Meteor sheds light on watery solar system

Liquid water existed over a far wider area of the solar system than originally thought, a new study confirms.

Crows Test Human Intelligence

Researchers still do not understand what cognitive processes are used by the birds to solve problems set by humans.

Earth-sized world found next door

Scientists have found an Earth-sized planet circling a neighbour star just four light-years away.

Scientists measure cosmic “exit door”

Researchers have for the first time measured the closest distance at which matter can approach before being irretrievably pulled into the black hole at the centre of a distant galaxy. The finding could shed light on how galaxies evolve and on the correctness of Einstein’s theories.

Slave ant “rebellions” found to be common

Ants held as slaves in nests of other ant species often damage their oppressors through acts of sabotage.

Giant black holes from chaotic early era coming to light

Cutting-edge sky surveys have revealed a previously unseen group of giant, fast-growing black holes from a violent early period in cosmic history.  The findings could have special significance because they shed light on how huge black holes and galaxies shaped each other’s early development.

Fossil said to be earliest to show complex brain

A remarkably well-preserved fossil of an extinct, worm-like animal reveals that anatomically complex brains evolved earlier than previously thought.  Found in rock formed from mud deposits during the Cambrian period 520 million years ago, the roughly 7cm fossil represents a primitive arthropod.

DNA 'half life'

Reconstructing dinosaurs from ancient DNA has been dealt a blow with a new study finding genetic material can only last one million years.  An international team of researchers reached the finding after analysing DNA extracted from bones of the extinct New Zealand moa. They found that while short fragments of DNA could possibly survive up to one million years, sequences of 30 base pairs or more would only have a 'half-life' of around 158,000 years under certain conditions.

Racing star could confirm Einstein's theory

Astronomers have found evidence of a star racing tightly around the monstrous black hole at the heart of our galaxy - the closest ever found near the matter-sucking body.

Trails help slime moulds to navigate

Slime moulds leave a gooey trail behind them to remember where they've been.  The findings suggest early life forms developed such externalised spatial "memory" to navigate, long before the evolution of brains.

Frogs hit high notes to ward off competition

Male orange-eyed tree frogs trill to advertise their size not to prospective mates, but to other males.