All tag results for 'evolution'

Great!!! Now we have even MAWR hide n seek partners!!!

Researchers at Emory and Georgia State Universities have found that chimpanzees can play nice with each other, much like humans.

They studied a group by playing the ultimatum game, a test given to humans as well.

In the chimp version, one of them was given tokens, one which represented fairness (each chimp receiving the same amount of banana slices) and the other selfishness. The chimps were able to

Tags: chimpanzee, evolution, fairness, research, science, sharing, wildlife

In a new study, researchers found that on average only about in four of the hundreds of snail eggs that a male snail carries on his back are actually his.

Some snails carry the kids of as many as 25 other snails!

Sounds like nature is a depraved sex fest!

Tags: babies, baby, eggs, evolution, friend, friends, kids, nature, research, researchers, sex, study, weird

Sad….Lonesome George has left this world…

Found on the smallest Galapagos Island, La Pinta, Lonesome George was around 100 years old when he was found motionless

Tags: charles darwin, death, evolution, galapagos, lonesome george, science, tortoise, turtle

Thank evolution for birds!

A long time ago in a land far, far away, GIANT insects roamed the Earth's skies with unparalleled size and freedom.

How big are we talking? Their wingspan was the size of a modern-day HAWK!

Researchers believe that the insects became massive due to the large levels of oxygen in the atmosphere some 300 million years ago.

The data shows that the higher the oxygen level, the larger the insects.

But things changed.

Around 140 million years ago, birds started evolving and learned how to fly. With better aerodynamics and predatory skills, the birds began competing with the insects for prey, and soon the birds began eating the giant insects as well.

80 million years later, bats also started to evolve and along with further evolved birds (and the possible arrival of an asteroid), dinosaurs and the giant insects became extinct.

Again, we can't thank evolution enough!

Could U imagine insects the size of modern birds in the sky?!?!?!

Creepy!

Tags: birds, dinosaurs, evolution, giant, insects, natural selection, research, science

OMGEZZ! Goawaaaay!!

Mandrills the biggest member of the monkey family and apparently the most easily annoyed.

Experts have noticed when the monkeys want to be left alone they cover their eyes with there hands.

Apparently it's a gesture that has never been seen before, and experts believe it is evidence of social culture among animals. They believe one of the mandrills made up the gesture, made it cool, and passed it on to her pals. (kinda like saying "that's what she said.")

Evolutionary biologist Mark E. Laidre says they don't do it to block the sun cause their eyes remain open.

I just seems like a matter of time before they start flipping us off!

[image via youtube]

Tags: biologist, cover, drama, evidence, evolution, monkeys, omg, social

Hooray!

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization declared Tuesday that the world was rid of rinderpest.

It decimated herds and caused disaster, devastation and death associated with the fall of the Roman Empire, the French Revolution and the colonization of Africa.

It's been a long time come'n - but after years of global efforts, rinderpest (German for cattle plague) doesn't exist anymore!!

It is the first animal disease to be eradicated and only the second disease ever, after smallpox in 1980.

First it took a couple thousand years to get the first one and only thirty-one years to get our second.

At this rate we'll conquer the 709,899,993 other disease in no time!

[Image via WENN.]

Tags: cattle, couple, death, disease, evolution, plague, second

A recent study of over 200 dogs at the International Weight Pulling Association events has shown that the size and width of a canine's head may determine it's strength or speed.

Broad-headed dogs like American Pit-Bull Terriers, American Bulldogs, or Bernese Mountain Dogs were able to pull a noticeably larger amount of weight than narrow-headed dogs like Samoyeds, Siberian Huskies, and Alaskan Malamutes.

However, past studies show narrow-headed dogs are fasted and more efficient at running compared to broad-headed dogs.

Given any trip to a dog race track, this information may sound like a no-brainer, but the study also suggests the same theory applies to humans!

A human head is narrower than other great apes, which suggests humans have adapted to run for longer durations at the expense of strength. It is believed that our ancient ancestors used this increased endurance to chase their prey to death instead of using brute force.

Head size obviously isn't the only factor that determines the speed and strength of an animal, but the study demonstrates that, in general terms, we can't have it all.

William Helton, with the University of Canterbury's Department of Psychology, who was behind this study says:

"Nature does not allow unlimited budgets and the trade-offs are often physical constraints."

Looking in the mirror, it doesn't appear as if we'll be able to rip anybody in half anytime soon, but we'll just have to settle for our cat-like speed and agility to get us through life.

[Image via AP Images.]

Tags: adaptation, bulldog, dogs, evolution, great ape, humans, psychology, study