What does Polly say? Community science data reveal species differences in vocal learning by parrots
While most animals don't learn their vocalizations, everyone knows that parrots do—they are excellent mimics of human speech. But how large is the vocabulary of different parrot species? Do males "talk" more than females? Does a parrot's vocabulary.....»»
Scientists examine geological processes of Monad Regio on Neptune"s largest moon, Triton
In a recent study published in the journal Icarus, a team of researchers at the International Research School of Planetary Science (IRSPS) located at the D'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara in Italy conducted a geological analysis of a region on.....»»
Understanding Australia"s Black Summer through research
Science is shaping how Australia can better prepare for devastating bushfire seasons with the release of comprehensive research based on the major issues of the 2019–20 Black Summer fire season......»»
Almost all of Africa"s maize crop is at risk from devastating fall armyworm pest, study reveals
Almost all of Africa's maize crop is at risk from the devastating fall armyworm pest (Spodoptera frugiperda) according to new research published in the journal Frontiers in Insect Science......»»
How culling Australia"s feral water buffalo could help tackle climate change
The world's largest wild population of water buffalo now roam Australia. As does the largest wild herd of camels. We have millions of feral goats and deer. For these introduced species, Australia is a paradise. Plenty of vegetation, and not many pred.....»»
"Blue marble": How a half-century of climate change has altered the face of the Earth
In December 1972, NASA's final Apollo mission (Apollo 17) took the iconic "Blue Marble" photo of the whole Earth. Many, including science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, had expected that the sight of Earth from afar would instill the belief that ma.....»»
The social code: Deciphering the genetic basis of hymenopteran social behavior
Since Darwin, biologists have been fascinated by the evolution of sociality. In its most extreme form, eusocial species exhibit a division of labor in which certain individuals perform reproductive tasks such as egg laying, while others play non-repr.....»»
50 years after Roe v. Wade, nearly one third of states lack abortion access
The legal limitations restricting abortion in the United States continue to erode access to reproductive health care at an alarming pace while other states work to protect and expand access, according to updated data released by the Center for Public.....»»
Evolutionary trade-offs: Balancing genetic disease risks and pathogen protection
Certain genes can exist in different, functionally divergent variants in the individuals of a species. If they lead to clear differences, for example in a phenotype or susceptibility to disease, this is known in biology as a polymorphism. Typical exa.....»»
First maps of the fens of eastern England reveal saltwater that could threaten food production
The first ever maps of the shallow groundwater of the Fens of eastern England show that salt water is relatively close beneath the surface, meaning that if sea-levels rise, then salt content would affect the ability of the area to grow food......»»
Quantum vortex formation in the lab
Quantized vortices can be generated in classical experiments of liquid helium and ultracold dilute gases to conduct fundamental and comparative studies of different superfluids. In a new report published in Science Advances, Ivan Gnusov and a researc.....»»
Scientists are trying to resurrect the dodo centuries after the bird famously went extinct
The list of extinct species that genetic engineering company Colossal wants to bring back to life is growing. The latest addition: the dodo......»»
Satellite remote sensing helps monitor lake CO2 dynamics at large scale
Lakes play an essential role in carbon cycle. However, current bottom-up estimates of CO2 emissions from lakes have significant uncertainties due to insufficient field data......»»
A novel device enabling high-resolution observation of liquid phase dynamic processes at nanoscale
In situ observation and recording of important liquid-phase electrochemical reactions in energy devices is crucial for the advancement of energy science......»»
New software enables automated analysis of biomedical image data without programming knowledge
The software JIPipe was developed by scientists at the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI) and significantly simplifies the analysis of images generated in research. Users can create flowcharts according.....»»
Sorghum: The unlikely food source for pollinators
Sorghum bicolor, a pollen-rich grass species cultivated for grain and forage, which looks similar to corn, can be an important food source for pollinators and other beneficial insects during times when pollen and nectar are scarce......»»
Deer browsing is just one of many factors shaping North American forests
In a new study, a Penn State-led research team discovered evidence that browsing by white-tailed deer had relatively little long-term impact on two tree species in a northern forest......»»
Study finds timing of drought is more damaging to invertebrates than severity
Populations of various species of aquatic insects and other invertebrates respond to flooding and waterway drying due to drought in different ways that can be anticipated, according to a new Penn State-led study that employed a novel method to assess.....»»
Data scientist suggests many Bigfoot sightings may be bear sightings
Floe Foxon, a data scientist with Pinney Associates, has been comparing the number of bears living in parts of North America with the number of Bigfoot sightings over the years and suggests there is a correlation. In a paper posted on the preprint si.....»»
Investigations reveal more evidence that Mimas is a stealth ocean world
When a Southwest Research Institute scientist discovered surprising evidence that Saturn's smallest, innermost moon could generate the right amount of heat to support a liquid internal ocean, colleagues began studying Mimas' surface to understand how.....»»
How to control your smart home without yelling at a dumb voice assistant
You can have nice, automated things without learning how to shout at speakers. Enlarge / We don't have to rely on megacorp obelisks to operate the things we buy. We don't have to learn their language. We can break free. (credit:.....»»