Evolutionary biologists show that the color variants of female cuckoos are based on ancient mutations

Phys.org— Every cuckoo is an adopted child—raised by foster parents, into whose nest the cuckoo mother smuggled her egg. The cuckoo mother is aided in this subterfuge by her resemblance to a bird of prey. There are two variants of female cuckoos: a gray morph that looks like a sparrowhawk, and a rufous morph. Male cuckoos are always gray.

KTVZ—What makes a Westminster Best in Show winner, based on a century of data. Stacker used data from the Westminster Kennel Club dog show and the American Kennel Club to explore trends in Best in Show winners.

Phys.org—Scientists show that ancient village adapted to drought, rising seas. Around 6,200 BCE, the climate changed. Global temperatures dropped, sea levels rose and the southern Levant, including modern-day Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Lebanon, southern Syria and the Sinai desert, entered a period of drought.

Phys.org—Scientists show how to treat burns with an environmentally friendly plant-based bandage. The Smart Materials research group, coordinated by Athanassia Athanassiou at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italian Institute of Technology), has developed a biocompatible bandage made of plant-based materials that, loaded with vitamin C, can accelerate the healing process of burn wounds.