Natural History
UF study shows spiders, not birds, may drive evolution of some butterflies
Butterflies are among the most vibrant insects, with colorations sometimes designed to deflect predators. New University of Florida research shows some of these defenses may be driven by enemies one-tenth their size.
Natural History
Earth Is Warmer Today Than During 70 to 80 Percent of the Past 11,300 Years
With data from 73 ice and sediment core monitoring sites around the world, scientists have reconstructed Earth's temperature history back to the end of the last Ice Age.
Natural History
The making of Antarctica’s hidden fjords
Antarctica's topography began changing from flat to fjord-filled starting about 34 million years ago, according to a new report from a University of Arizona-led team of geoscientists.
Natural History
Toxic oceans may have delayed spread of complex life
A new model suggests that inhospitable hydrodgen-sulphide rich waters could have delayed the spread of complex life forms in ancient oceans.
Natural History
Caves point to thawing of Siberia
Evidence from Siberian caves suggests that a global temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius could see permanently frozen ground thaw over a large area of Siberia, threatening release of carbon from soils, and damage to natural and human environments.
Natural History
Volcanic aerosols, not pollutants, tamped down recent Earth warming, says CU-Boulder study
A team led by the University of Colorado Boulder looking for clues about why Earth did not warm as much as scientists expected between 2000 and 2010 now thinks the culprits are hiding in plain sight -- dozens of volcanoes spewing sulfur dioxide.
Natural History
Snails signal a humid Mediterranean
An international team of researchers has shown that old wives' tales that snails can tell us about the weather should not be dismissed too hastily.
Natural History
Greenland ice cores provide vision of the future
Ice cores drilled in the Greenland ice sheet, recounting the history of the last great warming period more than 120,000 years ago, are giving scientists their clearest insight to a world that was warmer than today.
Natural History
Warning signs from ancient Greek tsunami
San Francisco -- In the winter of 479 B.C., a tsunami was the savior of Potidaea, drowning hundreds of Persian invaders as they lay siege to the ancient Greek village.
Natural History
Scans Catch Prehistoric Mite Hitching Ride On 50 Million Year Old Spider
Scientists have produced amazing three-dimensional images of a prehistoric mite as it hitched a ride on the back of a 50 million-year-old spider.
Natural History
Decline and recovery of coral reefs linked to 700 years of human and environmental activity
Degradation of coral reefs has been contributed to by human activity
Natural History
Ancient wild horses help unlock past
The lack of genetic diversity in modern horses has been shown to be caused by methods of modern domestication processes.