PLOS

A recent study has found that consuming refined carbohydrates may negatively affect facial attractiveness, as determined by opposite-sex ratings. The research highlights the potential social consequences of dietary choices, emphasizing the need for further exploration into how nutrition influences perceived attractiveness and other social characteristics.Consuming high-glycemic foods both short-term and long-term was linked to lower attractiveness scores, regardless of other variables like body mass index (BMI) and age.A…

The predatory bacterium Myxococcus xanthus (left) slaughtering its prey (right). Black dots are predator aggregates called fruiting bodies and the rippling waves in the contact zone are characteristic of predatory interactions. Credit: Nicola Mayrhofer (CC-BY 4.0)New study demonstrates that environmental changes can flip microbial predator-prey hierarchy.In a new study, two species of bacteria grown in a lab reversed their predator-prey relationship after one species was grown at a lower temperature. Marie Vasse of…

Researchers have discovered a new class of antibodies capable of neutralizing various flu virus strains, potentially aiding in the development of more broadly protective flu vaccines. This breakthrough, to be published in PLOS Biology, emphasizes the importance of diversifying flu vaccine production methods and provides new avenues for vaccine design.The findings may assist in creating vaccines that offer wider protection against various flu strains.Researchers led by Holly Simmons from the University of Pittsburgh School…

A new camera system, capable of replicating how various animals perceive colors, has been developed by researchers. This system overcomes the limitations of traditional methods like spectrophotometry by using a multi-channel approach to accurately capture and display animal-perceived colors under natural conditions. (Artist’s concept.) Credit: SciTechDaily.comOpen-source camera and software system records natural animal-view videos with over 90% accuracy.A new camera system allows ecologists and filmmakers to produce…

Researchers discover that just like in mice, human tears contain a chemical signal that blocks conspecific male aggression. Credit: SciTechDaily.comExposure to tears led to less revenge-seeking behavior and lower aggression-related brain activity.New research, published on December 21st in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, shows that tears from women contain chemicals that block aggression in men. The study led by Shani Agron at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, finds that sniffing tears leads to reduced…

Researchers found that Ice Age sabertooth cats and dire wolves had a high rate of osteochondrosis in their joints, based on over 1,500 limb bones studied from the La Brea Tar Pits. This research suggests a potential link between these ancient species’ health issues and those of modern domestic animals. Credit: SciTechDaily.com Study finds surprisingly high incidence of osteochondrosis in these extinct predators.Ice Age sabertooth cats and dire wolves experienced a high incidence of bone disease in their joints, according…

Portrait of Ramses II in Nakhtamun tomb, Chief of the Altar in the Ramesseum (tomb TT 341, possibly 20th Dynasty, circa 1100 B.C.). Credit: Martinez et al., CC-BY 4.0A groundbreaking study using portable chemical imaging has revealed hidden alterations in ancient Egyptian paintings, suggesting deeper historical and symbolic layers in these artworks.Portable chemical imaging technology can reveal hidden details in ancient Egyptian paintings, according to a study published recently in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by…

A study has revealed that over 210 million years ago, ancient animals possibly possessed bird-like feet. This discovery comes from an analysis of Trisauropodiscus footprints found in southern Africa, dating back to the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic Periods. These footprints, which differ from any known fossil animals of that era, suggest that either early dinosaurs or other reptiles may have evolved bird-like feet, predating the earliest bird fossils by 60 million years. (Artistic concept artwork.) Credit:…

The skull of Hippopotamus amphibius of Cava Montanari. Cranium in dorsal (A), ventral (B), right lateral (C), left lateral (D) and posterior (E) views. Mandible in occlusal (F) right lateral (G) and left lateral (H) views. Scale bar 10 cm. Credit: Mecozzi et al., 2023, PLOS ONE, CC-BY 4.0 New analysis settles long-standing confusion about the age of a key fossil. Modern hippos first dispersed in Europe during the Middle Pleistocene, a geological epoch that spanned from about 770,000 to 126,000 years ago. This is…

A new study shows that older individuals who engage in long-term financial planning have a lower risk of death, suggesting a link between proactive financial habits and improved health outcomes, particularly for those with lower socioeconomic status.Long-term planning could be especially advantageous for the health of individuals with limited financial means.Individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds often face reduced life expectancies, a situation influenced by various factors like limited healthcare spending and…