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New spider species in the Amazon mimics parasitic fungus

An international research team, including the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), has described a new species of spider from the Ecuadorian Amazon: Taczanowskia waska. The species is characterized by an extraordinary form of mimicry: It represents

Students prefer AI chatbots, until they know it is one

Do chatbots have a role in higher education? It's a question Joshua Lambert, an associate professor and biostatistician in the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, is pondering. He's turned to a group of his students to find out their thoughts about the helpfulness and

How microbes survive in the plastisphere

Plastic pollution is a global problem. It damages ecosystems, endangers animals, and in the form of nanoplastic particles, can also have consequences for human health. A global agreement to regulate plastic pollution is therefore long overdue. However, plastic particles have

First close pair of supermassive black holes detected

Supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies are one of the most active fields of research in astronomy. In order to accumulate their enormous masses, they must merge with each other. A research team led by Silke Britzen from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy

How Jupiter cultivated more large moons than Saturn

The two largest planets in our solar system, Jupiter and Saturn, also have the largest satellite systems, or the most moons. At present, Jupiter's reported moon count stands at more than 100 moons, and along with its many rings, Saturn has more than 280 reported moons. Not all

'Voorhees law' explains why the slower car often catches up

Many drivers will know the feeling: you pull ahead of the slower car you've been stuck behind and cruise the open road ahead at your own, faster speed. By the time you reach the next stop light, you're sure that you've left the slower car far behind you—but to your surprise,

How the social lives of magpies shape their call repertoire

Communication is central to the survival of most animals, including humans. Yet animals of different species communicate differently, and the complexity of their communication skills varies greatly. One characteristic of advanced communication systems is the ability to combine

Reducing risks when modernizing packaging

Redesigns can cause serious harm to businesses. New research from Adelaide University explores what brands should consider when modernizing their packaging. "The study shows that successful redesign depends on increasing consumers' perceived modernity without undermining