Scientists try to unravel the case of 1,300 mysteriously preserved human brains

6:39Scientists try to unravel the case of 1,300 mysteriously preserved human brains Oxford University’s Alexandra Morton-Hayward spends her days surrounded by brains — literally.  The undertaker-turned-scientist is trying to unravel why some human brains remain remarkably well-preserved after death, sometimes for thousands of years, even when all other soft tissue has long decayed. And anyone … Read more

Which animals scavenge human remains in Alberta? This study used dead pigs to find out

People who search for human remains in Alberta say a new study identifying predominant scavengers in the region will help them conduct their searches more efficiently. In August 2021 and August 2022, researchers placed pig carcasses at four locations — one near Edmonton, another near Calgary and two in more rural areas. The 200-pound pigs acted … Read more

Spider webs catch more than prey. They’re also jam-packed with animal DNA

As It Happens6:05Spider webs catch more than prey. They’re also jam-packed with animal DNA Josh Newton probably isn’t very popular with spiders. After all, the Australian scientist has a tendency to go around undoing their hard work.  “I liken it to when Princess Fiona in Shrek makes some cotton candy for Shrek from spider webs, where … Read more

Donald Trump enters 2024 on cusp of unusual position: Election front-runner

Donald Trump is on the verge of entering 2024 arguably holding a status that is unprecedented for him: Election front-runner. It’s an unfamiliar position for a candidate now suddenly leading most 2024 general-election polls in a way he never did in races past. This is despite his supporters attacking the U.S. Capitol, and despite the … Read more

Chimps and bonobos remember friendly faces even after decades apart, study finds

As It Happens6:18Chimps and bonobos remember friends and families’ faces, even after decades apart When Laura Simone Lewis visited Kendall the chimpanzee for the first time in six months, she wasn’t sure how he would react. The researcher had been working with the chimp at the North Carolina Zoo in 2015 as part of her … Read more

Solar storm expected to bring spectacular northern lights to Prairies

Christmas lights might not be the only thing lighting up these dark December nights, as a solar storm is expected to bring bright northern lights to the Prairies this weekend. Aurora borealis is considered among the greatest natural wonders and scientists say it starts with the sun. “The sun is sort of spewing off protons and electrons as a … Read more

Oldest mosquito in amber reveals bloodsucking surprise

Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are killed annually by malaria and other diseases spread through the bite of mosquitoes, insects that date back to the age of dinosaurs. All of these bites are inflicted by females, which possess specialized mouth anatomy that their male counterparts lack. But it hasn’t always been that way. Researchers … Read more