A computer simulation could help us better understand the evolution of movement in animalsTwo-legged dinosaurs may have swung their tails as they crashed through the undergrowth – just like humans swing their arms – according to scientists who have modelled their movements in 3D at Harvard University.Until now, it was widely believed that bipedal (two-legged) dinosaurs grew long tails to...

Study using DNA analysis reveals not only are statues on these distant islands connected, but inhabitants tooEaster Island’s famous megaliths have relatives on islands thousands of miles to the north and west, and so did the people who created them, a study has found.Over a 250-year period separate groups of people set out from tiny islands east of Tahiti to settle Easter Island, the Marquesas...

Researchers say children’s mouthing behaviour and products such as bottles may be to blameInfants have more microplastics in their faeces than adults, a study has found.Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5mm in size that have been released into the environment from the breakage of bigger plastic objects. They are a threat to the environment because they do not easily biodegrade,...

Support that boosts toddlers’ social development can lead to them missing out on a diagnosis that secures ongoing helpJames Cusack is chief executive of Autistica, a British autism research charityBeing autistic, for me and the 700,000 other autistic people in the UK, often means spending a lot of time inhabiting a world that doesn’t work well for you. This is why it’s vital that the needs...

New music download patterns appear to closely resemble epidemic curves for infectious disease, study finds Pop music is often described as catchy, but it seems you really can infect friends with your music taste. The pattern of music downloads after their release appears to closely resemble epidemic curves for infectious disease – and electronica appears to be the most infectious genre of...