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evolution

The giant lacewing found in Arkansas

Life

Giant insect thought extinct in eastern US found in a Walmart

A giant lacewing found clinging to the exterior of a supermarket is the first time in 50 years the species been spotted in the eastern half of the US

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Siberian Sturgeon

Life

Influenza viruses may have originated in fish 600 million years ago

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H7WWT1 Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) pair calling from burrow entrance, Volunteer Point, East Falkland Island, Falkland

Life

How climate change is forcing animals that mate for life to break up

Features

Tiktaalik, an early fish that crawled on land

Life

Spine of early crawling fish was becoming more like a land animal's

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Tightly-curled hair appears to maximise the shielding effect from the sun while minimising an unwanted insulating effect

Humans

Curly hair may have evolved to protect early humans from the sun

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Paranthropus, early human relative

Humans

Early hominin Paranthropus may have used sophisticated stone tools

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The coronavirus is continuing to mutate as it spreads

Health

Millions of coronavirus mutations offer a new insight into evolution

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Light micrograph of a section through the spleen of a patient with Gaucher's disease. Small lymphocytes and large macrophage cells (Gaucher?s cells, pink, a type of white blood cell) are present. Gaucher's disease is an inherited metabolic disorder in which a fatty substance called glucocerebroside accumulates in the spleen (in macrophages), lungs, liver and bone marrow, and sometimes the brain. This is due to an absence of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GC). The disease appears in childhood, and some forms are fatal in the first few years. Other forms cause enlargement of the affected organs, weak and painful bones and anaemia. Some forms also cause severe nervous system damage. There is no cure, but enzyme replacement therapy using GC can relieve the symptoms. Haematoxylin-eosin saffron (HES) stain. Magnification: x400 at 24x36 mm size.

Health

Genes for Gaucher disease may have protected Jewish people against TB

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close up of woman's eyes

Mind

The evolutionary origin of paranoia and why it is becoming more common

Features

Straight-tusked elephant bones hint at routine hunting and butchering by Neanderthals

Humans

Neanderthals hunted enormous elephants that fed 100 people for a month

The extinct straight-tusked elephant was even larger than modern African elephants, making it unclear if Neanderthal hunters could take one down, but a newly analysed trove of bones suggests it was possible

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Life

Animals that care for young may have more mutations and evolve faster

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Life

Inside the complex and extremely violent world of warring mongooses

Features

Life

Multicellular life may have begun with brief alliances between cells

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Life

Early relatives of primates lived in the Arctic 52 million years ago

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