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A mystery beginning in the South Atlantic, and ending in South Kensington, has finally been solved. While some progress was made, crucial decisions on protecting nature will be left until next year after the meeting ran out of time. Even the world’s most successful wild animal isn’t safe from rising temperatures.
Homo habilis, an early maker of stone tools - Natural History …
Famous palaeoanthropologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered Homo habilis in 1960. Along with their son Jonathan, they unearthed the first fossils at Olduvai Gorge in the Great Rift Valley of Tanzania, East Africa. The couple had already found fossils of another primitive hominin species and some early stone tools at the site.
Renewable energy and its importance for tackling climate change
Dec 14, 2022 · Major sources of renewable energy include solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal, geothermal and biomass energy, which is derived from burning plant or animal matter and waste. Switching our reliance on fossil fuels to renewable energy sources that produce lower or no greenhouse gas emissions is critically important in tackling the climate crisis.
Squirrels in the UK: what they are up to, when and why
Red and grey squirrels start breeding when they are 10-12 months old. They usually have two litters of two to four offspring each year. The first litter is born in early spring and the second in early summer. Baby squirrels, known as kits or kittens, are born blind and hairless.
How do camels survive in deserts? - Natural History Museum
In fact, shorn camels tend to sweat more. Desert sand can be scorching, so camels have leathery, heat-resistant pads on their feet, knees, elbows and sternum so they can lie down without getting burnt. They also lack a stifle fold. In other animals, this is the skin that stretches from the abdomen to the thighs.
Pond life: facts about pond habitats, plants and animals
Research suggests that ponds support more freshwater life than any other UK freshwater habitat. Ponds with a range of features tend to host a greater variety of wildlife. Features can include sloping 'beaches' and muddy margins, shallow open water, deeper sections, vegetation around the edges and areas with overhanging trees.
Convergent evolution explained with 13 examples - Natural …
Fishes, such as sharks, cetaceans, including dolphins, and ichthyosaurs all converged on the same streamlined shape to help them thrive in the marine environment. 2. Camera-type eyes: Mammals, octopuses and squids. Say cheese! We’re not the only creatures to have evolved camera eyes for better vision.
The Triassic Period: the rise of the dinosaurs - Natural History …
The early Triassic was dominated by mammal-like reptiles such as Lystrosaurus. The Triassic Period (252-201 million years ago) began after Earth's worst-ever extinction event devastated life. The Permian-Triassic extinction event, also known as the Great Dying, took place roughly 252 million years ago and was one of the most significant events ...
City life: Why are green spaces important? - Natural History Museum
The urban heat island effect. Green spaces in cities mitigate the effects of pollution and can reduce a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect. This refers to heat trapped in built-up areas. The urban heat island effect appears in towns and cities as a result of human activity. The heat generated by people, transport, shops and ...
Axolotls: Meet the amphibians that never grow up
Axolotls are often the top predators in their native habitats. They eat whatever they can get their jaws on, including molluscs, worms, insect larvae, crustaceans and even some small fish. Axolotls can live 10-15 years in the wild, reaching sexual maturity after about a year. They reach up to 30 centimetres long and weigh around 50-200 grams.