Violent rocket particles could reshape future spacecraft design

A new study published in the Journal of Raptor Research, titled "Factors Influencing Nestling Sex Ratios of Suburban and Rural Red-Shouldered Hawks, 2004–2016," finds that hawk parents prioritize producing female offspring when conditions are optimal. This means that higher quality territories could result in more females, offering biologists clues about habitat health, which is important intel as the species adapts to urban environments with increasing frequency.

New research from the University of St Andrews has discovered that insects who conceal themselves as leaves also use their leafy camouflage to amplify mating calls, making themselves more attractive to the opposite sex. The research published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B is the first demonstration of how impressive leaf mimicry can also be used to enhance the attractiveness of a sexual signal.

Researchers at Eurac Research have obtained a detailed picture of the microbial community associated with Ötzi, Europe's oldest known natural human mummy. The study provides insights into a complex microbiome, ranging from the gut flora of a Copper Age human to cold-adapted yeasts.

Sharks need healthy habitats, and some have a strong preference for locations jam-packed with food, according to FIU research. A recent study of Caribbean reef sharks in the Bahamas, where shark fishing has been banned for years, shows that the sharks don't seem to like places where prey is hard to find. Instead, they prefer to live where prey is most abundant. The research is published in the journal Animal Conservation.