Poison frog tadpoles can survive (almost) anywhere
A group of researchers from the University of Jyväskylä and Stanford University were part of an expedition to French Guiana to study tropical frogs in the Amazon. Amphibian species of this region use ephemeral pools of water as their nurseries and.....»»
Leaves of three, let it be? Wide variability among poison ivy plants makes identification more challenging
We've all heard the classic saying "leaves of three, let it be," which means don't touch the poison ivy. But just how accurate is that timeless phrase? While this specific mnemonic device exists to deter people from touching poison ivy, it turns out.....»»
Chickadees have unique neural "barcodes" for memories of stashing away food
Black-capped chickadees have extraordinary memories that can recall the locations of thousands of morsels of food to help them survive the winter. Now scientists at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute have discovered how the chickadees can remember so man.....»»
Seagrass meadows face uncertain future, scientists say
James Cook University scientists who analyzed seagrass meadows around the world say the crucial habitats are under increasing threat and need to incorporate new management strategies if they are to survive climate change. The study is published in Gl.....»»
New York City owl Flaco was exposed to pigeon virus and rat poison before death, tests show
New York City's celebrity owl Flaco was suffering from a severe pigeon-borne illness and high levels of rat poison when he crashed into a building and died last month, officials at the Bronx Zoo said Monday......»»
Research suggests natural electrical grid deep inside Earth enables many types of microbes to survive
To "breathe" in an environment without oxygen, bacteria in the ground beneath our feet depend upon a single family of proteins to transfer excess electrons (produced during the "burning" of nutrients) to electric hairs called nanowires projecting fro.....»»
Genetic basis for the evolution of hair discovered in the clawed frog
The development of hair was of central importance for the evolution of mammals and, thus, also of humans. However, the evolutionary origin of the genetic program of hair was previously unknown. An international research team led by Leopold Eckhart fr.....»»
Could Earth life survive on a red dwarf planet?
Even though exoplanet science has advanced significantly in the last decade or two, we're still in an unfortunate situation. Scientists can only make educated guesses about which exoplanets may be habitable. Even the closest exoplanet is four light-y.....»»
Animal hair structure changes from summer to winter to fend off freezing weather, researchers show
Unique adaptations allow wild animals to survive temperature extremes that would quickly kill an unprotected human. For example, certain animals can withstand bitterly cold weather, thanks to the insulating properties of the hollow hairs that make up.....»»
Why do tree frogs lay their eggs on the ground?
When it comes to laying eggs, tree frogs have some unusual habits. Instead of always laying their eggs on tree branches where they usually live, they often lay their eggs on the ground. But why would a tree frog do this, especially when it puts its e.....»»
Rainforest"s next generation of trees threatened 30 years after logging
Rainforest seedlings are more likely to survive in natural forests than in places where logging has happened—even if tree restoration projects have taken place, new research shows. The work appears in Global Change Biology......»»
Vehicle subscriptions work to prove worth in a sink or swim market
The few startups and programs still in operation are trying to find the right pricing and logistical models to survive......»»
Researchers develop amphibian-inspired camouflage skin
Inspired by amphibians such as the wood frog, investigators designed and synthesized a new type of camouflage skin involving one-dimensional photonic crystal structures assembled in three-dimensional flexible gels......»»
Walleye struggle with changes to timing of spring thaw, researchers find
Walleye are one of the most sought-after species in freshwater sportfishing, a delicacy on Midwestern menus and a critically important part of the culture of many Indigenous communities. They are also struggling to survive in the warming waters of th.....»»
Japan’s lunar lander surprises team by waking up from cold lunar night
Japan's lunar lander has surprised its team by successfully emerging from a bitterly cold lunar night that few thought it would survive......»»
How bats survive Norwegian winter nights
You have probably seen bats flying at dusk. They suddenly appear on summer evenings, when other flying creatures have settled down for the night. However, they are not a common sight in Norway, because there aren't that many of them. In addition, bat.....»»
Flea toad may be world"s smallest vertebrate
A trio of biologists at Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, in Brazil, has verified that a tiny frog, Brachycephalus pulex, also known as the Brazilian flea toad, which is found only in southern Brazil, is not only the world's smallest amphibian, it.....»»
How to survive Valentine"s Day when you"re heartbroken
8 ways to forget your heartbreak on the most cursed day of the year Many Februarys ago, I went for lunch with a friend and was served a devastating blow. As I ordered a club sandwich, I caught her eyeing me nervously. "So, I have some news," sh.....»»
Researchers discover that blocking an essential nutrient inhibits malaria parasite growth
Living organisms often create what is needed for life from scratch. For humans, this process means the creation of most essential compounds needed to survive. But not every living thing has this capability, such as the parasite that causes malaria, w.....»»
Study shows how plants adapt to cold ambient temperatures and frost
As plants are sessile organisms, they must be highly flexible in their ability to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions in order to survive. Researchers from the Department of Plant Physiology at the RPTU Kaiserslautern are investigating.....»»
Fossilized frog with belly full of eggs unearthed in China is oldest of its kind
An international team of Earth scientists, evolutionary biologists and paleontologists has unearthed an ancient frog with a belly full of eggs, the oldest known find of its kind. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the gro.....»»