The Ancient Origins of the Animal Skeletal System
Ilke Boran reports on newly discovered fossils shedding light on the evolutionary history and ancient origins of the animal skeletal system.
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Why bananas could disappear from our supermarkets
The lack of genetic diversity in banana plants puts them at risk of disease pandemics that could wipe them off our supermarket shelves for good. Isabel Schmidt discusses how our current bananas have been developed and how to overcome these risks in the future.
For Queen and Colony: How ants stop disease outbreaks
Sophie Berdugo discusses how, much like the self-isolation we have become accustomed to during the COVID-19 pandemic, ants also adopt self-isolation techniques to stop the spread of fungal infections.
Fishing Through Geological Time
By Matthew Sutton This article was originally published in The Oxford Scientist Michaelmas Term 2021 edition, Change. Earth’s oceans are an immense and foreboding place. They occupy 71% of the surface area of the planet and have a total volume exceeding 1.3 billion cubic kilometres. Occupying every corner of every part of this gargantuan biome…
Progress, revived: can evolution change things for the better?
By Giovanni Mussini This article was originally published in The Oxford Scientist Michaelmas Term 2021 edition, Change. In one of the last and most accomplished of his works, Giacomo Leopardi, the 19th century giant of Italian poetry, turns to the natural world to ridicule le magnifiche sorti e progressive–the magnificent and progressive fates–of humanity: as…
The North-South Divide Exists in Paper Wasps Too
Sophie Berdugo explores the distinct north-south divide in paper wasps, with northerners being highly cooperative compared to southerners.
Face to Face with Denis Noble
By Angus Barrett While I was getting to grips with the colourful life of systems biologist Denis Noble, I came across the website of his traditional Ocidian music group, The Oxford Trobadors. I soon learned that music is more than just a relaxing pastime for Denis. Anybody familiar with his work will know how central it…
The key to a harmonious society
By Rosa Parker Music soundtracks every aspect of our life; be it lullabies, a club classic, the first dance at a wedding, or the final curtain at a funeral. It has the power to lift or destroy moods, and to convey emotion without words. Music is also puzzling in its ubiquity: it is present in…
Coronavirus-imposed monasticism: Does Coronavirus make us more Religious?
From that pre-social-distancing era, one might recall surveys that ask about occupation, gender, and perhaps “Are you religious?”. So you quickly jot down your responses, but hesitate on the last question. Perhaps you enjoy religious celebrations a few times a year, so you tick “Yes”, and get back to emptying your wallet on Steam. But…
Drink like a fish
Goldfish are popular thanks to, amongst other attractions, being one of the most low maintenance pets available. Less well known, however, is their astounding resilience. For years, researchers have puzzled over how some types of goldfish manage to survive for months in ice-covered lakes and ponds – most vertebrate species would die from the lack…