Some years ago, I went with my students to a dairy farm. When we entered the building in which the cows were kept at that […]
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When evolution leads to simplification
It is undeniable that in the beginning life on earth was simple and that more complex (e.g. multicellular) organisms evolved from simpler (unicellular) ones. However, we should not forget that in the process of evolution simpler forms can also arise from more complex ones. Here are some examples of that.
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Did you know that birds also make and use tool sets?
Recently, for the first time, scientists reported the manufacture and use of tool sets in non-primates: birds – Goffin’s cockatoos.
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Animals learning tricks
In this anniversary post, instead of going more in-depth into one specific case, I decided to show you some examples of what animals can learn – how flexible animal learning (and cognition) can be.
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The hidden depths of carp
It’s Christmas. In Poland, where I come from, the biggest celebration is the Christmas Eve dinner. Many families eat the same traditional dishes every year, […]
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Do sharks see optical illusions?
I really like optical illusions: interesting effects such as parallel straight lines looking like curves, or the identical lines looking longer or shorter depending on […]
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Do flowers use caffeine to attract more bees?
Caffeine was discovered in the nectar of many plants. And it appears that plants may actually use it to induce bees to increase their pollinator services, possibly to the bees’ detriment.
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Unwanted guests – blue butterfly caterpillars in ants’ nests
Some caterpillars (for example blue butterflies) need ants to survive and develop into adults. They spend a large part of their development in ants’ nests and trick the hosts into feeding them. Here is their story.
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Did you know that opening waste bins is a cultural trait in cockatoos?
I’ve written before about animal culture. I’ve also written about animals’ adaptation to urban life. This time I write about both: animal culture that is an adaptation to urban life.
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Did you know that some insects take care of their young?
There are some insects that go to great lengths to provide for their offspring. Maybe some you wouldn’t expect to do so, like earwigs, cockroaches or tsetse flies.
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