Sperm whales’ communication closely parallels human language, study finds

The structure of sperm whales’ communications has close parallels with the phonetics of some human languages. The whales (Physeter macro­cephalus) communicate using a series of clicks called codas. The animals can differentiate the sound by changing the click’s length or using rising and falling tones, which researchers found follow patterns that resemble those used in human languages such as Mandarin and Slovenian. “We’re starting to see that these signals are organized in ways we didn’t fully appreciate before,” says behavioural ecologist Mauricio Cantor.

Human evolution sped up after farming

An analysis of DNA evidence from more than 15,000 ancient humans has revealed that human evolution has accelerated over the past 10,000 years. Researchers identified almost 500 gene variants that evolved through natural selection in ancient European and Middle-Eastern people after the dawn of agriculture. Many of those variants are linked to the resistance to diseases, such as tuberculosis. Accelerated evolution could reflect the intensification of lifestyle changes that started in the Neolithic period, such as new foods and pathogens, says population geneticist David Reich.

Sunbirds suck nectar with supple tongues

Sunbirds (Nectariniidae) drink nectar from flowers by generating suction with their tongues — the first example of a vertebrate creating suction without changing the shape of its mouth. As they drink, the birds repeatedly press their tongue against the roof of their beak and then release it. This motion flattens and re-forms a v-shaped groove along the length of the tongue, which researchers believe creates suction that pulls nectar into the birds’ mouths.

Quantum simulations verified by experiments for the first time

For the first time, physicists have matched detailed quantum-computer simulations to experimental data gathered from work with solid materials. Two teams of physicists achieved the feat independently: one simulated the physical properties of a magnetic material, such as its heat capacity, and the other modelled a different material’s response to being excited into a range of energy states. Both agreed with experimental data.