Tag

Humans

All articles tagged with #humans

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Mars Could Spawn a New Human Lineage

Becoming Martian, by evolutionary biologist Scott Solomon, argues Mars could drive humans to evolve into a different, interplanetary lineage as low gravity, high radiation, and climate-controlled habitats reshape bones, muscles, skin, and immunity; the piece outlines three trajectories—staying Earth-like, going extinct, or diverging into a new species—especially as populations become isolated. It also discusses the practicalities and limits of long-duration space travel (artificial gravity, life-support, or even hibernation) and notes Solomon’s personal wish to remain on Earth.

via BBC Sky at Night Magazine|

#evolution #habitats #humans

science3 months ago•2 min saved

Laughs Across Evolution: Humans and Apes Share Similar Giggle Rhythm

Researchers reanalyzed decades-old recordings of ape laughter and compared them to new footage of children's laughs, finding that humans and great apes share similar rhythmic patterns in their giggles, suggesting laughter evolved from a common ancestor about 15 million years ago. While human laughter can be faster and more context-dependent, its core rhythm remains similar to apes, highlighting laughter as a social bonding tool. The study, published in Communications Biology, underscores the need for more cross-species recordings to illuminate what makes human laughter unique.

via ScienceAlert|

#animal-behavior #evolution #humans

science3 months ago•5 min saved

Tickles Across Species: Ape and Human Laughter Share a Shared Rhythm

A study analyzing tickled human children and juvenile great apes (orangutans, gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees) found they produce similar, evenly spaced laughter rhythms, suggesting conserved primate vocal control dating back about 15 million years; laughter becomes more variable during social play due to movement.

via Nature|

#apes #evolution #humans

science4 months ago•0 min saved

Cats reveal cancer gene parallels with humans, study finds

Researchers, including Louise van der Weyden, study feline cancers to reveal genetic similarities with human cancers, shedding light on the “black box” of feline oncology and informing cross-species cancer biology.

via The Washington Post|

#cancer #cats #comparative-oncology

archaeology6 months ago•5 min saved

Ice-Age Dogs Bound Humans Across Eurasia, New DNA Pushes Timeline

New genetic analysis of 15,800-year-old dog remains from Türkiye and 14,300-year-old bones from Gough’s Cave in Britain pushes back the domestication timeline, showing dogs lived closely with humans across western Eurasia during the Late Upper Paleolithic and were integrated into human groups, with evidence of dietary overlap and even burial alongside people, suggesting a deep, early bond before farming.

via Indian Defence Review|

#ancient-dna #archaeology #dogs

science6 months ago•2 min saved

Parasite makes chimpanzees crave leopard urine, hinting at human olfactory quirks

New research shows Toxoplasma gondii can alter chimpanzee behavior, drawing infected individuals to the scent of leopards (the parasite’s natural predator), likely boosting transmission when felines prey on them; similar olfactory effects are suspected in humans, suggesting an evolutionary relic of the parasite’s manipulation.

via BBC Wildlife Magazine|

#chimpanzees #humans #leopard-urine

science6 months ago•71 min saved

Mutual Mews: Rethinking the Human-Cat Bond Through Mutualism

A Live Science feature by Sophie Berdugo outlines how humans and domesticated cats evolved from a mutual pest-control partnership into a more complex, sometimes asymmetrical relationship. Tracing cats to African wildcats and their spread with agriculture, the piece argues that while early cats helped curb rodents in small settlements, their role in large grain stores likely diminished, prompting a broader rethink of what mutualism means and what a cat is in our shared ecological story.

via Live Science|

#cats #domestication #ecology

science7 months ago•4 min saved

X-Chromosome Clue Points to Ancient Neanderthal-Human Mating Bias

A new genetic analysis finds Neanderthal DNA is underrepresented on the human X chromosome while a human fingerprint appears on the Neanderthal X, suggesting that ancient mating favored human females with Neanderthal males. The pattern is attributed to mating behavior and social interactions rather than purely Darwinian survival, though other explanations aren’t ruled out.

via ScienceAlert|

#genetics #humans #mating

science8 months ago•4 min saved

Gene Switches Quieted Fur: Why Humans Became Hairless

By comparing 62 mammal genomes, researchers found humans still carry fur genes, but regulatory switches turned them off; this convergent evolution of hairlessness across mammals sheds light on potential hair-loss therapies.

via Indian Defence Review|

#evolution #genetics #hair-loss

science1 year ago•5 min saved

Genetic Mutation in Enzyme Linked to Human Survival Over Neanderthals

A minor genetic change in the ADSL enzyme may have contributed to the cognitive and behavioral advantages of modern humans over Neanderthals, potentially influencing our species' survival and evolution.

via Archaeology News Online Magazine|

#enzyme #evolution #genetic-mutation

science1 year ago•3 min saved

The Extinction of 20-Foot Sloths: An Incredible Story

Historically, sloths ranged from small tree-dwellers to massive ground-dwellers up to 20 feet tall, but most of the giant species went extinct around 15,000 years ago, primarily due to human hunting, with habitat changes also influencing their evolution. Today, only smaller, tree-dwelling sloths remain.

via Indian Defence Review|

#evolution #extinction #habitat

science1 year ago•2 min saved

Revealing the Origins of Human-Neanderthal Interactions

Scientists have identified the Zagros Mountains in Iran, northern Iraq, and southeastern Turkey as the likely location where Homo sapiens and Neanderthals interbred during the Late Pleistocene, supported by archaeological and genetic evidence. This interbreeding contributed 1-4% of Neanderthal DNA to non-African humans today, influencing various physical traits and health aspects.

via IFLScience|

#genetics #humans #interbreeding

science2 years ago•2 min saved

"The Genetic Mystery of Human Tail Loss Unraveled"

A recent study published in Nature suggests that the insertion of a mobile genetic sequence, known as a transposable element, could be linked to the loss of tails in the common ancestor of apes, including humans. This genetic event may have influenced the distinctive characteristic of tail loss in apes and could have played a role in the evolution of upright walking.

via Nature.com|

#apes #dna-sequence #evolution

health2 years ago•5 min saved

"Rising Concerns as Zombie Deer Disease Spreads to Humans"

Scientists are growing concerned about the potential for chronic wasting disease (CWD) to cross over from deer to humans, as studies have shown that non-human primates can contract the disease. CWD, a neurological disorder similar to mad cow disease, has been found in deer, elk, and moose in 26 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces. While there is currently no evidence that CWD can infect humans, experts are urging caution and further research to understand the potential risks to public health.

via Star Tribune|

#chronic-wasting-disease #deer #health

animals2 years ago•7 min saved

The World's Deadliest Animals: A Global Ranking

Mosquitos are the most dangerous animals in the world, responsible for transmitting diseases that cause between 725,000 and 1,000,000 deaths annually. Humans come in second, with an estimated 56 million deaths per year, including intentional homicides, unintentional violent deaths, and deaths from war and terrorism. Dogs, saltwater crocodiles, and hippos also make the list of dangerous animals due to their potential for attacking and killing humans.

via Study Finds|

#animals #dogs #hippos