All Smithsonian Institution articles
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NewsAsteroid that doomed dinosaurs created fungus farming among ants
Scientists analyzed genetic data from 475 species of fungi and 276 species of ants to craft detailed evolutionary trees, allowing them to pinpoint when ants began cultivating fungi millions of years ago, a behavior that some ant species still exhibit today.
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NewsCoral identified as oldest bioluminescent organism, suggesting new model of ancient ecology
Researchers have identified eight organisms with previously unknown luminosity. Using genetic findings, they estimated coral bioluminescence originated about 540 million years ago in the Cambrian period, making them the earliest bioluminescent organisms.