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The scientists found large whales such as humpbacks and North Atlantic right whales were among the most vulnerable to climate change, and that other toothed whales and dolphins were also at high risk. The scientists looked at the animals' degree of exposure to climate change and sensitivity and capacity to adapt to it. “The U.S. is one of the most data-rich countries when it comes to marine mammals, and those data should be driving what are arguably some of the world’s strongest laws to protect marine mammals," she said. But the way climate change affects the giant animals is global in nature, so the broader approach is helpful, she said. Climate change also could affect the distribution and behavior of marine mammals, the study states.

Persons: Matthew Lettrich, ” Lettrich, Regina Asmutis, Silvia, “, Laura Ganley, Ganley, ”, Gib Brogan, ” Brogan, Patrick Whittle Organizations: —, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, U.S, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Conservation, Anderson Cabot Center, Ocean, New, Aquarium, AP Locations: PORTLAND, Maine, U.S, North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Massachusetts, Boston, New England, United States, of Maine, Georgia, Florida, Canada, Oceana

☆ Being a vegetarian might be in your DNA
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The study published Wednesday in PLOS One found that there are four genes associated with how well someone is able to adhere to a vegetarian lifestyle. Several of the genes that the study found to be associated with vegetarianism had to do with metabolizing lipids, Yaseen said. Although this study may not provide a definitive answer, it is an important look into nutrition, he said. “This study shines a light on a relatively under-explored area of research: the genetics behind dietary preferences,” Ordovás said. “The association of genetic variants with long-term strict vegetarianism suggests a biological basis for this dietary choice, beyond just cultural, ethical, or environmental reasons.”

Persons: ”, Nabeel Yaseen, Yaseen, José Ordovás, Ordovás, ” Yaseen, ” Ordovás, “ Organizations: CNN, PLOS, Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, Tufts University Locations: Massachusetts

☆ The Zoom backgrounds that make you look more - or less - trustworthy, according to experts
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Lianne Kolirin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

That’s according to new research, which looks at how people’s choice of Zoom background could be helping or hindering them. And we found that the living room and novelty backgrounds were the worst,” he said. Not everyone has a home office but yet there’s something that still seems a little unserious [about a home or novelty background]. “We found that generally smiling makes you look more trustworthy and competent, no matter what the background,” he said. “Female faces were also rated as more trustworthy and more competent, regardless of the background they were using,” the researchers wrote.

Persons: Paddy Ross, bookcases, ”, “, …, ” Ross, Ross Organizations: CNN, United Kingdom’s Durham University, Durham University

☆ Ancient humans dug up remains of ancestors to use as tools, study suggests
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Researchers working at a cave in southern Spain have found evidence that the skeletal remains of ancient humans buried there were dug up, modified and even used as tools by subsequent generations. While these types of remains are known as “skull cups,” that doesn’t necessarily mean they were used as containers, Milella said. “Modification and manipulation of human remains are indeed well known for this time, with examples also from the same region. In that sense, Marmoles Cave is consistent with what we know about the funerary behavior of these cultures,” he said. And it is also possible that those who modified the remains may have known the people that they belonged to when they were alive.

Persons: los, Vera Rodríguez, –, Marco Milella, Milella, “, ” Organizations: CNN, University of Bern, Cueva Locations: Spain, Switzerland, Granada

☆ Ancient people may have used human skulls for cups and other body parts for tools, according to a burial site in Spain
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Almost 6,000 years ago, communities used a cave in Spain as a burial place. AdvertisementAdvertisementScraping and cutting of these bones left traces "that can only be attributed to human action," Martínez Sánchez said. "The actions of fragmenting and manipulating the bones may well be related to specific ritual events performed inside the cave," Martínez Sánchez said. "They're often viewed as sort of passageways to another world to the ancestors, to other kinds of worlds that are seen as sacred liminal spaces, spaces that are somewhere in between the land and the living and the land of the ancestors," she said. There's a chance they may have disturbed the human remains as well.

Persons: Cueva, los, Rafael, Martínez, Katina Lillios, wasn't, Martínez Sánchez, Lillios, It's, There's Organizations: Service, University of Cordoba, University of Iowa Locations: Spain, Wall, Silicon, Iberia, Western Europe

☆ Whales swimming behind fishing vessels catch an easy feast of escaped fish, but experts warn this 'free meal' is risky, potentially lethal behavior
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Rupendra Brahambhatt | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Sperm and bottlenose whales are known to pursue fishing boats to catch fish that escape the nets. Hal Whitehead, a sperm whale expert and biology professor at Dalhousie University, told Insider. What's even more interesting is that it's not only whales that have learned to catch fish escaping the fishermen's nets. Usua Oyarbide"As time goes on we hear more and more reports of everything from sperm whales to dolphins doing this. "I've known about sperm whales being engaged with different fisheries but I wasn't aware northern Bottlenose whales show similar behavior, so I've learned something new."

Persons: It's, Whales, Usua, Usua Oyarbide, Oyarbide, Hal Whitehead, wasn't, Andrew Trites, Vince Streano, Whitehead, Trites, I've Organizations: Service, Greenland, Dalhousie University, Marine Mammal Research, University of British, International Whaling Commission, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration Locations: Wall, Silicon, Newfoundland, Greenland, University of British Columbia, Canada, Africa, China, Australia

☆ Skull reshaping was practiced for centuries in ancient Japan by men and women
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Modified skulls found in an ancient burial site in Japan were deliberately reshaped in both men and women as an expression of collective identity. It’s possible, the researchers suggested, that the Hirota cranial reshaping played a part in their trading success. For the new study, the scientists 3D-scanned and digitally modeled 19 adult Hirota skulls to conduct more detailed morphological analysis. Certain indentations were also identified in Hirota skulls but were absent in those of Jomon and Doigahama individuals. At the Hirota site, each marker indicates where burials were found along with the notes on their sex and approximate age group.

Persons: ”, Noriko Seguchi, James Frances Loftus III, ” Seguchi, Loftus, Seguchi, —, crania Organizations: CNN, Faculty of Social, Studies, Kyushu University, Kyushu University Museum Locations: Japan, Tanegashima, Asia, Europe, Germany, Croatia, China, Central America, Mexico, Americas

☆ Ancient reptile was riddled with parasites, fossilized poop reveals
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Researchers didn’t find the parasites in phytosaur bones or teeth; rather, they retrieved them from a nugget of fossilized feces, known as a coprolite. For example, certain fish with spiraling intestines poop out what eventually become spiral-shaped coprolites, according to Nonsrirach. “Studying the remains of parasites in coprolites is important since it provides us with rare insights into ancient parasite-host relationships,” Qvarnström said. “This event raises interesting questions about how prey animals and parasites interact with each other. It suggests that parasites may have been inside the bodies of prey before they were eaten,” Nonsrirach said.

Persons: didn’t, ”, Thanit Nonsrirach, “, Nonsrirach, Coprolites, Martin Qvarnström, Qvarnström, ” Qvarnström, ” Nonsrirach, ” Mindy Weisberger Organizations: CNN, Mahasarakham, Uppsala University, University of California Museum of Paleontology, Scientific Locations: Thailand, Asia, Kham Riang, Sweden, Berkeley, coprolites

☆ This time of day is when workers make the most errors, according to a new study
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Aditi Shrikant | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Employee productivity and accuracy decreases during the afternoon, according to a recently published study in the science journal PLOS ONE. Unlike other studies which examine worker productivity, this one doesn't rely on self-evaluations or manager feedback. Instead, researchers tracked computer usage metrics like typing speed, mouse activity, and typing errors. Afternoons tended to be when most typing errors were made. And on Friday afternoons, specifically, there was a decrease in computer activity and increase in typos.

Persons: Taehyun Roh, ScienceDaily.com Organizations: Texas, M University

☆ Ornate necklace found in an ancient grave site of a child and reassembled
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Researchers have reassembled an ancient ornate necklace discovered in the grave of a child who lived in the Neolithic village of Ba’ja in what’s now southern Jordan. More than 2,500 colorful stone and shell beads were found in the grave, which was dated between 7400 and 6800 BC. In 2018, researchers discovered the grave of an 8-year-old child buried in a fetal position. Instead, researchers focused on the beads and the story they might tell about the child as well as Neolithic funerary practices. Decoding ancient meaningThe intricate design of the necklace, one of the oldest and most impressive Neolithic ornaments yet discovered, suggests the child was of high social status.

Persons: Hala Alarashi, Alice Burkhardt, Ba, It’s, ” Alarashi, ” Organizations: CNN —, Spanish National Research Council, University of Côte, Petra Museum Locations: Ba’ja, what’s, Jordan, Petra

☆ Big-headed Jurassic sea turtle’s fossil is the most complete ever found
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Few complete fossils of this Jurassic sea turtle, named Solnhofia parsonsi, have been discovered. Today’s marine turtle species all have elongated, rigid flippers to propel them through the ocean depths. But the newly described fossil’s limbs were stumpier than those of modern sea turtles relative to its body size. An artistic reconstruction shows the extinct sea turtle in its coastal marine environment. The newly described fossil presents a far more complete view of those limbs, showing that they differed dramatically from the extremities of sea turtles alive today.

Persons: Solnhofia, parsonsi, ”, Felix Augustin, Augustin, Márton Rabi, Peter Nickolaus S, ” Augustin, Rabi, ” Rabi, Mindy Weisberger Organizations: CNN, geosciences, University of Tübingen, University of Tübingen’s, Scientific Locations: Europe, Germany, Bavaria, Switzerland

☆ A Pancaked Turtle Fossil’s 150-Million-Year-Old Tale
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Asher Elbein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The hyper-saline, oxygen-poor conditions of these waters prevented scavengers from disturbing the bodies of animals that died in the lagoons. The area’s latest find is a beautifully preserved — if pancaked — turtle. Described in an article published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One, the specimen represents an approach to marine life unlike that of any shelled reptile today. The turtle’s name is Solnhofia, said Felix Augustin, a paleontologist at the University of Tübingen in Germany and an author of the study. Originally named in 1975, for decades the creature was known only from a pair of skulls found in Bavaria and Switzerland.

Persons: Felix Augustin Organizations: University of Tübingen Locations: Bavaria, Germany, Switzerland

☆ These ancient Egyptian paintings were hiding a secret
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.CNN —Researchers using a cutting-edge technique have discovered hidden details in two ancient Egyptian paintings in the Theban Necropolis, near the River Nile, that date back more than 3,000 years. Using portable chemical imaging technology, the researchers identified alterations made by the artists that are rare in Egyptian paintings, commonly thought to be the product of highly formalized workflows. We want to understand how these paintings were made.”X-ray fluorescence in chemical imaging technology helps to reveal alterations made in Egyptian tomb paintings that may not seem obvious to the naked eye. “It demonstrates the potential value of quantitative data, obtained through scientific analysis, for a more comprehensive and less subjective interpretation of ancient Egyptian art,” she said. “And the adaption of portable (X-ray) instruments as mobile devices designed for use in the field is a very exciting advancement in the study of ancient Egyptian wall paintings.”

Persons: ”, Philippe Martinez, Amenhotep III, Mona Lisa of Egypt, ” Martinez, “, Menna, Osiris, Ramesses II, Martinez, I’m, ” Joann Fletcher, Lorelei Corcoran Organizations: CNN —, Sorbonne University, MAFTO, UK’s University of York, of Egyptian Art, University of Memphis Locations: Paris, Egypt, Menna, Luxor, Tennessee

☆ Saber-Tooth Cats and Dire Wolves Carried a Terrible Disease in Their Bones
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Miriam Fauzia | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Some 50,000 to 10,000 years ago as ice sheets melted and the planet warmed, around 100 species of gigantic animals started to disappear without a trace. Paleontologists have sought to understand exactly how these animals died off, including iconic predators like the saber-tooth cat and the dire wolf. Some hypotheses suggest stiff competition for limited food aggravated by the arrival of humans and gray wolves. But new evidence suggests a bone disease that can debilitate modern cats and dogs, and even some of their humans, may have also played a role. In a paper published Wednesday in the journal PLoS One, researchers report that as the climate shifted, the bones of saber-tooth cats and dire wolves became riddled with defects associated with osteochondrosis dissecans, or OCD, a severe developmental disease where holes form in bone caused by developing tissue that never hardened.

Persons: osteochondrosis dissecans, Mairin Balisi, Raymond M, Alf Organizations: Alf Museum of Paleontology, Claremont , Calif Locations: Claremont ,

☆ Being overweight not linked to dying early, study says, but questions remain
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Being overweight as defined by the body mass index rating scale is not linked to an increase in death when considered separately from other health issues, a new study found. “The use of the word ‘overweight’ is misleading here, as it excludes anyone with a BMI above 30. “This paper found an unequivocal association between BMI and mortality, before and after adjustment for risk factors,” said Leurent, who was not involved in the study. Being overweight may not lead to an early death, but may add to the risk of chronic disease, experts say. While the study did control for smoking and a variety of other diseases linked to early death, that information was only gathered once for each person in the survey.

Persons: ”, Aayush, Rutgers Robert Wood, ’, Baptiste Leurent, Leurent, Robert H, Shmerling, “, Soko, Visaria, Naveed Sattar, ” Sattar, Tom Sanders, Beth, they’ve, It’s, ” Visaria, it’s, University of Glasgow’s Sattar Organizations: CNN, BMI, US Centers for Disease Control, Rutgers, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University College London, Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School, Rutgers School of Public Health, University of Glasgow, King’s College London, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical, “, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, University of Glasgow’s Locations: New Brunswick , New Jersey, Boston, Scotland, “

☆ Virtually every orca in an endangered North American group is suffering from mysterious skin lesions, say scientists
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

There has been an increase in skin disease in Pacfic north-west killer whales, a new study found. There is a possible connection between the skin lesions and the declining condition of the orcas. The study found that 99% of the animals examined exhibited the skin disease. Southern Resident killer whale showing gray targets in saddle patch on October 18, 2014. This comes during a growing interest in orcas after increasing killer whale boat interactions in other waters.

Persons: —, Joe Gaydos, UC Davis, Joseph K Gaydos Organizations: Service, Privacy, PLOS ONE, UC, Center for Whale Research Locations: Pacfic, orcas, Southern, British Columbia, Washington

☆ Shattering the myth of men as hunters and women as gatherers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But researchers have found that women in foraging societies were often the ones bringing home the bacon (and other prey, too). Of the 63 foraging communities examined, 50 had records documenting women hunting. Women hunted game of all sizes, “with large game pursued the most,” the study authors reported. Women also used specialized tools: In the Philippines, for example, Agta women hunted with knives, bows and arrows, or a combination of the two weapons, depending on personal preference. In many of the groups, it seemed as though women had a more flexible approach to hunting than men did, Wall-Scheffler said.

Persons: Cara Wall, Scheffler, “, ”, Vivek Venkataraman, ” Venkataraman, Venkataraman, ” Mindy Weisberger Organizations: CNN, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle Pacific, Charles University, University of Calgary, Scientific Locations: Czech Republic, Philippines, Canada

☆ Some of the earliest-known cave drawings were from Neanderthals, not humans, and they're 57,000 years old
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

57,000-year-old engravings on the walls of a French cave may have been the work of Neanderthals. The oldest Neanderthal cave engravingsThe markings are made up of lines, squiggles, and dots, likely made by fingers instead of tools. On the left are some curved lines and on the right are more wavy lines that researchers say were made by Neanderthals. Tim Schoon, University of IowaThough early researchers considered Neanderthals less advanced than humans, more recent findings have complicated that view. In 2018, researchers estimated a group of Spanish cave paintings were 65,000 years old and made by Neanderthals.

Persons: —, Claude Marquet, Shara Bailey, Homo sapiens, would've, Tim Schoon, It's, Bailey, sapiens, Cotard, lithics, La Organizations: Service, ONE, University of Tours, New York University, La Roche, University of Iowa Locations: France, La, Europe, Western Europe

☆ French cave markings may be oldest known engravings by Neanderthals
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Made by dragging fingers across relatively soft rock, lines, swirls and dots on the walls of a cave in France are the oldest known engravings by Neanderthals, according to a new analysis of the ancient marks. The finding adds to a growing body of evidence that Neanderthals — who have been characterized as dim-witted cave dwellers — were creative beings and more complex than the stereotype suggests. Neanderthals’ ‘deliberate composition’To understand how the markings were made and whether they were intentional, the researchers made detailed 3D models of the engravings from photographs of the Loire Valley’s La Roche-Cotard cave using a process known as photogrammetry. Based on the shape, spacing and arrangement of these engravings, the team concluded that markings in eight panels in La Roche-Cotard cave were intentional shapes and patterns created by human hands. At some cave sites in Spain, there’s evidence — albeit contentious — that Neanderthals created abstract motifs and hand stencils.

Persons: Jean, Claude Marquet, Cotard, La Roche, JC Marquet Organizations: CNN, University of Tours Locations: France, La Roche, Europe, Bulgaria, Spain

☆ The Secret in the Spots on Monarch Butterflies’ Wings
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Kate Golembiewski | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Every fall, monarch butterflies embark on one of nature’s greatest journeys. These insects flap more than 2,000 miles from their summer homes in Canada down to the mountains of central Mexico. Researchers have found a shared trait in the butterflies that make it: The edges of their wings tend to be slightly spottier. He added, “All of a sudden, it seems like they’re really important.”Monarch wings are mostly orange, but their edges are black, punctuated with tiny white spots. Dr. Davis was curious if those black edges contributed to monarchs’ migratory capabilities.

Persons: ”, Andy Davis, Davis, Mostafa Hassanalian Organizations: University of Georgia, New Mexico Institute of Mining, Technology Locations: Canada, Mexico

☆ Scientists were 'shocked' to discover that juvenile white sharks regularly venture near swimmers and surfers but don't attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Rupendra Brahambhatt | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Juvenile white sharks grow up to become great white sharks, known for being dangerous to humans. Why juvenile white sharks swim near humans so oftenFrom the researchers' drone footage, it may look like juvenile white sharks like to hang around swimmers and surfers. The shallow water near the beaches "is actually the natural habitat the juvenile white sharks use. Why juvenile white sharks don't typically attack humansAlthough great white sharks are infamous for attacking humans, the actual number of attacks is low. However, it doesn't mean the risk of a bite from a juvenile great white is zero — it's just very low.

Persons: —, Sean DuFrene, Christopher Lowe, Carlos Guana, you'll, that's, it's, Yannis Papastamatiou, Stephen Frink, Catherine Macdonald, Patrick Rex, Macdonald, there's, Alexis Rosenfeld, Rex, Brett Monroe Garner, Papastamatiou, Carlos Gauna Organizations: Service, California State University Long, CSULB, Boston Herald, Florida International University, Stingrays, University of Miami Shark Research, Conservation Program, Animal Foundation Locations: California

☆ Rare North American dinosaur named for two-faced Roman god
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Investigating a new speciesThe newfound species, named Iani (YAH-nee) smithi, is the first early ornithopod from this part of the Cretaceous to be discovered in North America. Terry Gates and Lindsay Zanno excavated the bones of Iani smithi from the Cedar Mountain Formation in Utah in 2014. The braincase of Iani smithi was recovered during excavations. Drawers of Iani smithi bones can be seen in the collections at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. “Perhaps ornithopod species evolved a certain way or adopted certain behaviors to succeed,” she said.

Persons: —, ornithopods, Ornithopods, Darla Zelenitsky, Terry Gates, Lindsay Zanno, Matt Zeher, ” Zelenitsky, Janus, Zanno, ” Zanno, smithi, Mark Thiessen, Becky Hale, Zelenitsky, ” Organizations: CNN, geoscience, University of Calgary, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina State University, Geographic Locations: Utah, North America, Canada, Raleigh, Europe, Australia

☆ Kids who live with pets may be less prone to food allergies, recent study shows—here's what an allergist says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Renée Onque | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The strongest benefit was seen in kids who lived with dogs that were kept inside of the house, and for families who owned pets during a child's fetal development and early infancy. Owning dogs during a child's early development was associated with a lower risk of milk, egg and nut allergies, according to the new study. There wasn't a strong association found between food allergies and ownership of birds, turtles and hamsters. Research thus far has been conflicting about if having pets while a child is young is actually helpful for preventing the development of food allergies, Kwiat tells CNBC Make It. "Some studies show that early exposure to furred animal dander does protect against food allergies.

Persons: Carolyn Kwiat Organizations: CNBC Locations: Mount Sinai

☆ China, birthplace of COVID, lays tracks for a new global health crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

Bat viruses have been the source of multiple health crises besides those related to coronaviruses, including recent outbreaks of Ebola, Nipah, and Marburg. Partners in risk The total area at high risk for bat viruses to infect humans more than doubled in size in Laos between 2002 and 2020. The animals, known to be susceptible to bat viruses, included raccoon dogs, bamboo rats and porcupines. As China boomed in recent decades, global demand for rubber also skyrocketed, leading to further development and deforestation here. Already, scientists have found local bats bearing viruses closely related to those responsible for the 2003 SARS and COVID-19 pandemics.

☆ Desert Monoliths Reveal World’s Oldest Architectural Plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Priyanka Runwal | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Massive prehistoric stone structures found in desert landscapes from Saudi Arabia to Kazakhstan have baffled archaeologists for decades. Each can stretch for up to a few miles, and resembles a kite with tail strings in overall shape. Recent studies have built a consensus that the so-called desert kites were used to trap and kill wild animal herds. Engraved between 7,000 and 9,000 years ago, these representations are by far the oldest known to-scale architectural plans recorded in human history, the team reported on Wednesday in the journal PLOS ONE. They also highlight how carefully planned the desert kites may have been by the ancient peoples who relied on them.

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