convinced, and does the maths to get some answers mg26335091-100-is-it-really-cheaper-to-cultivate-your-own-fruit-and-vegetables|2447908 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448326-giant-rats-trained-to-sniff-out-illegal-wildlife-trade/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 19 Sep 2024 13:00:34 +0100 African giant pouched rats proved adept at detecting four commonly trafficked products derived from endangered species including rhino horn and elephant ivory 2448326-giant-rats-trained-to-sniff-out-illegal-wildlife-trade|2448326 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448468-the-cactus-familys-surprising-evolutionary-journey/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:00:44 +0100 We are finally untangling the ancient history of the cactus family, revealing some surprising forces that shaped these plants – ­­­­­­and prompting concern for their future 2448468-the-cactus-familys-surprising-evolutionary-journey|2448468 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448307-air-jacket-helps-scuba-diving-lizards-stay-underwater-for-longer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 18 Sep 2024 01:01:36 +0100 Some lizards dive into streams to escape predators, and a specialised bubble-breathing technique enables them to stay submerged for up to 18 minutes 2448307-air-jacket-helps-scuba-diving-lizards-stay-underwater-for-longer|2448307 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448014-some-flowers-may-have-evolved-long-stems-to-be-better-seen-by-bats/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 17 Sep 2024 17:00:33 +0100 Echolocating bats can more easily find and pollinate long-stemmed flowers that stand out from the surrounding foliage, which may be why this floral trait evolved 2448014-some-flowers-may-have-evolved-long-stems-to-be-better-seen-by-bats|2448014 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2447977-tiny-chameleon-spotted-by-tourists-in-madagascar-is-new-to-science/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 16 Sep 2024 11:26:26 +0100 A species of leaf chameleon newly named Brookesia nofy was discovered in a patch of coastal rainforest, a highly threatened habitat in Madagascar 2447977-tiny-chameleon-spotted-by-tourists-in-madagascar-is-new-to-science|2447977 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335080-800-how-the-hidden-lives-of-dinosaurs-are-being-revealed-by-new-technology/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 10 Sep 2024 17:00:00 +0100 From migrating sauropods and semi-aquatic predators to doting parents, palaeontologists are finally uncovering the mysteries of the lifestyles of dinosaurs mg26335080-800-how-the-hidden-lives-of-dinosaurs-are-being-revealed-by-new-technology|2446906 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2447870-antidote-to-deadly-pesticides-boosts-bee-survival/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 13 Sep 2024 18:00:18 +0100 Feeding bees edible bits of hydrogel increases their odds of surviving pesticide exposure by 30 per cent 2447870-antidote-to-deadly-pesticides-boosts-bee-survival|2447870 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2447815-cats-have-brain-activity-recorded-with-the-help-of-crocheted-hats/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 13 Sep 2024 16:00:03 +0100 Custom-made wool caps have enabled scientists to record electroencephalograms in awake cats for the first time, which could help assess their pain levels 2447815-cats-have-brain-activity-recorded-with-the-help-of-crocheted-hats|2447815 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335080-400-is-life-better-as-a-dog-a-philosopher-investigates/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Sep 2024 19:00:00 +0100 What is it like to be a dog? And what can we learn from them? Mark Rowlands's take, in his book The Happiness of Dogs, is full of insights, finds Abigail Beall mg26335080-400-is-life-better-as-a-dog-a-philosopher-investigates|2446890 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2447414-fish-size-themselves-up-in-a-mirror-to-decide-if-they-can-win-a-fight/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Sep 2024 11:00:10 +0100 Cleaner wrasse use their reflection to build a mental image of their body size, which they use to compare themselves to rivals before picking a fight 2447414-fish-size-themselves-up-in-a-mirror-to-decide-if-they-can-win-a-fight|2447414 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2447323-ants-change-the-way-they-build-nests-to-stop-diseases-spreading/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 10 Sep 2024 18:05:24 +0100 When worker ants are exposed to a pathogenic fungus, they build nests that are more compartmentalised to reduce the risk of an epidemic 2447323-ants-change-the-way-they-build-nests-to-stop-diseases-spreading|2447323 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2447128-watch-eels-escape-from-the-stomachs-of-fish-after-being-swallowed/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 09 Sep 2024 17:00:56 +0100 X-ray videos of Japanese eels swallowed whole by dark sleeper fish have revealed how the eels can make a daring escape from being digested 2447128-watch-eels-escape-from-the-stomachs-of-fish-after-being-swallowed|2447128 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2447118-endangered-wombats-rare-encounter-with-echidna-caught-on-camera/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 09 Sep 2024 16:33:19 +0100 A camera trap at an Australian nature refuge has captured a boisterous interaction between a northern hairy-nosed wombat and an echidna 2447118-endangered-wombats-rare-encounter-with-echidna-caught-on-camera|2447118 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2446968-sharks-leap-out-of-the-water-more-often-than-you-might-think/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:00:29 +0100 Breaching is a common behaviour in a wide range of sharks and rays, and it is thought to have functions related to courtship, birthing and hygiene 2446968-sharks-leap-out-of-the-water-more-often-than-you-might-think|2446968 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335070-600-new-scientist-recommends-eight-legged-musical-instrument-sonic-spider/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 04 Sep 2024 19:00:00 +0100 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week mg26335070-600-new-scientist-recommends-eight-legged-musical-instrument-sonic-spider|2446009 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335070-200-close-up-photographs-of-seeds-show-their-intricate-beauty/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 04 Sep 2024 19:00:00 +0100 These images are taken from a new book, Seeds: Time capsules of life, which explores how plant life has flourished in the past 360 million years mg26335070-200-close-up-photographs-of-seeds-show-their-intricate-beauty|2445994 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2446800-stunningly-preserved-pterosaur-fossils-reveal-how-they-soared/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 06 Sep 2024 06:01:26 +0100 The largest pterosaurs, ancient reptiles that were the first vertebrates to master flight, may have mostly soared while smaller ones flapped their wings, a pattern that persists in today's birds 2446800-stunningly-preserved-pterosaur-fossils-reveal-how-they-soared|2446800 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2446663-even-simple-bacteria-can-anticipate-the-changing-seasons/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 05 Sep 2024 20:00:15 +0100 Cyanobacteria exposed to shorter days are better at surviving cold conditions, showing that even simple organisms can prepare for the arrival or summer and winter 2446663-even-simple-bacteria-can-anticipate-the-changing-seasons|2446663 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2445806-pregnant-shark-that-disappeared-may-have-been-eaten-by-another-shark/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 03 Sep 2024 06:15:05 +0100 Tracking data from a pregnant porbeagle shark near Bermuda suggest it was eaten by a great white shark – a kind of predation that has never been seen before 2445806-pregnant-shark-that-disappeared-may-have-been-eaten-by-another-shark|2445806 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2446264-wild-bees-have-found-a-surprising-place-to-nest-in-cities/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:00:20 +0100 A survey found 66 species of insects making their homes in cobbled pavements on the streets of Berlin, and greater biodiversity near insect-friendly flower gardens 2446264-wild-bees-have-found-a-surprising-place-to-nest-in-cities|2446264 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335060-300-a-selection-of-elaborate-birds-nests-from-around-the-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 28 Aug 2024 19:00:00 +0100 These photos showcase some of the intricately created birds' nests found in the Natural History Museum in Tring, UK, home to one of the world's largest ornithological collections mg26335060-300-a-selection-of-elaborate-birds-nests-from-around-the-world|2445094 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2445821-marmosets-seem-to-call-each-other-by-name/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 29 Aug 2024 20:00:17 +0100 Marmosets are the first non-human primates shown to use personalised signifiers to refer to each other – the discovery could help us better understand how language evolved 2445821-marmosets-seem-to-call-each-other-by-name|2445821 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2445665-backflipping-springtails-are-the-fastest-spinners-known-in-nature/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 29 Aug 2024 15:00:21 +0100 High-speed camera recordings show that springtails spin at up to 368 rotations per second when they jump away from danger 2445665-backflipping-springtails-are-the-fastest-spinners-known-in-nature|2445665 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2444363-inside-nasas-lab-exploring-conditions-for-life-on-other-worlds/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 27 Aug 2024 09:00:22 +0100 The Origins and Habitability Lab at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a testbed exploring how geological conditions could impact life in environments such as early Earth, Mars or the icy moons of Jupiter 2444363-inside-nasas-lab-exploring-conditions-for-life-on-other-worlds|2444363 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335051-700-david-attenboroughs-latest-explores-the-lives-of-an-orangutan-family/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 Aug 2024 19:00:00 +0100 The veteran presenter adds authority to Secret Lives of Orangutans, a film about a family of endangered orangutans in Sumatra. File this new entry in his vast oeuvre under lovable but lightweight mg26335051-700-david-attenboroughs-latest-explores-the-lives-of-an-orangutan-family|2444607 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2444811-we-now-know-that-life-began-on-earth-much-earlier-than-we-thought/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 Aug 2024 13:20:24 +0100 A big rethink of our planet’s early years adds to growing fossil, chemical and DNA evidence that Earth was only a few hundred million years old when life began 2444811-we-now-know-that-life-began-on-earth-much-earlier-than-we-thought|2444811 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335050-100-why-the-underground-home-of-the-worlds-weirdest-wildlife-is-in-danger/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 19 Aug 2024 17:30:00 +0100 Up to 100,000 extraordinary species, from spiders and beetles to salamanders and fish, live in subterranean caves and cracks. They aren’t as safe down there as we thought mg26335050-100-why-the-underground-home-of-the-worlds-weirdest-wildlife-is-in-danger|2444276 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2443703-spiders-use-fireflies-as-flashing-lures-to-catch-more-prey/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 19 Aug 2024 17:00:58 +0100 Male fireflies caught in an orb-weaver spider’s web start flashing in an unusual pattern, a deadly deception that seems to attract additional victims for the spider 2443703-spiders-use-fireflies-as-flashing-lures-to-catch-more-prey|2443703 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335041-600-a-cheaper-alternative-to-activated-charcoal-for-your-terrarium/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Aug 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Is it worth including activated charcoal in your terrarium’s potting mix? James Wong isn’t convinced by this pricey product mg26335041-600-a-cheaper-alternative-to-activated-charcoal-for-your-terrarium|2443442 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2444257-stunning-photos-of-life-above-and-below-water/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 16 Aug 2024 10:30:52 +0100 See the incredible shots that have won this year's BMC Ecology and Evolution and BMC Zoology Image Competition 2444257-stunning-photos-of-life-above-and-below-water|2444257 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335041-000-an-engrossing-history-of-teeth-shows-their-complex-role-in-evolution/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Aug 2024 19:00:00 +0100 From birds and bats to horses and great apes, Bill Schutt's seriously fun history of teeth, Bite, explains their role in both shaping evolution and our understanding of it mg26335041-000-an-engrossing-history-of-teeth-shows-their-complex-role-in-evolution|2443436 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2444142-listening-to-worms-wriggle-can-help-us-monitor-ecosystem-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 16 Aug 2024 06:00:05 +0100 The noises made by organisms like ants and worms as they move around in the soil can be used to assess whether an ecosystem is in good shape 2444142-listening-to-worms-wriggle-can-help-us-monitor-ecosystem-health|2444142 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2443365-has-the-mystery-of-lifes-handedness-finally-been-cracked/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 12 Aug 2024 17:14:29 +0100 All living creatures use only the left or right-handed forms of certain molecules, and now we might understand why 2443365-has-the-mystery-of-lifes-handedness-finally-been-cracked|2443365 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2444060-the-surprising-way-sunflowers-work-together-to-get-enough-light/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 15 Aug 2024 17:30:43 +0100 Scientists have known for centuries that sunflowers wobble in seemingly random ways as they grow – but it seems that those movements actually optimise how much light each plant gets 2444060-the-surprising-way-sunflowers-work-together-to-get-enough-light|2444060 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335040-600-if-we-could-talk-to-whales-what-might-they-say/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Aug 2024 19:00:00 +0100 This week, we journey to the early 2030s, when machine learning first allowed us to communicate with sperm whales. Rowan Hooper tells us what they have to say mg26335040-600-if-we-could-talk-to-whales-what-might-they-say|2443421 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2443453-endangered-skates-saved-from-extinction-by-hatching-in-captivity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 13 Aug 2024 01:30:57 +0100 The Maugean skate (Zearaja maugeana) is only found in one habitat in Australia, which is under threat from human activity. Now the species has been saved from extinction by hatching in captivity 2443453-endangered-skates-saved-from-extinction-by-hatching-in-captivity|2443453 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335040-900-top-astrobiologist-explores-the-possibilities-of-alien-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Aug 2024 19:00:00 +0100 It's time to expect the unexpected, says Natalie Cabrol, one of the world's top astrobiologists and author of an authoritative book on the hunt for life's origins – and ET mg26335040-900-top-astrobiologist-explores-the-possibilities-of-alien-life|2443435 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2443945-largest-genome-sequenced-so-far-is-30-times-bigger-than-a-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Aug 2024 17:00:39 +0100 The South American lungfish has a whopping 180 gigabases of DNA in each cell, compared with 6 gigabases in human cells 2443945-largest-genome-sequenced-so-far-is-30-times-bigger-than-a-humans|2443945 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2443872-consumer-insecticides-are-useless-for-fighting-cockroach-infestations/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Aug 2024 16:00:39 +0100 Lab-reared German cockroaches are susceptible to consumer insecticide sprays, allowing manufacturers to pass US regulatory tests, but insects taken from real-world infestations are able to shrug off the products 2443872-consumer-insecticides-are-useless-for-fighting-cockroach-infestations|2443872 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2443880-how-crocodiles-were-taught-to-stop-eating-deadly-toxic-cane-toads/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Aug 2024 13:31:08 +0100 Invasive cane toads have decimated native freshwater crocodile populations in northern Australia, as the predators don't know they should avoid the toxic amphibians 2443880-how-crocodiles-were-taught-to-stop-eating-deadly-toxic-cane-toads|2443880 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2443209-we-now-know-how-kestrels-stay-perfectly-still-while-hovering/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 09 Aug 2024 09:00:24 +0100 Two nankeen kestrels have been filmed flying in a wind tunnel to learn how the raptors keep their heads in a fixed position under turbulent conditions 2443209-we-now-know-how-kestrels-stay-perfectly-still-while-hovering|2443209 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335030-400-intimate-nature-documentary-is-an-ode-to-an-oak/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Aug 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Lush and vibrant cinematography plus a "cast" of real animals make Heart of an Oak an enthralling celebration of the natural world mg26335030-400-intimate-nature-documentary-is-an-ode-to-an-oak|2442749 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2442793-the-best-livestream-so-far-this-year-a-corpse-flower-slowly-blooming/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Aug 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Forget videos by gamers or influencers. For a real online thrill, watch the world's biggest flower emerging in a former web designer's greenhouse, says Annalee Newitz 2442793-the-best-livestream-so-far-this-year-a-corpse-flower-slowly-blooming|2442793 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335032-000-the-science-is-clear-repeatedly-whipping-a-horse-wont-help-it-learn/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Aug 2024 19:00:00 +0100 After the release of a shocking video showing Olympic rider Charlotte Dujardin whipping a horse, it is time for equestrians to educate themselves on the science of horse training, says Christa Lesté-Lasserre mg26335032-000-the-science-is-clear-repeatedly-whipping-a-horse-wont-help-it-learn|2442742 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2443058-a-surprisingly-wide-range-of-bacteria-live-inside-microwaves/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 08 Aug 2024 06:00:28 +0100 Microwaves in homes, offices and laboratories have been found to host diverse microbiomes, highlighting the importance of regular cleaning 2443058-a-surprisingly-wide-range-of-bacteria-live-inside-microwaves|2443058 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2442954-leeches-use-their-whole-bodies-to-entomb-and-eat-ultra-fast-worms/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Aug 2024 20:28:32 +0100 Blackworms are ultra-fast swimmers, and they tangle up into worm balls to protect themselves from predators – but leeches have an ingenious method of catching them called “spiral entombment” 2442954-leeches-use-their-whole-bodies-to-entomb-and-eat-ultra-fast-worms|2442954 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2442907-bird-deaths-from-building-strikes-may-be-double-past-estimates/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Aug 2024 20:00:15 +0100 An estimate of annual bird fatalities due to building collisions in the US brings the figure to more than 1 billion – it is the first to include deaths from injuries after the strike 2442907-bird-deaths-from-building-strikes-may-be-double-past-estimates|2442907 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2442877-racehorse-success-may-depend-on-their-gut-microbiome-in-early-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:00:27 +0100 Horses that are bred to race seem to perform better on the course if they had a diverse gut microbiome as foals 2442877-racehorse-success-may-depend-on-their-gut-microbiome-in-early-life|2442877 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2442808-sea-lion-cameras-record-amazing-predators-view-of-the-ocean/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Aug 2024 06:00:41 +0100 Eight Australian sea lions were fitted with cameras and trackers to capture unprecedented insights into their behaviour and the marine habitats where they hunt 2442808-sea-lion-cameras-record-amazing-predators-view-of-the-ocean|2442808 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2442593-are-horses-in-equestrian-sports-being-harmed-by-bending-their-necks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 02 Aug 2024 23:24:44 +0100 Horses experience hyperflexion, or rollkur, when their necks bend far towards their chests – it could place the animal at a greater risk of physical discomfort and stress 2442593-are-horses-in-equestrian-sports-being-harmed-by-bending-their-necks|2442593 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2442566-charles-darwins-frogs-turn-mating-upside-down/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 02 Aug 2024 20:14:33 +0100 Turning around and backing up out of pools found in tree hollows may help mating Charles Darwin’s frogs find a safe place to lay their eggs while fending off competitive males 2442566-charles-darwins-frogs-turn-mating-upside-down|2442566 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335020-900-the-inside-story-of-heroic-efforts-to-save-three-bird-species/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 31 Jul 2024 19:00:00 +0100 The graft involved in trying to bring the peregrine falcon, Hawaiian crow and California condor back from the brink in the US makes for compelling reading in Feather Trails by Sophie Osborn mg26335020-900-the-inside-story-of-heroic-efforts-to-save-three-bird-species|2441790 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2441736-oldest-rocks-on-earth-may-contain-strange-and-ancient-life-forms/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 30 Jul 2024 11:00:24 +0100 Fossils in rocks that are 3.8 billion years old have puzzled biologists as they look nothing like modern cells, but now it seems they may be an ancient precursor life form that was unable to control its structure 2441736-oldest-rocks-on-earth-may-contain-strange-and-ancient-life-forms|2441736 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2442331-donald-johanson-unearthing-lucy-changed-my-life-and-the-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 01 Aug 2024 16:01:32 +0100 This year marks half a century since the discovery of Lucy, a hominid fossil that would go on to drastically alter our understanding of human evolution. The man who unearthed her, Donald Johanson, shares more about the momentous excavation and the legacy it has left. 2442331-donald-johanson-unearthing-lucy-changed-my-life-and-the-world|2442331 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2442136-algae-transformed-into-a-biofactory-for-green-fuel-and-plastics/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 01 Aug 2024 14:00:33 +0100 A strain of green algae has been artificially evolved to turn carbon dioxide into sustainable fuel and plastic 2442136-algae-transformed-into-a-biofactory-for-green-fuel-and-plastics|2442136 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2442082-we-have-discovered-an-entirely-new-kind-of-wood/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 31 Jul 2024 02:00:30 +0100 Tulip trees have a structure that is somewhere between hardwood and softwood – called "midwood" – which could increase their ability to store carbon 2442082-we-have-discovered-an-entirely-new-kind-of-wood|2442082 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335011-200-ants-are-incredible-navigators-lets-celebrate-their-brilliance/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 24 Jul 2024 19:00:00 +0100 Ants and other insects are capable of astounding navigational feats. Perhaps an appreciation of this could aid conservation efforts, says Robert Barrie mg26335011-200-ants-are-incredible-navigators-lets-celebrate-their-brilliance|2440617 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440864-early-humans-began-wiping-out-elephant-relatives-1-8-million-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 24 Jul 2024 20:00:46 +0100 Elephant-like species started going extinct faster when early humans evolved, and the rate of extinction rose even higher when modern humans appeared 2440864-early-humans-began-wiping-out-elephant-relatives-1-8-million-years-ago|2440864 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2440823-jurassic-fossils-show-modern-mammals-grow-faster-than-ancient-ones/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 24 Jul 2024 17:00:11 +0100 The 166-million-year-old fossils of an adult and a juvenile of the same extinct mammal species reveal that they had longer "childhoods" and lifespans than similar species today 2440823-jurassic-fossils-show-modern-mammals-grow-faster-than-ancient-ones|2440823