Topic description and stories

Mathematics explains how giant ‘whirlpools’ form in developing egg cells

13 Jan 2021

The swirling currents occur when the rodlike structures that extend inward from the cells’ membranes bend in tandem, like stalks of wheat caught in a...

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Secrets of animal camouflage: Video reveals how predator vision works

06 Aug 2014

How do animals see? It’s a question that vexes biologists and fascinates anyone who has watched animals go about their business: what does the world...

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Honeyguide birds destroy own species’ eggs to eliminate competition

21 Aug 2013

Scientists believe behaviour drives evolution of egg size similar to hosts.

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P.676-1985 William Blake Infant Joy, Songs of Innocence (1789) (detail)

The greatest gift

23 Apr 2012

The first comprehensive study of egg-sharing between women undergoing fertility treatment reveals striking empathy on the part of donors and...

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Recently fertilised egg

Egg Cetera #1: The immortal egg

05 Apr 2012

In the first report of our Egg Cetera series on egg-related research, biologists Dr Harry Leitch and Professor Azim Surani describe how advances in...

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Image shows a variety of cuckoo finches each adapted to mimic a different host species or colour morph

Biological arms races in birds

13 Apr 2011

New research reveals how biological arms races between cuckoos and host birds can escalate into a competition between the host evolving new, unique...

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