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/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 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423585-male-and-female-spiders-pair-up-to-look-like-a-flower/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 22 Mar 2024 08:00:46 +0000 Together, a dark-hued male crab spider and a larger, paler female resemble a flower, in what researchers suspect is the first case of cooperative mimicry 2423585-male-and-female-spiders-pair-up-to-look-like-a-flower|2423585 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423568-fluffy-beetle-discovered-in-australia-may-be-the-worlds-hairiest/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 21 Mar 2024 13:02:10 +0000 The exceptionally long white hairs on the newly named longhorn beetle Excastra albopilosa may deceive predators into thinking it is covered in fungus 2423568-fluffy-beetle-discovered-in-australia-may-be-the-worlds-hairiest|2423568 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423027-blue-tits-shared-a-tree-hollow-with-bird-eating-bats-and-survived/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 21 Mar 2024 06:00:34 +0000 A pair of blue tits were seen nesting in a tree cavity that was also inhabited by about 25 greater noctule bats, which commonly eat blue tits, but the birds lived to tell the tale 2423027-blue-tits-shared-a-tree-hollow-with-bird-eating-bats-and-survived|2423027 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2423338-extinct-freshwater-dolphin-from-the-amazon-was-largest-of-all-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 20 Mar 2024 18:00:55 +0000 A dolphin that lived in the Amazon 16 million years ago grew to a length of 3.5 metres – larger than any other freshwater dolphin 2423338-extinct-freshwater-dolphin-from-the-amazon-was-largest-of-all-time|2423338 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134821-100-saving-the-worlds-largest-flowers-in-the-philippines/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:00:00 +0000 These stunning photographs, taken by botanist Chris Thorogood, chart the quest to protect species of Rafflesia, which are on the brink of extinction in the Philippines mg26134821-100-saving-the-worlds-largest-flowers-in-the-philippines|2421536 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2422397-chimp-mothers-play-with-their-youngsters-even-when-times-are-tough/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:00:55 +0000 Ten years’ worth of observations of a wild chimpanzee community show that most adults stop playing when food is short, but not mothers and their young 2422397-chimp-mothers-play-with-their-youngsters-even-when-times-are-tough|2422397 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421914-in-frank-herberts-dune-fungi-are-hidden-in-plain-sight/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Mar 2024 14:00:56 +0000 There is more lurking below the surface of Arrakis than sandworms. Dune author Frank Herbert had a keen interest in fungi, and so should we, says Corrado Nai 2421914-in-frank-herberts-dune-fungi-are-hidden-in-plain-sight|2421914 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421816-plant-killing-genetic-technology-could-wipe-out-superweeds/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Mar 2024 10:00:12 +0000 A ‘gene drive’ that spreads through plant populations could be used to wipe out pests such as superweeds, or to help save species by making them resistant to heat or disease 2421816-plant-killing-genetic-technology-could-wipe-out-superweeds|2421816 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421950-city-moths-may-have-evolved-smaller-wings-due-to-light-pollution/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Mar 2024 00:01:44 +0000 Populations of moths living in urban places may have evolved smaller wings to limit how much bright city lights disrupt their lives 2421950-city-moths-may-have-evolved-smaller-wings-due-to-light-pollution|2421950 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421922-giant-sequoia-trees-are-growing-surprisingly-quickly-in-the-uk/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Mar 2024 00:01:01 +0000 Since their introduction in the 1800s, giant sequoia trees in the UK have grown up to 55 metres tall and capture 85 kilograms of carbon a year on average 2421922-giant-sequoia-trees-are-growing-surprisingly-quickly-in-the-uk|2421922 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421744-plants-send-out-distress-calls-but-can-other-plants-hear-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 12 Mar 2024 14:00:01 +0000 Some studies have claimed that plants emit sounds when stressed and might perceive the distress calls of other plants, but a review finds the evidence is lacking 2421744-plants-send-out-distress-calls-but-can-other-plants-hear-them|2421744 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421020-the-surprising-ways-animals-react-to-a-total-solar-eclipse/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 12 Mar 2024 11:00:55 +0000 When the moon hides the sun in a total solar eclipse, some animals seem to think that it is briefly nighttime, while others pace anxiously or even gaze up at the sky 2421020-the-surprising-ways-animals-react-to-a-total-solar-eclipse|2421020 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421466-blind-cave-fish-offers-lessons-in-how-to-survive-starvation/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 11 Mar 2024 15:00:40 +0000 Unlike most other animals, the cave-dwelling Mexican tetra doesn’t get a fatty liver when it is malnourished – and its secrets could lead to medical benefits for other species 2421466-blind-cave-fish-offers-lessons-in-how-to-survive-starvation|2421466 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421483-flightless-terror-birds-stalked-antarctica-after-the-dinosaurs-demise/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 11 Mar 2024 10:50:15 +0000 Two fossil claws found on Seymour Island reveal that phorusrhacids, or terror birds, lived in Antarctica 50 million years ago and were probably the apex predator 2421483-flightless-terror-birds-stalked-antarctica-after-the-dinosaurs-demise|2421483 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25634180-900-largest-ever-animal-may-have-been-triassic-ichthyosaur-super-predator/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 29 Dec 2022 09:00:00 +0000 New fossil discoveries show predatory marine reptiles from 200 million years ago may have been bigger than today’s blue whales – and that they evolved astonishingly rapidly mg25634180-900-largest-ever-animal-may-have-been-triassic-ichthyosaur-super-predator|2352224 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421343-clownfish-avoid-the-sting-of-their-anemone-hosts-with-sugary-slime/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 07 Mar 2024 21:20:35 +0000 As a clownfish spends time with an anemone, its mucus coating begins to change. Chemical tweaks to sugars in the slime may calm stinging cells in anemone tentacles 2421343-clownfish-avoid-the-sting-of-their-anemone-hosts-with-sugary-slime|2421343 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421263-worm-like-amphibian-produces-a-kind-of-milk-for-its-hatchlings/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 07 Mar 2024 19:00:22 +0000 After hatching from eggs, young ringed caecilians feed on their mother’s skin, but also on a milk-like substance secreted from her rear end 2421263-worm-like-amphibian-produces-a-kind-of-milk-for-its-hatchlings|2421263 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2421227-salmon-farms-are-increasingly-being-hit-by-mass-die-offs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 07 Mar 2024 16:00:10 +0000 Mass mortality events at salmon farms have been getting more frequent since 2011, sometimes killing millions of fish at once, with causes including heatwaves and poor living conditions 2421227-salmon-farms-are-increasingly-being-hit-by-mass-die-offs|2421227 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420806-hunger-inducing-mutation-makes-some-labradors-more-likely-to-get-fat/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 06 Mar 2024 19:00:35 +0000 Dogs with a mutation in the POMC gene, common in Labradors and flat-coated retrievers, have a stronger appetite for snacks between meals and a lower metabolic rate 2420806-hunger-inducing-mutation-makes-some-labradors-more-likely-to-get-fat|2420806 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420960-bumblebees-show-each-other-how-to-solve-complex-puzzles/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 06 Mar 2024 16:00:54 +0000 Puzzles that bumblebees cannot solve on their own can be cracked with help from another bee, adding to research on the transmission of culture among insects 2420960-bumblebees-show-each-other-how-to-solve-complex-puzzles|2420960 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420835-is-the-woolly-mammoth-really-on-the-brink-of-being-resurrected/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 06 Mar 2024 15:00:35 +0000 A company called Colossal claims it has taken a "momentous step" towards bringing back the woolly mammoth. Here's all you need to know about whether such a feat is possible 2420835-is-the-woolly-mammoth-really-on-the-brink-of-being-resurrected|2420835 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418305-first-gene-edited-meat-will-come-from-disease-proof-crispr-pigs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 23 Feb 2024 08:00:02 +0000 Pigs that have been given genetically engineered immunity to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, a major and costly disease, could be on the market within two years 2418305-first-gene-edited-meat-will-come-from-disease-proof-crispr-pigs|2418305 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420561-asian-elephants-seen-burying-their-dead-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 05 Mar 2024 15:18:32 +0000 Five elephant calves have been found buried in drainage ditches on tea-growing estates in India in a rare example of burial behaviour in non-human animals 2420561-asian-elephants-seen-burying-their-dead-for-the-first-time|2420561 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420477-blue-cheese-could-get-an-upgrade-thanks-to-new-mould-hybrids/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 05 Mar 2024 14:00:21 +0000 Five new varieties of Penicillium roqueforti, the fungus used to make blue cheese, might rescue the fungus from a genetic dead end and produce pharmaceutical compounds 2420477-blue-cheese-could-get-an-upgrade-thanks-to-new-mould-hybrids|2420477 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420341-earliest-known-sex-chromosomes-evolved-in-octopuses/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 05 Mar 2024 10:00:19 +0000 Genetic analysis of the California two-spot octopus reveals that the species has sex chromosomes, and they may have originated up to 378 million years ago 2420341-earliest-known-sex-chromosomes-evolved-in-octopuses|2420341 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2420364-storks-refine-their-migration-routes-as-they-learn-from-experience/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 04 Mar 2024 20:00:42 +0000 Tracking data shows that young white storks spend more time exploring new places, while older ones take a more direct route on their annual migrations 2420364-storks-refine-their-migration-routes-as-they-learn-from-experience|2420364 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2419483-squid-like-plant-that-lives-mostly-underground-is-new-to-science/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 29 Feb 2024 15:00:57 +0000 For the first time in nearly a century, a new genus of plant has been discovered in Japan, but it looks more like a squid or an alien than a plant 2419483-squid-like-plant-that-lives-mostly-underground-is-new-to-science|2419483 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2419615-a-simple-trick-can-make-a-dog-treat-a-stranger-as-their-friend/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 29 Feb 2024 12:00:47 +0000 If an unfamiliar person spends 15 minutes following a dog, it tends to follow them back in a possible sign of friendship 2419615-a-simple-trick-can-make-a-dog-treat-a-stranger-as-their-friend|2419615 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2419584-we-now-know-what-makes-oranges-taste-of-oranges/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 28 Feb 2024 19:00:11 +0000 Researchers have identified 26 chemical compounds responsible for the flavour of oranges, which could help efforts to develop disease-resistant hybrids 2419584-we-now-know-what-makes-oranges-taste-of-oranges|2419584 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418446-strange-animals-called-pyrosomes-are-thriving-as-the-pacific-heats-up/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 28 Feb 2024 12:00:53 +0000 Sausage-shaped pyrosomes are blooming in great numbers during marine heatwaves, but their success comes at the cost of other animals, including fish 2418446-strange-animals-called-pyrosomes-are-thriving-as-the-pacific-heats-up|2418446 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2419289-thousands-of-humpback-whales-starved-to-death-after-marine-heatwave/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:01:54 +0000 A study estimating humpback whale numbers in the North Pacific Ocean from crowdsourced photos reveals a sharp decline from 2012 to 2021 after decades of slow population growth 2419289-thousands-of-humpback-whales-starved-to-death-after-marine-heatwave|2419289 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418814-jackals-may-urinate-on-their-favourite-fruit-to-deter-thieves/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 27 Feb 2024 10:00:50 +0000 Although they are carnivores, black-backed jackals are partial to the melon-like fruits of the !nara plant and help to disperse its seeds across the desert 2418814-jackals-may-urinate-on-their-favourite-fruit-to-deter-thieves|2418814 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418659-bizarre-fish-can-extend-its-mouth-to-make-a-kind-of-trunk/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 27 Feb 2024 06:00:51 +0000 The hingemouth, an African freshwater fish, can stick out a proboscis for feeding or breathing thanks to the unique arrangement of its jaw anatomy 2418659-bizarre-fish-can-extend-its-mouth-to-make-a-kind-of-trunk|2418659 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2419077-how-one-of-the-smallest-fish-makes-a-sound-as-loud-as-a-firecracker/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 26 Feb 2024 20:00:49 +0000 The drumming sound of the 12-millimetre-long fish Danionella cerebrum can hit 140 decibels – now scientists have figured out how they do it 2419077-how-one-of-the-smallest-fish-makes-a-sound-as-loud-as-a-firecracker|2419077 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418921-wasabi-could-help-preserve-ancient-egyptian-papyrus-artefacts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 26 Feb 2024 19:00:40 +0000 Ancient and fragile papyrus samples are at risk of being damaged by fungi, but a wasabi-based treatment can disinfect them without damage 2418921-wasabi-could-help-preserve-ancient-egyptian-papyrus-artefacts|2418921 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134792-200-painting-a-trees-pruning-wounds-may-be-useful-after-all/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Since the 1970s, gardening wisdom has written off as useless the old practice of painting a tree’s pruning wounds. James Wong isn’t so sure mg26134792-200-painting-a-trees-pruning-wounds-may-be-useful-after-all|2417728 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418493-does-trophy-hunting-actually-help-animal-conservation/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 23 Feb 2024 08:00:09 +0000 It may seem counterintuitive, but trophy hunting leads to a lot of land being protected instead of being used for agriculture or logging – which can ultimately benefit animals 2418493-does-trophy-hunting-actually-help-animal-conservation|2418493 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418374-humpback-whales-have-a-specialised-larynx-for-underwater-singing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 Feb 2024 16:00:22 +0000 The distinctive melodies of baleen whales are produced by pushing air against a fatty cushion on one side of the larynx, and a sac lets them recycle air back into the lungs 2418374-humpback-whales-have-a-specialised-larynx-for-underwater-singing|2418374 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2418327-magnificent-yellow-crested-bird-photographed-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 21 Feb 2024 14:21:36 +0000 The yellow-crested helmetshrike was considered lost after going unseen for nearly 20 years – now an expedition has rediscovered what appears to be a healthy population in central Africa 2418327-magnificent-yellow-crested-bird-photographed-for-the-first-time|2418327 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417629-deadly-plant-kills-its-pollinators-but-nurses-their-young/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 20 Feb 2024 15:00:21 +0000 A deadly flower kills the gnats that pollinate it but may help the insects’ offspring in return, which indicates that plant-pollinator relationships may be more complex than previously thought 2417629-deadly-plant-kills-its-pollinators-but-nurses-their-young|2417629 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417904-underwater-photo-competition-showcases-stunning-images-of-marine-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 19 Feb 2024 15:41:22 +0000 Diving seabirds, a tiny octopus and a close encounter with a grey whale feature in breathtaking entries for the 2024 Underwater Photographer of the Year competition 2417904-underwater-photo-competition-showcases-stunning-images-of-marine-life|2417904 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417305-polar-bears-appear-to-be-ageing-faster-as-the-arctic-gets-warmer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 16 Feb 2024 12:00:08 +0000 Markers of biological ageing in polar bear tissue samples reveal that stress associated with climate change appears to be taking a toll 2417305-polar-bears-appear-to-be-ageing-faster-as-the-arctic-gets-warmer|2417305 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2416771-incredible-picture-of-polar-bear-snoozing-atop-an-iceberg-is-a-winner/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Taken in the Svalbard archipelago, Nima Sarikhani's image has scooped the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award 2416771-incredible-picture-of-polar-bear-snoozing-atop-an-iceberg-is-a-winner|2416771 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417446-the-right-microbes-on-plant-roots-can-make-your-tea-taste-better/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 15 Feb 2024 16:00:12 +0000 Changing the microbial community on the roots of tea plants can improve the flavour and nutritional content of the leaves, leading to a better-tasting cuppa 2417446-the-right-microbes-on-plant-roots-can-make-your-tea-taste-better|2417446 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2416658-poison-frogs-tap-dance-to-rouse-prey-and-make-them-easier-to-catch/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 15 Feb 2024 06:00:47 +0000 Different species of poison frogs tap their toes when feeding to create vibrations that cause flies to move closer to them 2416658-poison-frogs-tap-dance-to-rouse-prey-and-make-them-easier-to-catch|2416658 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417099-rice-containing-beef-cells-could-make-a-sustainable-meal/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:00:31 +0000 Scientists have grown cow muscle cells inside grains of rice to create a new food product that could supply protein with a lower carbon footprint than beef 2417099-rice-containing-beef-cells-could-make-a-sustainable-meal|2417099 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417198-female-scorpions-get-stung-during-sex-and-they-seem-to-welcome-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Feb 2024 14:00:08 +0000 During courtship rituals, female scorpions appear to willingly let males sting them, which may be a way for them to evaluate prospective mates 2417198-female-scorpions-get-stung-during-sex-and-they-seem-to-welcome-it|2417198 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2417005-great-apes-like-teasing-each-other-which-may-be-the-origin-of-humour/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:01:41 +0000 Chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and gorillas frequently toy with their peers by poking, tickling or stealing from them, perhaps showing behaviours that were prerequisites for human joking 2417005-great-apes-like-teasing-each-other-which-may-be-the-origin-of-humour|2417005 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2416667-small-dogs-are-more-likely-to-have-an-extra-row-of-teeth-like-sharks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 13 Feb 2024 14:00:50 +0000 Some pet dogs retain their baby teeth, creating two rows that resemble the mouth of a shark. A new analysis shows that the condition is more prevalent in smaller breeds and obese dogs 2416667-small-dogs-are-more-likely-to-have-an-extra-row-of-teeth-like-sharks|2416667 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2416854-brazilian-flea-toad-may-be-the-worlds-smallest-vertebrate/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 13 Feb 2024 11:00:05 +0000 Male Brachycephalus pulex frogs are so small that two of them can sit side by side on a pinky nail 2416854-brazilian-flea-toad-may-be-the-worlds-smallest-vertebrate|2416854 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134770-300-otherworldly-beauty-of-fungi-on-show-in-photo-competition/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Feb 2024 18:00:00 +0000 These stunning images are finalists in the World of Fungi category in the International Garden Photographer of the Year contest mg26134770-300-otherworldly-beauty-of-fungi-on-show-in-photo-competition|2415641 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2416280-orca-pod-disappears-after-being-trapped-in-drifting-ice-off-japan/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Feb 2024 17:55:36 +0000 A group of more than a dozen orcas has disappeared after being trapped in freezing Japanese waters for about a day – it isn’t known if they escaped or have died 2416280-orca-pod-disappears-after-being-trapped-in-drifting-ice-off-japan|2416280 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415875-bizarre-worm-lizard-not-seen-for-90-years-found-by-landmine-removers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 07 Feb 2024 12:00:29 +0000 A subspecies of the Somali sharp-snouted worm lizard was found by a landmine clearance team, the first official sighting since 1931 2415875-bizarre-worm-lizard-not-seen-for-90-years-found-by-landmine-removers|2415875 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415688-lager-could-get-array-of-novel-flavours-thanks-to-new-strains-of-yeast/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 06 Feb 2024 10:00:46 +0000 Researchers have recreated the hybridisation of two wild yeast species that led to the first lager yeasts, generating new varieties that could make beer with a range of new flavours 2415688-lager-could-get-array-of-novel-flavours-thanks-to-new-strains-of-yeast|2415688 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415718-extinct-elk-species-had-antlers-that-were-too-big-to-make-sense/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 05 Feb 2024 21:21:40 +0000 For decades we thought the Irish elk’s body size alone explained why it had enormous antlers, but the truth may be more complicated 2415718-extinct-elk-species-had-antlers-that-were-too-big-to-make-sense|2415718 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415624-deaths-from-shark-attacks-across-the-world-doubled-in-2023/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 05 Feb 2024 14:00:40 +0000 There were 69 unprovoked shark attacks on people and 10 fatalities in 2023 worldwide, with four of the deaths occurring in Australia 2415624-deaths-from-shark-attacks-across-the-world-doubled-in-2023|2415624 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415370-huge-study-of-dog-longevity-reveals-which-breeds-live-the-longest/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:00:44 +0000 Shiba inus and miniature dachshunds are among the longest-lived dog breeds while flat-faced dogs tend to die younger, a comprehensive study of UK pets has found 2415370-huge-study-of-dog-longevity-reveals-which-breeds-live-the-longest|2415370 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415409-some-animal-cells-contain-tiny-tornadoes-that-mix-up-their-contents/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 02 Feb 2024 13:00:12 +0000 Researchers studying fruit fly egg cells have discovered that they stir up the fluid inside them with a twister-like current 2415409-some-animal-cells-contain-tiny-tornadoes-that-mix-up-their-contents|2415409 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415180-weird-anglerfish-mating-strategy-may-have-helped-them-evolve/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 01 Feb 2024 08:00:12 +0000 Tiny male anglerfish fuse their bodies into the larger females, and this strange strategy may have helped the fish diversify widely in the deep sea 2415180-weird-anglerfish-mating-strategy-may-have-helped-them-evolve|2415180 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414876-why-bioabundance-is-just-as-important-as-biodiversity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 01 Feb 2024 07:00:20 +0000 The abundance of wild birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and insects has drastically declined over the past 50 years, but the scale and seriousness of this loss is often lost when we focus on the number of species in an area 2414876-why-bioabundance-is-just-as-important-as-biodiversity|2414876 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2415148-indias-first-snow-leopard-survey-puts-population-at-just-718/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 31 Jan 2024 15:37:45 +0000 Officials set up almost 2000 camera traps covering 120,000 square kilometres to estimate the number of snow leopards in India’s mountainous regions 2415148-indias-first-snow-leopard-survey-puts-population-at-just-718|2415148 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414946-watch-parrots-use-their-beaks-for-a-newly-identified-form-of-motion/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:01:47 +0000 Not only can parrots fly and walk, they can also swing along branches using their beaks, in a technique researchers are calling beakiation 2414946-watch-parrots-use-their-beaks-for-a-newly-identified-form-of-motion|2414946 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414817-spider-webs-collect-dna-that-reveals-the-species-living-nearby/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 30 Jan 2024 16:00:01 +0000 DNA analysis of spider webs from two locations in Australia identified dozens of vertebrate species, suggesting a new approach to wildlife monitoring 2414817-spider-webs-collect-dna-that-reveals-the-species-living-nearby|2414817 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414437-orangutan-calls-have-an-intricate-structure-resembling-human-language/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 30 Jan 2024 08:06:28 +0000 Calls made by male orangutans to attract females have short sequences nested inside longer sequences – a feature called recursion that was thought to be unique to human language 2414437-orangutan-calls-have-an-intricate-structure-resembling-human-language|2414437 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414181-newborn-great-white-shark-possibly-seen-in-the-wild-for-the-first-time/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 29 Jan 2024 14:00:21 +0000 Drone footage filmed off the coast of California shows a 1.5-metre-long, entirely white great white shark pup, probably just hours old – something that has never been seen before 2414181-newborn-great-white-shark-possibly-seen-in-the-wild-for-the-first-time|2414181 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414677-strange-virus-like-replicators-discovered-in-the-human-gut/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 29 Jan 2024 18:11:00 +0000 A previously unknown type of replicating agent named "obelisks” has been found in genomic data from stool samples – but we know little about what these entities do 2414677-strange-virus-like-replicators-discovered-in-the-human-gut|2414677 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2414147-dinosaurs-evolved-feathers-to-scare-prey-suggests-robot-experiment/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 25 Jan 2024 16:00:34 +0000 Experiments with a robotic dinosaur suggest feathers may have evolved to startle prey into fleeing from hiding places, a strategy used by some modern birds 2414147-dinosaurs-evolved-feathers-to-scare-prey-suggests-robot-experiment|2414147 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413876-tiny-marsupials-sacrifice-sleep-for-sex-during-the-breeding-season/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 25 Jan 2024 16:00:07 +0000 Antechinus males only live for one breeding season, so they give up 3 hours of sleep a night during this short period before dying of exhaustion 2413876-tiny-marsupials-sacrifice-sleep-for-sex-during-the-breeding-season|2413876 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413893-owls-may-actually-be-able-to-turn-their-heads-a-full-360-degrees/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 25 Jan 2024 15:00:46 +0000 Owls are famously good at rotating their heads, but now anatomical findings suggest they really could go a full 360 degrees without injuring themselves 2413893-owls-may-actually-be-able-to-turn-their-heads-a-full-360-degrees|2413893 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413904-exquisite-jurassic-fossils-reveal-cannibalism-in-ancient-fish/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 25 Jan 2024 08:00:50 +0000 Three fossils of Pachycormus fish from the dinosaur era feature smaller members of the same species in their guts - perhaps showing how the animals got by when food was scarce 2413904-exquisite-jurassic-fossils-reveal-cannibalism-in-ancient-fish|2413904 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413756-fungi-grow-faster-if-you-play-sounds-to-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 24 Jan 2024 12:00:44 +0000 Fungi exposed to acoustic stimulation in lab experiments have faster growth rates, suggesting a possible way to speed up composting and restore habitats 2413756-fungi-grow-faster-if-you-play-sounds-to-them|2413756 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413815-four-new-emperor-penguin-colonies-have-been-discovered/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 24 Jan 2024 00:01:25 +0000 Satellite images have helped to locate four previously unknown colonies of emperor penguins in the Antarctic. One of the colonies has over 5000 members 2413815-four-new-emperor-penguin-colonies-have-been-discovered|2413815 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413791-a-bacterium-switches-from-prey-to-predator-when-it-gets-cold/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 23 Jan 2024 19:00:59 +0000 Growing up at a different temperature seems to transform common prey bacteria into predators, suggesting that bacterial ecology is more fluid than we thought 2413791-a-bacterium-switches-from-prey-to-predator-when-it-gets-cold|2413791 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413636-see-what-the-world-looks-like-through-the-eyes-of-different-animals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 23 Jan 2024 19:00:04 +0000 A camera can recreate how animals see the world through both visible and ultraviolet light 2413636-see-what-the-world-looks-like-through-the-eyes-of-different-animals|2413636 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413623-stunning-slo-mo-videos-show-how-insects-survive-raindrop-collisions/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 22 Jan 2024 20:00:54 +0000 A raindrop can weigh 40 times as much as a water strider. So how does the insect deal with rain when getting hit with a droplet is equivalent to a car crashing into a human? 2413623-stunning-slo-mo-videos-show-how-insects-survive-raindrop-collisions|2413623 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413292-traces-of-ancient-life-reveal-a-3-4-billion-year-old-ecosystem/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:00:13 +0000 Chemical analysis of rocks found in South Africa shows that ancient microorganisms sustained themselves in a variety of ways, adding to evidence for an early origin of life on Earth 2413292-traces-of-ancient-life-reveal-a-3-4-billion-year-old-ecosystem|2413292 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2412264-megalodon-was-nothing-like-a-giant-great-white-shark/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 22 Jan 2024 00:01:26 +0000 We have no complete skeleton of the ancient megalodon shark, but new evidence points to it being more long and slender than previous depictions, say researchers 2412264-megalodon-was-nothing-like-a-giant-great-white-shark|2412264 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134741-000-why-staking-a-new-tree-can-do-more-harm-than-good/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 Jan 2024 18:00:00 +0000 New Year, new tree? You can ignore advice to stake out your sapling – and get better results in the process, says James Wong mg26134741-000-why-staking-a-new-tree-can-do-more-harm-than-good|2412294 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2412569-we-finally-know-how-tardigrades-can-survive-extreme-conditions/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 Jan 2024 19:00:57 +0000 When tardigrades encounter harsh environments, high levels of free radicals in their cells trigger the onset of a dormant state in which they can endure extreme hardship 2412569-we-finally-know-how-tardigrades-can-survive-extreme-conditions|2412569 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413207-how-wild-primates-adapt-to-living-with-disabilities/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 19 Jan 2024 08:00:50 +0000 For primates, being born with a missing limb or experiencing a major injury isn’t necessarily disabling if their environment or social connections help them thrive – just like humans 2413207-how-wild-primates-adapt-to-living-with-disabilities|2413207 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134740-200-diving-with-manatees-in-mexicos-unexplored-caves/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 Jan 2024 18:00:00 +0000 See stunning shots of cave diver Klaus Thymann's search for manatees in a flooded cave system on the Yucatán peninsula mg26134740-200-diving-with-manatees-in-mexicos-unexplored-caves|2412275 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2412746-mass-death-of-seal-pups-raises-fears-of-bird-flu-spreading-in-mammals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 Jan 2024 12:12:54 +0000 Researchers estimate that 17,000 baby elephant seals have died from avian flu in Argentina and it is likely that the virus is spreading among marine mammals 2412746-mass-death-of-seal-pups-raises-fears-of-bird-flu-spreading-in-mammals|2412746 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2412605-alpine-ibex-are-becoming-more-nocturnal-as-the-climate-gets-hotter/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:01:42 +0000 On hot days, Alpine ibex increase their activity at nighttime to avoid the heat – but this might increase the risk of predation by wolves 2412605-alpine-ibex-are-becoming-more-nocturnal-as-the-climate-gets-hotter|2412605 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2412388-does-the-birth-of-a-cloned-monkey-mean-we-could-now-clone-people/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:00:26 +0000 A healthy rhesus monkey has been born after being cloned from fetal cells, but creating a clone of an adult human being would be much harder 2412388-does-the-birth-of-a-cloned-monkey-mean-we-could-now-clone-people|2412388 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2412328-four-new-octopus-species-discovered-by-deep-sea-submersible/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 16 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 Expedition leaders say they have found several new species of octopus using a remotely operated vehicle around 3 kilometres deep near Costa Rica 2412328-four-new-octopus-species-discovered-by-deep-sea-submersible|2412328 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2412133-invasive-mink-eradicated-from-parts-of-england-by-using-scented-traps/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:01:47 +0000 Invasive mink, which are native to North America, have been eradicated from most of East Anglia in England after a trial used the scent of the animals' anal glands to lure them into traps 2412133-invasive-mink-eradicated-from-parts-of-england-by-using-scented-traps|2412133 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134734-400-are-there-really-freshwater-manatees-thriving-deep-within-west-africa/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Manatees or sea cows usually inhabit coastal waters, but rumour has it that some are hiding out in Upper Guinea. A scientific expedition goes in search of them mg26134734-400-are-there-really-freshwater-manatees-thriving-deep-within-west-africa|2411724 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2412033-guinness-yeasts-are-genetically-unique-among-irish-beers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:00:16 +0000 The Guinness brewery has kept a record of the yeast strains it has used going back to 1903 – a genetic analysis shows these are distinct from those used to brew other Irish beers 2412033-guinness-yeasts-are-genetically-unique-among-irish-beers|2412033 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134730-300-see-these-exquisite-images-of-starling-murmurations-around-europe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 Jan 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Søren Solkær's new collection of photographs shows starlings swooping as one in dramatic, cloud-like flocks mg26134730-300-see-these-exquisite-images-of-starling-murmurations-around-europe|2411205 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2411974-numbats-are-overheating-because-australia-is-getting-too-hot-for-them/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:00:05 +0000 On a hot day, numbats can only look for food for 10 minutes before they are forced to seek shade, raising concerns about the endangered animal's conservation amid Australia's increasing temperatures 2411974-numbats-are-overheating-because-australia-is-getting-too-hot-for-them|2411974 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2411914-early-fossil-identified-as-new-species-of-tyrannosaurus/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:00:04 +0000 A dinosaur known only from a partial skull has been dubbed Tyrannosaurus mcraensis, adding a new twist to long-running debates about putative relatives of Tyrannosaurus rex 2411914-early-fossil-identified-as-new-species-of-tyrannosaurus|2411914 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2411640-oldest-known-skin-fossil-is-from-300-million-year-old-reptile/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:00:25 +0000 Ancient fragments of fossilised skin may help us understand how skin evolved as vertebrate animals moved from the seas onto dry land 2411640-oldest-known-skin-fossil-is-from-300-million-year-old-reptile|2411640 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2411673-california-frog-reintroduction-is-rare-victory-against-fungal-pandemic/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 Jan 2024 20:00:29 +0000 The success of a 15-year project to help frogs in California’s Sierra Nevada suggests some amphibian species could be rescued from a devastating fungal disease by evolution – and a little human help 2411673-california-frog-reintroduction-is-rare-victory-against-fungal-pandemic|2411673 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2411655-some-corals-change-sex-each-year-so-they-can-find-mates/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 Jan 2024 18:00:12 +0000 Nearly three-quarters of hammer coral colonies annually alternate between male and female. They are the only animal species known to undergo this change on such a regular schedule 2411655-some-corals-change-sex-each-year-so-they-can-find-mates|2411655 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2411478-why-huge-ape-gigantopithecus-went-extinct-up-to-295000-years-ago/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 10 Jan 2024 16:00:44 +0000 The mysterious giant ape Gigantopithecus blacki died out up to 295,000 years ago, after failing to adapt to a changing climate and the food variability that went with it 2411478-why-huge-ape-gigantopithecus-went-extinct-up-to-295000-years-ago|2411478 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2411528-6-exquisite-images-from-close-up-photographer-of-the-year/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 09 Jan 2024 16:00:29 +0000 A moray eel, a robber fly and an ice-topped slime mould appear in winning images from the Close-Up Photographer of the Year competition 2411528-6-exquisite-images-from-close-up-photographer-of-the-year|2411528 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2411139-fire-ants-form-rafts-that-have-weird-properties-when-stretched/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 09 Jan 2024 18:00:14 +0000 Fire ants link together to form rafts when their nests are flooded, and unlike most materials the rafts don’t become thinner when they are stretched 2411139-fire-ants-form-rafts-that-have-weird-properties-when-stretched|2411139 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134721-500-massive-pliosaur-skull-sheds-light-on-ancient-sea-reptile/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 03 Jan 2024 18:00:00 +0000 The subject of a new David Attenborough documentary, a stunning pliosaur fossil unearthed in the UK is teaching us more about these deadly predators mg26134721-500-massive-pliosaur-skull-sheds-light-on-ancient-sea-reptile|2410299