Articles by Krystal Kasal
Phys.org / 'False head' in certain butterflies found to evolve from multiple traits working in tandem to deflect predators
Animals often evolve to have certain characteristics that help them escape predators more effectively. Some of these characteristics work to deflect predators away from the animal's head. Many butterfly species have evolved ...
Phys.org / Decade-long study shows reduced winter snowpack impairs forests' ability to store carbon
Forests are a crucial resource for carbon mitigation, currently offsetting around 20% of North American carbon emissions. As temperatures continue to rise, scientists are rushing to understand how climate change is affecting ...
Phys.org / Young brood-parasitic cowbirds may seek out unrelated adult females as role models
Unlike most other bird species, the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) lays its eggs in the nests of other bird species and leaves the host to raise its young—a behavior known as brood parasitism. To become a successful ...
Tech Xplore / Pilot program integrates AI-generated notes with human community notes on X platform
X (formerly Twitter) launched its "Community Notes" program in 2021 to combat misinformation by allowing users to add contextual notes on posts that might be deceptive or lead to misinterpretation. An example would be users ...
Phys.org / New evidence suggests Neanderthals were rendering fat nearly 100,000 years before other early humans
The hunting and gathering activities of early humans required a high-calorie diet consisting of a variety of macronutrients—protein, carbohydrates, and fat. While hunting big-game animals—like deer, horses and animals in ...
Phys.org / Light pollution has more dramatic effect on circadian rhythms of social birds than isolated birds, study finds
Light pollution, or artificial light at night (ALAN), is a widespread phenomenon in areas with dense human populations. Normally, animals use natural external cues, like sunlight and temperature, to synchronize their biological ...
Medical Xpress / Ozempic-like drug significantly reduces frequency of chronic migraines in pilot study
Migraines are a common ailment worldwide, affecting nearly 15% of the global population. At times, they can be debilitating enough to interfere with daily activities. Despite a multitude of treatment options, some migraine ...
Phys.org / Animals living at higher elevations found to have decreased sense of smell
A recent study published in Current Biology has found that animals living at elevations of 1,000 meters and higher have a reduction in genes related to smell and a smaller olfactory bulb than similar low-altitude species.
