Catching A Whiff Of T. Rex’s Sense Of Smell

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

Did Sue the T. rex and other members of the species have a great sense of smell? (Credit: The Field Museum) As fascinating and awe-inspiring as fossils are, the ancient bones tell us only so much about how an animal actually lived. Take T. rex, for example: How did the animal find food, through sharp sight, great hearing or a keen sense of smell? The nose knows, say authors of a new paper on the iconic dinosaur's olfactory ability. In most modern animals, including birds, the size ...read more

Humans’ Ability to Hear Harmonic Sounds Might Set Us Apart

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

(Credit: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock) The pursuit of science is usually an unending stream of embarrassments for the human ego. No, the sun doesn’t revolve around us. No, we’re not all that different from common animals. No, we’re not even the only humans. But, in some ways at least, our brains really are special. A new study out this week in Nature Neuroscience shows one more way we really are different from some of our closest simian relatives: our mental capac ...read more

Not Eating Enough Fruits and Veggies Could Kill Millions Every Year

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

(Credit: Alexander Raths/Shutterstock) An apple a day may not keep the doctor away, but several could do the trick. Millions of cardiovascular deaths around the world may be linked to a lack of fruit and vegetable consumption, according to preliminary results from a Tufts University study. Vitamins and minerals like potassium, fiber and magnesium and antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. And a large body of knowledge already suggests t ...read more