https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/behavior/ Animal behavior news. Scientific research on altruism in animals; bullying, anti-predator behavior, weird eating and mating habits and more. en-us Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:14:27 EDT Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:14:27 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/behavior/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261014015457.htm A 120-million-year-old fossil forgotten in a museum for nearly a century has revealed a terrifying new dinosaur that may have been more dangerous to humans than a T. rex. The tiger-sized predator also provides the first evidence of megaraptorans in Europe, helping explain how these mysterious dinosaurs eventually became gigantic hunters. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:51:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261014015457.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261014001406.htm A massive prehistoric snake discovered in India may have rivaled the largest snake ever known. Called Vasuki indicus, the 47-million-year-old giant could have reached up to 50 feet long, making it comparable to the legendary Titanoboa. Scientists believe its enormous body made it a slow-moving ambush predator, similar to a modern anaconda. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 01:44:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261014001406.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261012185005.htm A 165-million-year-old fossil has revealed an extraordinary Jurassic predator that may help explain how mammals developed one of their most important evolutionary advantages. Although only 20 inches long, Megacauda sungei was a heavyweight among early mammal relatives, swimming through ancient waterways and hunting prey with specialized teeth. Its advanced swallowing anatomy reveals an early step toward the ability to safely nurse on milk, a key development in mammalian evolution. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 06:44:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261012185005.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005071535.htm Giving zoo lions whole carcasses on a feast-and-fast schedule appears to bring out more natural behavior. The lions spent nearly three times longer feeding, engaged in more tearing and manipulating of food, and rested more heavily after meals. Their activity then increased gradually during the fasting period, closely resembling the rhythm seen in wild lions. Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:46:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005071535.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005071529.htm A study comparing 100 primate species, including humans, suggests that everyday aggression and lethal violence did not evolve as part of the same simple behavioral spectrum. Species that frequently fight or show mild aggression are not necessarily more likely to kill rivals, while extreme acts such as infanticide and lethal attacks appear to follow their own evolutionary patterns. Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:22:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005071529.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005012230.htm Scientists discovered that disrupting the chemical messages bacteria use to communicate can push dental plaque toward a healthier microbial balance. The approach could lead to new treatments for gum disease that control harmful bacteria without destroying beneficial species. Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:55:00 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005012230.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020315.htm Scientists have identified two new species of large Australian stick insects, including one that lays extraordinary “lidded” eggs never before recorded in the group. The discovery also revealed that a familiar stick insect had been misidentified for decades, showing how much biodiversity may still be hiding in plain sight. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:59:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020315.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020257.htm A new protective fabric boosted strawberry yields by as much as 3.56 times while blocking insects and still allowing sunlight, rain, and airflow to reach the plants. Originally inspired by research on military clothing, Plant Armor could also help farms reduce pesticide and water use. Thu, 01 Oct 2026 09:43:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260930020257.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053531.htm A huge genomic and fossil study suggests bats first evolved in Europe around 65 to 60 million years ago before spreading across the globe. The findings also indicate that flight and echolocation emerged near the beginning of bat evolution, potentially helping explain how bats became one of the most successful mammal groups on Earth. Wed, 30 Sep 2026 01:12:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260929053531.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222410.htm Genetic evidence has revealed a previously unknown gentoo penguin species on the remote Kerguelen Islands and shown that gentoos actually consist of four distinct species. The discovery also highlights a growing threat, as warming oceans could leave several island populations with little suitable habitat by 2050. Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:11:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260920222410.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919025248.htm A chemical that stops drywood termites from building new exoskeletons killed about 95% of colonies in testing, offering a potentially safer alternative to traditional fumigation. Because termites eventually have no choice but to molt, the treatment turns a normal stage of their life cycle into a fatal weakness. Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:29:12 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260919025248.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913081913.htm Captive-raised saltwater crocodiles released into Bangladesh’s Sundarbans surprised scientists by settling into the wild rather than trying to return to their breeding facility. The result suggests that releasing larger, mature captive crocodiles could help restore depleted populations more successfully than relying only on vulnerable hatchlings. Mon, 14 Sep 2026 09:46:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260913081913.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003901.htm Britain’s wasps have become mysteriously scarce this summer, and scientists suspect an unusual combination of temperature swings, heatwaves, and food shortages may be responsible. Even the wasps that remain appear unusually small, potentially offering a glimpse of how extreme heat could reshape insect populations. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 07:38:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003901.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003852.htm Long-lived bats appear to combine powerful immune defenses with unusual strategies for eliminating damaged cells, potentially helping them avoid cancer and disease for decades. Researchers hope these genetic tricks could eventually reveal new ways to protect human health during aging. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 20:25:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003852.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003849.htm A feather discovered inside 66-million-year-old fossilized dinosaur poop may help explain why modern birds survived the asteroid catastrophe. The extinct bird it came from had more primitive insulating feathers, suggesting superior plumage may have helped the ancestors of living birds endure the deadly impact winter. Fri, 11 Sep 2026 19:47:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260911003849.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005145.htm Insects quietly hold much of the natural world together, yet conservation efforts are overlooking the tropical regions where more than 80 percent of insect species live. Monash University researchers have developed a global framework to close this gap by combining scientific studies with museum collections, local expertise, citizen science, social media records, and new technologies. Wed, 09 Sep 2026 02:30:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260909005145.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201558.htm The extinct “American cheetah” was not really a cheetah at all, but a puma relative with an unexpectedly flexible lifestyle. Fossils from the Yukon suggest northern populations survived partly by eating fish, possibly including salmon, while southern cats hunted on land. Tue, 08 Sep 2026 07:58:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260907201558.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260906170145.htm A critically endangered roloway monkey has given birth just months after surgeons performed an unusual operation that saved her foot from amputation. Her new daughter, Lagertha, is an important addition to a species believed to number fewer than 2,000 in the wild. Mon, 07 Sep 2026 22:09:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260906170145.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234518.htm A substance found in edible sea squirts appeared to reverse several signs of aging in older mice. Plasmalogen supplements improved memory and learning, strengthened connections between brain cells, reduced inflammation, and even helped the mice grow thicker, darker hair. Researchers believe the compounds may encourage brain regeneration and protect aging synapses. Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:29:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260902234518.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010713.htm Scientists discovered that more than 500 species of vesper bats possess two separate sets of antibody genes, an immune arrangement never before found in mammals. The surprising system could help explain how bats tolerate so many viruses without becoming seriously ill. Thu, 03 Sep 2026 07:56:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/09/260901010713.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831015200.htm A meter-long scorpion with massive pincers stalked ancient Britain 415 million years ago, long before forests and the better-known age of giant insects. Its surprising size and possible semi-aquatic lifestyle could reshape ideas about how early arthropods became giants. Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:23:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260831015200.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829235942.htm Wild monkeys in West Africa can climb vertical tree trunks using foot flexibility scientists did not realize they possessed. The discovery challenges a key assumption about what the last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees looked like and how it moved. Mon, 31 Aug 2026 08:38:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260829235942.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010516.htm Ancient teeth and human DNA are revealing a surprising history of insect eating. Modern humans in northern Eurasia appear to have eaten insects only occasionally, while Neanderthals may have consumed them much more regularly. Populations near the tropics also retained genes that make insect exoskeletons easier to digest. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 08:18:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010516.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010455.htm Ancient fossils suggest insects conquered land through a long amphibious phase rather than making an abrupt jump from water to dry ground. A newly identified 324-million-year-old species still carried paddle-like abdominal limbs, revealing an evolutionary bridge between aquatic ancestors and modern six-legged insects. Thu, 27 Aug 2026 03:22:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260827010455.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260826055506.htm Some chimpanzees in West Africa repeatedly throw rocks at particular trees, creating piles of stones that can remain in use for more than a decade. Researchers think this unusual behavior may be cultural and could serve as a form of communication, territorial signaling, or something more symbolic. Camera traps and audio recordings are now being used to reveal who throws the stones and how nearby chimpanzees respond. Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:07:11 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260826055506.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260819041226.htm Miocene South America was packed with giant prey—and the predators hunting them were just as spectacular. Fossil bite marks suggest crocodylians, especially the enormous Purussaurus neivensis, were more important predators than mammals in this ancient tropical ecosystem. At around seven meters long, Purussaurus may even have helped control populations of giant herbivores. Wed, 19 Aug 2026 05:55:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260819041226.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045552.htm Scientists have long thought an unusual genetic system helped ants, bees, and wasps evolve their extraordinary social colonies. A massive new analysis suggests that genetics alone can’t explain it—and the real secret may lie in other traits unique to these insects. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 09:25:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260813045552.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260801093740.htm A massive crocodilian capable of attacking dinosaurs has been brought back to life as the first scientifically accurate mounted skeleton of Deinosuchus schwimmeri. The 31-foot replica at Georgia’s Tellus Science Museum was built from detailed fossil scans and more than 40 years of research by paleontologist Dr. David Schwimmer, for whom the species was named. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:50:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260801093740.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729051519.htm Ant parenting may have evolved from the same brain systems that once controlled hunger. Researchers found that two chemical signals push clonal raider ants toward either caring for larvae or leaving to forage, with the balance changing as the ants grow older. Similar signals are involved in mammalian caregiving, suggesting that evolution may have followed the same basic blueprint across very different animals. Sat, 01 Aug 2026 09:01:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260729051519.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727012134.htm Bumblebees naturally have short lives, but extreme heat and human activity are making survival harder. Pesticides can poison bees or destroy the flowers they depend on, while habitat loss leaves them with fewer safe places to live and feed. Protecting native plants and using fewer chemicals could help these vital pollinators recover. Wed, 29 Jul 2026 08:05:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727012134.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260726015241.htm Lake fly larvae plunge more than 200 meters into Lake Malawi each day to hide from predators, using tiny air sacs to control their depth. A rubber-like material called resilin lets them expand or shrink the sacs by changing their pH. Their toughness challenges a popular explanation for why insects are absent from the open ocean. Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:37:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260726015241.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260725105554.htm Researchers say a tiny one-eyed ancestor that lived nearly 600 million years ago may have shaped the evolution of every vertebrate eye, including our own. They also found that its ancient median eye lives on today as the pineal gland, which helps synchronize our sleep with daylight. Sun, 26 Jul 2026 01:10:29 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260725105554.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032117.htm Researchers found that specific brain circuits help decide which jobs bees perform as they age. When those circuits were switched off, older worker bees began caring for the queen again instead of carrying out their normal later-life duties. The findings reveal that a bee colony’s complex division of labor may be guided by neural switches hidden inside each bee’s brain. Wed, 22 Jul 2026 21:10:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260722032117.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260714225540.htm Humans are often described as the planet's ultimate "super-predator," but wild animals do not fear every human the same way. After analyzing three decades of research, scientists found that animals become much more alert and spend less time feeding when people pose a real threat, such as hunters or fishers. In contrast, tourists, researchers, and other non-lethal humans trigger far weaker and less predictable reactions. Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:04:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260714225540.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260713000811.htm A fossilized Edmontosaurus skull with a Tyrannosaurus tooth still embedded in its face has given scientists rare evidence of a dramatic predator-prey encounter. The discovery suggests the giant carnivore delivered an incredibly powerful face-to-face bite, offering new clues about how Tyrannosaurus hunted. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 02:48:52 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260713000811.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260710003540.htm Two striking Asian praying mantis species that have rapidly spread across Europe have now been officially classified as invasive, raising new concerns about their impact on native wildlife. Boosted by climate change and urban environments, these fast-breeding predators are expanding northward, where they prey on native insects, pollinators, and even small vertebrates while also reducing native mantis populations through deadly mating interactions. Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:53:55 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260710003540.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260709160630.htm A next-generation pesticide designed to kill crop pests may also be interfering with the reproductive health of bumblebees. Researchers discovered that low-dose exposure to sulfoxaflor changed gene activity, especially in tissues involved in reproduction, raising concerns about long-term impacts on bee populations. Because pollinators are essential for about one-third of the world's food production, finding ways to protect them while controlling pests has become increasingly important. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:58:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260709160630.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260625014755.htm Bumble bees astonished researchers by inventing a new way to reach a hidden reward, despite never being taught the trick. The discovery adds to growing evidence that these tiny insects are far smarter and more adaptable than once believed. Thu, 02 Jul 2026 22:53:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260625014755.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260623014002.htm Scientists have discovered a “ballista spider” that builds a spring-powered silk trap designed specifically to catch aggressive green tree ants. The ant unknowingly triggers the mechanism itself, launching into the spider’s web in one of nature’s most extraordinary hunting strategies. Fri, 26 Jun 2026 01:29:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260623014002.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621110957.htm Tyrannosaurus rex may have been a much slower grower than scientists realized. A new study of 17 tyrannosaur fossils found that the giant predator likely took about 40 years to reach its full size of roughly eight tons, extending previous estimates by 15 years. Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:32:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621110957.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621060311.htm A newly discovered feathered dinosaur called Jian changmaensis may be the missing predator responsible for mysterious piles of crushed prehistoric bird bones in China. The four-winged glider, a close cousin of Velociraptor, helps reveal how early birds and their dinosaur relatives shared the same ancient landscape. Tue, 23 Jun 2026 08:58:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621060311.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621031238.htm Tiny, tooth-sized fossils have just reshaped the story of our deepest ancestry. Paleontologists have discovered the southernmost remains ever found of Purgatorius—the earliest-known relative of all primates, including humans—in Colorado’s Denver Basin. Previously thought to be confined to Montana and parts of Canada, this shrew-sized, tree-dwelling mammal now appears to have spread southward soon after the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. Tue, 30 Jun 2026 18:55:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621031238.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260620100424.htm A surprising ecological makeover unfolded when mountain lions began frequenting a small preserve south of San Francisco. Deer activity dropped, plants recovered, and shifts among predators like coyotes, bobcats, and foxes followed. The study shows that powerful “trophic cascades” aren’t limited to remote wilderness—they can happen in small, suburban preserves too. Sat, 20 Jun 2026 10:04:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260620100424.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260619101328.htm Animals from different species often rely on surprisingly sophisticated communication to work together, whether finding food, cleaning parasites, or gaining protection. New research suggests these interspecies “conversations” are flexible, evolved, and far more important to life in nature than scientists once realized. Sat, 20 Jun 2026 01:23:46 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260619101328.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260616103124.htm A surprising new study suggests the earliest primates didn't originate in tropical forests but in cold, dry parts of North America. Some may have even survived seasonal Arctic conditions by slowing their metabolism or hibernating. Researchers found that dramatic climate shifts, rather than warmth, played a major role in driving primate evolution and expansion. The discovery reshapes our understanding of how our own lineage began. Sat, 20 Jun 2026 09:28:12 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260616103124.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260614011857.htm Researchers tracked honey bees in the wild using a drone-based system and found that each bee follows its own highly consistent flight path. Some repeated their routes so precisely that they flew only centimeters from where they had flown before. Landmarks like trees helped keep them on track, while uniform areas such as cornfields led to more variation. Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:25:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260614011857.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260613034229.htm A newly identified crocodile species nicknamed “Lucy’s hunter” prowled Ethiopia’s rivers when Lucy’s species walked the Earth more than 3 million years ago. The giant predator was likely the most dangerous animal in the ecosystem and may have regularly hunted early human relatives. Sat, 13 Jun 2026 10:13:48 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260613034229.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260610003047.htm A groundbreaking new connectome maps every neural connection in an adult fruit fly’s central nervous system, creating an unprecedented view of how the brain and body work together. The findings suggest that complex behaviors emerge from distributed local circuits rather than a single central controller, offering new clues about intelligence, movement, and brain function. Wed, 10 Jun 2026 06:10:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260610003047.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260604044258.htm New studies suggest consciousness can't be judged solely by behavior, whether it's a chatbot discussing philosophy or a bee searching for nectar. Researchers are increasingly focusing on the internal mechanisms of brains and computers, concluding that today's AI is likely not conscious while leaving open the possibility for both conscious insects and future machines. Fri, 05 Jun 2026 01:27:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260604044258.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260602021633.htm Deer keds rely on flight and vision to find a host, but everything changes once they land. After shedding their wings forever, these parasites reduce the activity of key vision-related genes by about half. Scientists believe they are effectively trading sharp eyesight for extra energy that can be used for feeding and reproduction. Tue, 02 Jun 2026 08:26:08 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260602021633.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260602021629.htm Researchers found that social behavior begins in the brain before it becomes visible as movement. In zebrafish, a coordinated pattern of activity spread across the brain several seconds before the animals approached another fish. A higher brain region called the pallium played a key role, and fish with stronger neural signals were generally more social. Tue, 02 Jun 2026 04:54:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260602021629.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260601025324.htm A world-famous conservation program that helped save Sweden’s endangered wolverines is now struggling as funding stagnates and local trust erodes. Researchers say the decline offers a cautionary lesson: protecting wildlife requires long-term commitment, not just early success. Mon, 01 Jun 2026 03:55:53 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260601025324.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260530053420.htm A major mouse study found that some inherited traits are passed down through epigenetic changes that break the classic rules of genetics. Researchers discovered hundreds of cases where these chemical DNA marks behaved unexpectedly, including some that seemed to emerge out of nowhere. They also identified the first known naturally occurring paramutation in a mammal, hinting that environmental influences may play a larger role in inheritance than scientists realized. Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:58:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260530053420.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260527023218.htm A casual walk through an Ithaca cemetery led to the discovery of a gigantic hidden bee population — roughly 5.5 million ground-nesting bees packed beneath the soil. Scientists believe it may be one of the largest bee aggregations ever documented and say the insects are crucial pollinators for apple orchards and other crops. The bees have likely lived there for more than 100 years, thriving in the cemetery’s undisturbed sandy soil. Thu, 28 May 2026 04:29:31 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260527023218.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260526021958.htm When a queen wasp suddenly disappears, her colony doesn’t calmly choose a successor — it erupts into chaos. Researchers found that female wasps immediately begin battling for power, shattering the colony’s social order in a frenzy of aggression. But while some fight for the throne, others quietly become the colony’s unsung heroes, stepping up to gather food and care for the young so the society doesn’t collapse. Tue, 26 May 2026 08:19:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260526021958.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260525000459.htm Scientists have peered inside the skull of a 380-million-year-old Antarctic fish that was closely related to the first animals to walk on land, revealing surprising clues about how life began its move out of the water. Using advanced neutron imaging, researchers discovered that Koharalepis jarviki had features suited for living near the water’s surface, including openings in its skull that may have helped it gulp air and a light-sensitive organ linked to day-night rhythms. Mon, 25 May 2026 09:30:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260525000459.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260525000457.htm Deep inside 100-million-year-old amber from Myanmar, scientists uncovered a bizarre ancient bug with clawed front legs that look more like a crab’s pincers than anything seen in modern insects. The discovery is so unusual that researchers say these crab-like “chelae” evolved independently in this lineage, making it only the fourth known example of such structures appearing in insects at all. Mon, 25 May 2026 08:53:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260525000457.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260522023111.htm A colossal new sea predator named Tylosaurus rex has been identified from fossils found in Texas, revealing a brutal 43-foot-long hunter that ruled ancient oceans 80 million years ago. The discovery not only introduces one of the biggest mosasaurs ever known, but also shakes up long-standing ideas about how these marine reptiles evolved. Sat, 23 May 2026 06:50:05 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260522023111.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260519224303.htm Scientists have uncovered an astonishing new chapter in humpback whale migration: two whales were found to have traveled between breeding grounds in Australia and Brazil, crossing more than 14,000 kilometers of open ocean. One whale shattered records by covering at least 15,100 kilometers between sightings, marking the longest confirmed journey ever documented for an individual humpback whale. Tue, 19 May 2026 23:15:18 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260519224303.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260517211429.htm A new study suggests humans became overwhelmingly right-handed because of two major evolutionary shifts: walking on two legs and developing much larger brains. Researchers found that as human ancestors evolved, their right-hand preference steadily intensified — transforming a mild tendency into one of humanity’s most distinctive traits. Mon, 18 May 2026 04:15:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260517211429.htm