New research reveals oxygen's contributions to evolution

User rating: 4.7 / 5 after 17 vote(s)

Fluorescence micrographs of cyanobacteria. About 2 billions years ago cyanobacteria oxygen-producing photosynthetic prokaryotes that used to be called blue-green algae were responsible for launching the process that increased the concentration of a ...
Fluorescence micrographs of cyanobacteria. About 2 billions years ago, cyanobacteria – oxygen-producing photosynthetic prokaryotes that used to be called blue-green algae – were responsible for launching the process that increased the concentration of atmospheric oxygen from less than 1 percent to about 20 percent today, making possible the evolution of humans and other animals. Mary Sarcina/University College London

It's common knowledge that humans and other animals couldn't survive without oxygen. But scientists are now learning a good deal more about the extent of our evolutionary debt to a substance that was once a deadly poison.


Full story »
All News summaries from General Science news
All News summaries for March 23, 2006

Oldest gorilla in captivity dies in Dallas at 55

Sep 05, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(AP) -- The oldest gorilla in captivity, a 55-year-old female named Jenny, has died at the Dallas Zoo - her home for more than half a century, a spokesman said Friday.

Study: Individual Personal Ties Strengthen Teams’ Overall Creativity

Sep 05, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(PhysOrg.com) -- With more employees working in teams, it’s critical for companies to find ways to enable these teams be more creative in their work.

Study: Behavior of Online Reviewers Affects Their Credibility

Sep 05, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
(PhysOrg.com) -- Consumers increasingly rely on recommendations in online forums, such as Amazon.com and Angieslist.com, when deciding which products and services to buy. But, in most cases, they've never met the posters ...

Dental fillings without gaps

Sep 05, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
Tooth cavities are usually closed with plastic fillings. However, the initially soft plastic shrinks as it hardens. The tension can cause gaps to appear between the tooth and the filling, encouraging more ...

Tracking the reasons many girls avoid science and math

Sep 05, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
Most parents and many teachers believe that if middle-school and high-school girls show no interest in science or math, there's little anyone can do about it. New research by a team that includes vocational ...
Goto Archive PhysOrg Forum Goto Archive Video Goto Archive Editorials Goto Archive Free Magazines Goto Archive Newsletter

News Archive