Polish paleontologists have discovered three new species of prehistoric brachiopods. Millions of years ago, these tiny marine invertebrates were among the most common animals of the seabed.

Pro-social behaviour is determined by sex, scientists from the Maj Institute of Pharmacology PAS found during their research on mice. In nature, these animals exhibit a number of social behaviours: they maintain a hierarchy, females nest together, and males display territoriality and aggression.

Populations of common European birds have declined by an average of 25% over the last 40 years. The most important reason for this phenomenon is the increasing use of pesticides and artificial fertilisers.

Albino individuals occur in populations of various animal species, but in the case of shrews they are extremely rare. One of these specimens arrived a few days ago at the Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Białowieża. This is the first such unique specimen in Poland and the third in the world, the institute's representatives emphasise in a press release.

Researchers from the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences have proven that breeding small brachycephalic (shorter-nosed) dogs took place already in ancient Rome. Research on a 2,000 years old dog skull indicates that the dog resembled a French bulldog.

The analysis of the content of 10 different organic compounds belonging to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in soils taken from protected areas (landscape parks in the Małopolska region) revealed that in a quarter of the tested samples the permissible levels were exceeded, causing a risk of particular importance for the protection of the soil surface.

Ticks transmit not only Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis, but also other diseases, such as neoehrlichiosis. A team of scientists from the University of Warmia and Mazury conducts research on the bacteria that cause this little-known disease in humans.

The functioning of the human body is the result of evolution. Normally, the human genome adapts to changes in the environment over thousands of years, but during the last 50 years the human life, including diet, has changed so radically that the general population has not yet had time to adapt and cope with lifestyle-related disease problems, believes Professor Carsten Carlberg.

A snapping shell, huge teeth and a long sticky thread help the predatory larvae of the thick shelled river mussel to lodge in the fish's gills and swim long distances. Polish researchers have solved the mystery of the strange jets of water that the female uses to lure fish - just like fly fishermen.