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Skeletons of a human and a monkey await installation at the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History in Tel Aviv, Israel on Monday, Feb 19, 2018. Humans’ ancient ancestors had tails, as most vertebrates still do. But somewhere around 20 or 25 million years ago, when apes diverged from monkeys, our branch of the tree of life shed its back appendage. In a paper published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, researchers identify at least one of the key genetic tweaks that led to this change. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File)

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Our ancient animal ancestors had tails. Why don't we?
By CHRISTINA LARSON - AP Science Writer
Wed,02/28/24-11:06AM , 46 Reads
WASHINGTON (AP) — Our very ancient animal ancestors had tails. Why don't we?

Somewhere around 20 million or 25 million years ago, when apes diverged from monkeys, our branch of the tree of life shed its tail. From Darwin's time, scientists have wondered why — and how — this happened.
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This August 1989 image provided by NASA shows the planet Neptune photographed by the Voyager 2 spacecraft, processed to enhance the visibility of small features. The International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center announced Friday , Feb. 23, 2024, that astronomers have found three previously unknown moons in our solar system — two additional moons circling Neptune and one around Uranus. (NASA via AP)

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Astronomers spot new tiny moons around Neptune and Uranus
By CHRISTINA LARSON - AP Science Writer
Fri,02/23/24-1:59PM , 73 Reads
WASHINGTON (AP) — Astronomers have found three previously unknown moons in our solar system — two additional moons circling Neptune and one around Uranus.

The distant tiny moons were spotted using powerful land-based telescopes in Hawaii and Chile, and announced Friday by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center.
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An elephant head wall trophy is on display at the Nesbitt Castle in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in this April 23, 2018 file photo. Nearly half of the world's migratory species are in decline, according to a new United Nations report released Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. Many songbirds, sea turtles, whales, sharks and migratory animals move to different environments with changing seasons and are imperiled by habitat loss, illegal hunting and fishing, pollution and climate change. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

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Nearly half of the world’s migratory species are in decline, UN report says
By CHRISTINA LARSON - AP Science Writer
Mon,02/12/24-2:45AM , 68 Reads
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly half of the world's migratory species are in decline, according to a new United Nations report released Monday.
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This photo 2022 photo provided by Samuel Timothy Fabian shows an Atlas Moth (Attacus lorquinii) used to test the interaction of flying insects with artificial light is photographed at Imperial College London. Many scientists have long assumed that moths and other flying insects were simply drawn to bright lights. But a new study suggests, rather than being attracted to light, researchers believe that artificial lights at night may actually scramble flying insects’ innate navigational systems. (Samuel Timothy Fabian via AP)

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Are insects drawn to light? New research shows it's confusion, not fatal attraction
By CHRISTINA LARSON - AP Science Writer
Tue,01/30/24-10:57AM , 46 Reads
WASHINGTON (AP) — Like a moth to flame, many scientists and poets have long assumed that flying insects were simply, inexorably drawn to bright lights.

But that's not exactly what's going on, a new study suggests.
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