Bergmann’s rule is driven not only by evolution, but also early-life stress and short-term environmental shifts.
Sukanya Charuchandra
Originally from Mumbai, Sukanya Charuchandra is a freelance science writer drawn to reporting on biomedical research, archaeology, and climate science. She holds Master’s degrees in science journalism and biotechnology.
Plant diversity fell in the wake of the Black Death
A new study used the Black Death as a natural experiment, finding that medieval farming fostered Europe’s biodiversity.
Tectonic movements are instrumental in rocky coastal erosion
Earthquakes and shifting tectonic plates factor into coastal erosion along the US West Coast.
Researchers successfully freeze and revive Anopheles gambiae mosquito larvae
Vitrification enables simpler, more resilient storage of key mosquito strains used in malarial vector control.
First objective framework for decoding fossil brain imprints
A ‘Rosetta Stone’ for endocasts could aid our understanding of brain development in hominins.
Fruit flies are mapping the ecological cost of urbanization
A citizen science project in Vienna reveals how urbanization is reshaping fruit fly communities.
Spines of pinnipeds were adapted for marine life and swimming styles
Pinnipeds traded flexible necks for powerful, mobile lower backs as their ancestors transitioned from land to water.
Airborne DNA reveals shifting reproductive timing in bryophytes
Reconstructing time from decades of air samples shows bryophytes releasing spores earlier as the climate warms.
Mediterranean lizards lighten their coloration to cope with wildfire heat
After fires strip away vegetation, common Mediterranean lizards rapidly shift color to reflect heat, darkening again once the landscape recovers.
Epigenetic changes tie brain maturation to adolescent cognitive gains
Shifts in gene regulation during adolescence guide the refinement of brain circuits tied to executive function.