That"s no straw: Hummingbirds evolved surprisingly flexible bills to help them drink nectar
Hummingbird bills—their long, thin beaks—look a little like drinking straws. The frenetic speed at which they get nectar out of flowers and backyard feeders may give the impression that the bills act as straws, too. But new research shows just ho.....»»
Metal Slug Tactics is an arcade reimagining worth playing on Game Pass
Metal Slug Tactics reimagines SNK's classic arcade action game as a turn-based strategy game, but the conversion works surprisingly well......»»
A comparison of bat and bird wings reveals their evolutionary paths are vastly different
Bats are incredibly diverse animals: They can climb onto other animals to drink their blood, pluck insects from leaves or hover to drink nectar from tropical flowers, all of which require distinctive wing designs......»»
Hubble and Webb probe surprisingly smooth disk around Vega
In the 1997 movie "Contact," adapted from Carl Sagan's 1985 novel, the lead character scientist Ellie Arroway (played by actor Jodi Foster) takes a space-alien-built wormhole ride to the star Vega. She emerges inside a snowstorm of debris encircling.....»»
Starbucks CEO: Plans underway to pause price increases, remove iced energy drink, make coffee in 4 minutes or less
Starbucks CEO: Plans underway to pause price increases, remove iced energy drink, make coffee in 4 minutes or less.....»»
Atlas of the Human Planet: 50 years of population growth and urbanization trends uncovered
The new Atlas of the Human Planet reveals 50 years of global population growth and urbanization trends, providing insights into how cities and rural areas have evolved. This data offers vital tools for addressing future climate, social, and economic.....»»
The best Perk-A-Colas in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Nothing will quench your thirst during a Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies match like a cold Perk-A-Cola. These are the best flavors to drink during a match......»»
Rising vet fees in the UK leave pet owners facing tough choices—and vets often bear the brunt
If you're a pet owner, you may have noticed increases in your vet bills in recent years. The average cost of pet booster injections increased by 48% in the UK between 2020 and early 2024, while pet insurance prices rose by 21% in the year to March. M.....»»
How Your Brain Processes Zero (It’s Not Exactly ‘Nothing’)
What we think about when we think about “zilch” is surprisingly complex, neuroscientists find.....»»
Where did kissing come from? Study introduces the "groomer"s final kiss hypothesis"
A team at the University of Warwick is suggesting that human kissing evolved from grooming behaviors observed in ancestral great apes. In a study, "The Evolutionary Origin of Human Kissing," published in Evolutionary Anthropology, the researchers int.....»»
Study finds "elite" online critics maintain influence even after losing status
When a reviewer loses an "elite" badge on the restaurant review site Yelp, the quality of their reviews declines, but the perceived value of those reviews remains surprisingly high because of how the site displays their status, according to new resea.....»»
King Charles sips narcotic kava drink, becomes Samoan "high chief"
King Charles sips narcotic kava drink, becomes Samoan "high chief".....»»
Apple Vision Pro gratitude
Apple Vision Pro is a surprisingly emotional computer. If Apple Watch is Apple’s most personal device, Apple Vision Pro is the company’s most intimate. My take on Apple Vision Pro after a month of regular use is that it’s the ultimate nostal.....»»
The Jackbox Survey Scramble will turn your game night into Family Feud
Jackbox's latest game is all about the joys of filling out surveys, and it's surprisingly more thrilling than that sounds.,.....»»
Unexpected pollinators: Forget cheese, these mice prefer nectar
The native banksias, with their colorful flowering spikes, were long thought to have been pollinated by honeyeater birds and marsupials, which are rewarded with large quantities of nectar......»»
How to use the new text effects in Messages on iPhone with iOS 18
Apple's iOS 18 software update brought plenty of new features, including to the Messages app. The addition of cool new text effects gives iPhone owners new ways to communicate and they're surprisingly easy to use.Text effects offer the option to anim.....»»
Gardens prevent pollinators from starving when farmland nectar is scarce, study finds
Gardens offer a steady and reliable source of nectar all year round, helping to keep pollinators fed when farmland sources are limited, researchers have discovered. This consistency means that even small patches of gardens in rural areas can sustain.....»»
Flexible thermoelectric fibers for wearables maintain stable energy performance in extreme environments
A thermoelectric material that can be used in wearable devices such as smart clothing and maintains stable thermal energy performance even in extreme environments has been developed by a team of Korean researchers. It has dramatically resolved the di.....»»
Genomic study offers hope for endangered Oriental stork
A new genomic study of the endangered Oriental stork reveals that the population's genetic health is still surprisingly strong, with high genetic diversity and low levels of inbreeding. This is an uncommon finding in most endangered species populatio.....»»
Nitrogen-fixing plant diversity declines with over-fertilization, study finds
Anthropogenic nitrogen deposition and climate change can reduce the competitive advantage of nitrogen-fixing plants, leading to reduced diversity of these plants in a community. Surprisingly, changes in temperature and aridity do not contribute to th.....»»
Megastudy tests crowdsourced ideas for reducing political polarization
Showing sympathetic figures with differing beliefs, discussed over a drink. Highlighting a shared identity. Correcting misperceptions about opposing partisans' views on democracy. Those are a few of the most effective strategies for reducing politica.....»»