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As part of the research, the experts conducted a series of six tests on 198 lemurs over several years. Four of the tests determined the primates’ cognitive abilities, in particular their ability to cope with unusual tasks, spatial memory, self-control and the ability to understand cause-and-effect relationships, while two others were conducted to determine each primate’s level of curiosity and exploratory behaviour.
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Its conclusion allowed researchers to obtain the fossil skulls of these animals, which were found in the Tangahoe Formation on New Zealand’s North Island.
It should be noted that the penguins have been attributed to a hitherto unknown species, which in turn belongs to the genus Eudyptula, which inhabits the territory of New Zealand and Australia. During the analysis, the researchers dated the penguins’ skulls to the period between 3.36 and 3.06 million years B.C., which corresponds to the late Pliocene. At the same time, their remains differed from modern individuals, so it was decided to attribute them to a new species called Eudyptula wilsonae.
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Scientists have discovered mysterious octagonal ‘stamps’ on the bottom of the Fram Strait. Investigations using remotely piloted vehicles revealed that the mysterious footprints were left by Dumbo octopuses as they fed.
These creatures inhabit the deep waters of all the Earth’s oceans, but remain little known. Their diet consists mainly of worms and crustaceans and their feeding strategy is similar to that of the holothurians.
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In particolare, l’azienda occidentale Oxitec ha modificato il genoma delle zanzare maschio in modo che la loro prole nascesse senza ali e non rappresentasse una minaccia per l’uomo, ma le zanzare femmina in Brasile hanno imparato a distinguere questi individui e a evitare di accoppiarsi con loro. Inoltre, esisteva un margine di errore che a volte faceva sì che queste zanzare producessero comunque una prole alata.
Ora i ricercatori hanno deciso di fare un ulteriore passo avanti e hanno inserito nelle zanzare una serie di due geni responsabili della produzione di due anticorpi che combattono l’agente causale della malaria – il plasmodium malaria. Allo stesso tempo, gli scienziati sono riusciti a far accoppiare i maschi di queste zanzare con le femmine, grazie alle quali i nuovi geni si sono diffusi rapidamente nella popolazione.
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In the 1980s, the area had about 1.2 thousand individuals, whereas today there are 800 left. There has also been a decrease in the number of cubs, whereas previously there were many cases of ‘triplets’.
As the ice melts, polar bears spend more time on land, up to 3-4 weeks. During this time, they do not have access to their usual prey, the seals, and thus to the high-calorie fats they need for survival. Staying on land, polar bears lose up to a kilo of weight per day. It is particularly difficult for pregnant females that come ashore in June and July.
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