the ampersand

Brainy birds fare better under climate change

Many North American migratory birds are shrinking in size as temperatures have warmed over the past 40 years. But those with very big brains, relative to their body size, did not shrink as much as smaller-brained birds, according to new research from Washington University in St. Louis. The study is the first to identify a direct link between cognition and animal response to human-made climate change.

Molecular ‘blueprint’ illuminates how plants perceive light

Biologist Richard Vierstra has revealed the structure of a vital photoreceptor in plants with implications for agricultural and “green” bioengineering practices.

Seismic study reveals key reason why Patagonia is rising as glaciers melt