Desperate female spiders fight by different rules. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, June 7, 2010. In most animals the bigger, better fighter usually wins. But for the jumping spider Phidippus clarus, size and skill aren’t everything — what matters for Phidippus females is how badly they want to win. Picked up by U.S. News and World Report, Wired Science, and NOVA.
Road to royalty begins early in paper wasps
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The making of a queen: Road to royalty begins early in paper wasps. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, May 19, 2010. Social status in paper wasps is established earlier in life than scientists thought. Picked up by Life’s Little Mysteries.
DNA barcoding exposes fake ferns
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DNA barcoding exposes fake ferns in international plant trade. Duke Today, May 4, 2010. DNA testing of garden ferns sold at plant nurseries in North Carolina, Texas, and California has found that plants marketed as American natives may actually be exotic species from other parts of the globe. Picked up by the Raleigh News and Observer and the Charlotte Observer.
Scientists flag possible risks from soy formula
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Scientists flag possible risks from soy formula. Charlotte Observer, April 26, 2010. Soy formula has been used for decades as an alternative to milk formula for children who are lactose intolerant or whose families wish to maintain a vegan diet. In recent years, however, studies in laboratory animals have raised concerns about the safety of soy.
For deep sea animals, food can be a double-edged sword
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When the dinner bell rings for seafloor scavengers, larger animals get first dibs. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, April 5, 2010. Surplus food can be a double-edged sword for animals in the ocean deep. Picked up by Science News and Down to Earth Magazine.
Pine pollen still potent miles from the tree
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Gone with the wind: Far-flung pine pollen still potent miles from the tree. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, April 5, 2010. Pollen from the loblolly pine—the most commonly planted tree in the southern US—can still germinate after drifting long distances, which may make it difficult to contain transgenic trees. Picked up by Science News, the Raleigh News and Observer, and the Durham Herald-Sun.
Flowering plants may be older than previously thought
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Molecular study could push back angiosperm origins. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, March 15, 2010. Flowering plants may be considerably older than previously thought, says a new analysis of the plant family tree.
Africa’s rarest monkey had an intriguing sexual past
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Africa’s rarest monkey had an intriguing sexual past, DNA study confirms. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, November 9, 2009. Results may help to set conservation priorities for this critically endangered species. Picked up by National Geographic and MSNBC.
Male sabertoothed cats were pussycats
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Male sabertoothed cats were pussycats compared to macho lions. Duke Today, November 5, 2009. Despite their fearsome fangs, male sabertoothed cats may have been less aggressive than many of their feline cousins, says a new study of male-female size differences in extinct big cats. Picked up by the Durham Herald-Sun, Laelaps Science Blog, Fox News, MSNBC, and National Public Radio.
Are humans still evolving? Absolutely.
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Are humans still evolving? Absolutely, says a new analysis of a long-term study of human health. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, October 19, 2009. Although advances in medical care have improved standards of living over time, humans aren’t entirely sheltered from the forces of natural selection, a new study shows. Picked up by the Boston Globe, TIME, Science Magazine, NPR’s Science Friday, New Scientist, and Telegraph.
Woody plants adapted to past climate change more slowly than herbs
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Woody plants adapted to past climate change more slowly than herbs. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, September 23, 2009. Can we predict which species will be most vulnerable to climate change by studying how they responded in the past? If past is prelude, trees and shrubs may have a harder time keeping pace with global warming. Picked up by USA Today.
Freshwater fish at the top of the food chain evolve more slowly
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Freshwater fish at the top of the food chain evolve more slowly. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, August 28, 2009. Once fish evolve the size and speed needed to become top predators, natural selection keeps them in an evolutionary holding pattern, a new study finds.
New fossil tells how piranhas got their teeth
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New fossil tells how piranhas got their teeth. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, June 25, 2009. How did piranhas — the legendary freshwater fish with the razor bite — get their telltale teeth? An international team of researchers uncover a jawbone that sheds some light on the bite. Picked up by Science Magazine, National Geographic News, Fox News, US News and World Report, MSNBC, and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Mockingbirds in fickle climates sing fancier tunes
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Mockingbirds in fickle climates sing fancier tunes. Duke Today, May 21, 2009. Why are some birds simple singers and others vocal virtuosos? Researchers suspect that inconsistent climates may play a role. Picked up by theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation, USA Today, BBC News, Science News, Daily Telegraph, and Nature Research Highlights.
Prevent invasive plant species from taking over the Eno
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Prevent invasive plant species from taking over the Eno. Duke Today, August 28, 2008. A Duke biologist is arming citizens with hand-held GPS navigation devices to mark the locations of non-native plants along state park trails while they enjoy the park.