Vampire finches: how little birds in the Galápagos got a taste for big bird blood
For most people, the word "vampire" brings to mind Dracula or perhaps slayers such as Blade or Buffy; or maybe even the vampire bats of South America. Few will think of a small and rather lovely bird—the finch......»»
I trust NASA’s safety culture this time around, and so should you
"The lessons of Columbia have not been forgotten." Through a cloud-washed blue sky above Launch Pad 39A, Space Shuttle Columbia hurtles toward space on mission STS-107. (credit: NASA) My first real taste of space journa.....»»
Liked to death? The social media race for nature photos can trash ecosystems—or trigger rapid extinction
Have you ever liked or shared a social media post about nature? It could have been a photo of a rare orchid or an unusual bird. Or you might share a stunning photo of an "undiscovered" natural place......»»
Research shows that glossy black-cockatoos prefer to feed from trees growing in acidic soils
Glossy black-cockatoos are seed-eating birds that feed almost exclusively on the cones of drooping sheoak trees. However, counter-intuitively, they select trees that grow on the poorest soils found on ancient sedimentary rocks......»»
2022’s best indie game is finally coming to PlayStation this month
Vampire Survivors is coming to PlayStation, meaning even the Sony faithful can rip through hordes of gothic monsters......»»
How feeding birds may be polluting local environments
New research led by an NAU alumnus shows that backyard bird feeders, although put out with the best of intentions, is changing the chemistry of local ecosystems, including introducing a potentially harmful amount of phosphorus into the environment......»»
Researchers calculate up to a billion birds may die in the US each year due to collisions with windows
A team of ornithologists from the Fordham University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the NYC Bird Alliance, Inc, and the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology has found evidence that far more birds are killed by window collisions than previo.....»»
Bird Flu Cases in People Are Being Undercounted
Dairy workers in Texas show signs of prior, undetected bird flu infections in a new study.....»»
Cancer Case Rates Are Rising Across Generations, and a SpaceX Private Spacewalk Is Delayed
A new blood test for cancer, helpful cat parasites and a new kind of wood are featured in this week’s news roundup......»»
3D-printed blood vessels bring artificial organs closer to reality
Growing functional human organs outside the body is a long-sought "holy grail" of organ transplantation medicine that remains elusive. New research from Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and John A. Paulson School of Engi.....»»
Scientists use carbon isotopes to track "forever chemicals"
Organofluorine compounds—sometimes called "forever chemicals"—are increasingly turning up in our drinking water, oceans and even human blood, posing a potential threat to the environment and human health......»»
Plants offer fruit to insects to disperse dust-like seeds, botanist discovers
Fruit exist to invite animals to disperse the swallowed seeds. A Kobe University research team found that plants targeting insects rather than birds or mammals for this service are more common than previously thought. These plants produce dust-like s.....»»
Improving cat food flavors with the help of feline taste-testers
Cats are notoriously picky eaters. But what if we could design their foods around flavors that they're scientifically proven to enjoy? Researchers publishing in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry used a panel of feline taste-testers to i.....»»
Troubling bird flu study suggests human cases are going undetected
A small sample of farm workers is enough to confirm fears about H5N1 outbreak. Enlarge (credit: Tony C. French/Getty) A small study in Texas suggests that human bird flu cases are being missed on dairy farms where the H5.....»»
How large turkey vultures remain aloft in thin air
Mountain hikes are invigorating. Crisp air and clear views can refresh the soul, but thin air presents an additional challenge for high-altitude birds. "All else being equal, bird wings produce less lift in low density air," says Jonathan Rader from.....»»
Plant biologists discover an ancient gene family is responsible for plant prickles across species
According to Greek mythology, red roses first appeared when Aphrodite pricked her foot on a thorn, spilling blood on a white rose. Since then, roses' thorns have captured the imaginations of countless poets and forlorn lovers......»»
What’s new on Netflix and what’s leaving in August 2024
The Umbrella Academy season 4, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Interview with the Vampire, Terminator Zero, and more are new on Netflix in August 2024......»»
Scientists using new sound tech to save animals from extinction
Research, conducted by The University of Warwick and the University of New South Wales in Australia, analyzes animal sounds from endangered species including types of elephants, whales and birds......»»
As fatal virus looms over bald eagles, NJ conservationists fight to keep the bird on the endangered species list
The New Jersey Conservation Foundation, a major environmental group working within the state, is pleading with wildlife officials not to remove bald eagles from the endangered species list as planned, saying a virus that's killing peregrine falcons w.....»»
Mass extinction 66 million years ago triggered rapid evolution of bird genomes, study finds
Shortly after an asteroid slammed into Earth 66 million years ago, life for non-avian dinosaurs ended, but the evolutionary story for the early ancestors of birds began......»»
Researchers explore cancer susceptibility in birds
In one of the largest studies of cancer susceptibility across bird species, researchers at Arizona State University describe an intriguing relationship between reproductive rates and cancer susceptibility......»»