Nature Hub

  From BBC News Edited by Amal Udawatta, IMAGE SOURCE, REUTERS Image caption, The excavation site in Nyayanga where hundreds of stone tools dating to roughly 2.9 million years ago were found Archaeologists in Kenya have dug up some of the oldest stone tools ever used by ancient humans, dating back around 2.9 million years. It is evidence that the tools were used by other branches of early humans, not just the ancestors of Homo Sapiens. The tools were used to butcher hippos and pound plant materials like tubers and fruit, the researchers said. Two big fossil teeth found at the site belong to an extinct human cousin, known as Paranthropus. Scientists had previously thought that Oldowan tools, a kind of simple stone implement, were only used by ancestors of Homo Sapiens, a grouping that includes our species and our closest relatives. However, no Homo Sapien fossils were found at the excavation site in Nyayanga on the Homa Peninsula in western Kenya. Instead, there were two teeth - sto...

  By Michelle Roberts Digital health editor BBC . Edited by -Amal Udawatta, IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES An on-demand, non-hormonal male contraceptive pill may be a real possibility say scientists who have found a cell pathway, or switch, that stops sperm from being able to swim. Tests in mice  suggest it keeps sperm stunned for at least a few hours - long enough to stop them reaching the egg. Many more tests are planned and needed, moving to rabbits before people. The idea is users could pop a pill an hour before sex and keep an eye on the clock for when it wears off. How does it work? Unlike the female contraceptive pill, it does not involve any hormones. Scientists say that is one of the advantages of the approach they are exploring - it will not knock out testosterone and cause any male hormone deficiency side effects. Instead, the "sperm-swim" switch they are targeting is a cellular signalling protein called soluble adenylyl cyclase or sAC. The experimental male pill inhib...

  Form - Earth Unreal, Edited by Amal Udawatta The Indian Mackerel, or the Striped Mackerel, also known as the Atlantic mackerel, is a species of fish that is widely distributed in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. This species is a fast-swimming predatory fish that belongs to the Scombridae family, which also includes tuna and bonito. It has long been a source of fascination for scientists and ocean enthusiasts alike. The highlight of this striking picture is undoubtedly the Mackerel's wide open mouth, a window into its mesmerizing inner world. The intricate maze of its twisting intestine is exposed, a testimony to the vital role it plays in the fish's survival. Striped mackerels are filter feeders, opening their cavernous mouths as they swim and sieving zooplankton from the water with their gill rakers, acting like a net. It's translucent skin provides a form of camouflage, allowing it to blend in with the s...

  From Earth Unreal Edited by Amal Udawatta, The Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleucus) is a species of bird that is native to the forests of New Guinea. This bird is known for its unique and striking appearance, which is characterized by its long, wire-like feathers and vibrant plumage. Male Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise have black bodies with white tail feathers, while their wire-like head plumes and breast plumes are orange. The distinctive wires that extend from their tail feathers give the bird its name. During courtship displays, the male will spread its tail feathers to create a dramatic and eye-catching display, which is meant to attract a mate. In terms of habitat, the Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise prefers lowland and hill forests, where they can be found at elevations ranging from sea level to over 2,000 meters. This species is non-migratory and primarily feeds on fruit and insects. Despite its stunning appearance, the Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise is con...

 From - The Guardian Magazine Donna Lu  Science writer' Edited by Amal Udawatta, The health benefits of green or blue prescriptions are many and there are calls to integrate them more into routine care                      Being in nature, studies tell us, has significant positive effects on our                                mental and physical health.  Photograph: Andrew Peacock/Getty                                      Images/iStockphoto I n my mid-20s, I undertook the quintessentially Australian rite of passage of moving to London for a few years. Months into my first English winter, I started having dreams about the Australian wilderness. The images were so vivid and specific that I jotted them down. I had a recurring dream about looking at...