Whether you’re doing it underwater or in the air, echolocation apparently requires the same kind of adaptation. New Scientist reports that parallel evolutionary changes to the same gene allow both dolphins and bats to hear the high-frequency sounds they use for sonar. In other online science news:
- Eutrophication of lakes reduces the diversity of invertebrate species they support. (Conservation Maven)
- Real-time video of viruses spreading among host cells. Seriously. (Ed Yong’s twitter feed)
- A long-term survey of bird species diversity finds that sites on an active military base look pretty much like sites that see less, um, artillery. (Conservation Maven, again)
- Close examination of fossilized feathers provides the first evidence for striped dinosaurs. (Carl Zimmer for the New York Times, Not Exactly Rocket Science, NPR)
- The human foot absorbs the stress of running more effectively when not encased in a supportive sneaker. (NPR)