Science
Human brain ‘wired to prefer foods that are packed with fat and sugar’
Researchers found that its reward centre values them higher than those containing just one or other - but not both
Tiny frog trapped in amber 99 million years ago gives up its secrets under a CT scan
The tiny creature lived alongside dinosaurs in the Cretaceous
Extensive ice sheets ‘repeatedly covered much of the UK and Ireland’
New research reveals the British Isles were repeatedly submerged under an ice sheet extending to the centre of the North Sea over a million years earlier than previously thought
Children who have strict parents learn to avoid eye contact
They pay less attention to emotional facial expressions when they interact with others for fear of being told off and punished - meaning they miss vital social clues.
Study finds drugs such as LSD and Ecstasy rewire the brain
Experiments on rats and flies show they actually rewire the brain, offering hope of better treatments for depression, addiction and PTSD
Killer whales ‘produce call similar to a human scream when hunting their next meal’
Aquatic mammals including dolphins use it as a warning an orca is on the prowl - and they are on its menu, say scientists
Flowers have scent runaways to guide bees quickly to the nectar
Like the colours and stripes on many petals, they also have scent patterns to guide bees to the centre of the flower.
Modern bright LED lights are affecting wildlife “as much as the midday sun, scientists warn
Light pollution from white and bluish lamps are three times more disruptive to creatures than those with yellow, amber or greenish hues.
Brazil’s oldest known mammal that lived with the dinosaurs is named after David Bowie
The creature, identified by a tooth, has been named Brasilestes stardusti.