Science Daily

• Humans may not be as hardwired for violence as we thought

  A study comparing 100 primate species, including humans, suggests that everyday aggression and lethal violence did not evolve as part of the same simple behavioral spectrum. Species that frequently fight or show mild aggression are not necessarily more likely to kill rivals, while extreme acts such as infanticide and lethal attacks appear to follow their own evolutionary patterns.

• Scientists reveal what seven days of fasting does to the human body

  Scientists found that prolonged fasting triggers major changes throughout the body, but many of the most interesting effects only appeared after about three days without food. The results suggest fasting may influence health in ways that go beyond weight loss and could eventually inspire treatments that mimic its effects.

• A new way to fight gum disease without wiping out good bacteria

  Scientists discovered that disrupting the chemical messages bacteria use to communicate can push dental plaque toward a healthier microbial balance. The approach could lead to new treatments for gum disease that control harmful bacteria without destroying beneficial species.

• Archaeologists may have finally solved a 100-year-old Florida mystery

  Ancient pottery from Tampa Bay appears to have been made by migrant craftspeople who brought specialized Mississippian pottery-making knowledge hundreds of miles south. Remarkably, they even incorporated crushed fragments of older homeland pottery into new vessels, preserving a physical link to their past across generations.

• Tropical trees built homes for ants. Wasps are taking them over

  Predatory wasps are hijacking shelters built by tropical trees for their ant defenders, potentially disrupting an ancient partnership that protects the plants from hungry insects. The takeover is far more common in disturbed landscapes such as oil palm plantations and could have lasting consequences for forest recovery and evolution.