- Professor Mark Elgar
Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Animal Behaviour, School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne
Air pollution makes it harder for insects to find food and mates
Air pollution particles affect insect antennae function and may be a driver of global declines in insect populations, finds a University of Melbourne-led study.
Secrets of the basket-web spider’s silk
A new study, including the University of Melbourne, reveals the first insights into the evolution and structure of the Australian basket-web spider’s rare silk.
Why do small dogs live longer than big dogs?
Larger animals tend to live longer than smaller ones, but within the dog kingdom it pays to be small. A University of Melbourne expert explains what's going on.
Would cockroaches really survive a nuclear apocalypse?
University of Melbourne experts look at the cockroaches' reputation for resilience and whether they really would survive a nuclear bomb and radiation.
It’s not just antenna size, but scales that matter for lonely male moths
University of Melbourne research finds some male moths have evolved intricate scale arrangements on their antennae to enhance detection of female sex pheromones
Are redheads with blue eyes really going extinct?
Red hair and blue eyes is the rarest colour combination in humans; a University of Melbourne expert looks at whether they're really going extinct.
Genes don’t always dictate that ‘boys will be boys’
New University of Melbourne evolutionary biology research finds that genes don't always dictate that 'boys will be boys' in the animal world, just like humans.
Darwin was right: Females prefer sex with good listeners
University of Melbourne researchers prove one of Charles Darwin's theories about sexual selection; in moths - larger antennae can better detect female signals.
The science behind love songs
Valentine's Day is full of love songs. This is how love works on our mind, body and soul ... and why we want to write beautiful music about it.
Why we show the whites of our eyes
Of all the animals, only humans obviously show the whites of our eyes, making it easier for us to communicate and deceive with just glance.