An international team of researchers has analyzed the use by sea otters of large, shoreline rocks as "anvils" to break open shells, as well as the resulting shell middens. The researchers used ecological and archaeological ...
Plants & Animals
Mar 14, 2019
1
535
Shellfish played a significant role in the diet of prehistoric coastal populations, providing valuable nutrients. They are a common find in archaeological sites all over the world, usually in huge numbers, and researchers ...
Earth Sciences
Mar 6, 2019
0
143
These days, nanoparticles finely distributed in suspensions are used in many areas—for example in cosmetic products, in industrial catalysts, or in contrast agents for medicinal examinations. For the first time, a research ...
Nanomaterials
Mar 4, 2019
0
39
Snails, like humans, can be right-handed or left-handed, and the swirl etched into the shell of a snail can reveal a lot about them, down to their genetic makeup.
Plants & Animals
Feb 27, 2019
1
6
Coccolithophores are microscopic marine algae that use carbon dioxide to grow, and release carbon dioxide when they create their miniature calcite shells. These tiny, abundant planktonic microorganisms could therefore be ...
Earth Sciences
Feb 15, 2019
0
76
For the past few million years the world's oceans have existed in a slightly alkaline state, with an average pH of 8.2. Now, with carbon emissions escalating, there is more CO₂ in the world's atmosphere. This dissolves ...
Earth Sciences
Jan 29, 2019
0
19
Thirteen miles from the coast, marine biologist Bruno Pernet was himself surrounded by concrete, asphalt and an assortment of roughly 10,000 seashells.
Plants & Animals
Jan 28, 2019
0
5
With wing-shaped shells lined with iridescent mother-of-pearl and producing the fibres of rare and delicate sea silk, the noble pen shell clam is one of the most emblematic species in the Mediterranean and a bellwether for ...
Ecology
Jan 25, 2019
0
2
The faint, ephemeral glow emanating from the planetary nebula ESO 577-24 persists for only a short time—around 10,000 years, a blink of an eye in astronomical terms. ESO's Very Large Telescope captured this shell of glowing ...
Astronomy
Jan 22, 2019
0
457
Size does matter, at least when it comes to some hermit crabs, who appear to have evolved longer penises so they can stay in their shells to protect their homes during sex.
Plants & Animals
Jan 16, 2019
1
41
