News
Extreme heat is breaking honey bees’ natural cooling system
5+ hour, 3+ min ago (354+ words) Honey bees are known for their ability to carefully control the temperature inside their hives, but new research shows that extreme summer heat can overwhelm this natural cooling system. A study published in Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology found that prolonged…...
The poison frog that fooled scientists for decades
6+ day, 11+ hour ago (342+ words) The research team published its findings in the journal Zootaxa. Why Holotypes Matter in Species Science This system ensures that scientists around the world are referring to the same organism when discussing a species. How the Error Was Discovered The…...
This “mushroom” is not a fungus, it’s a bizarre plant that breaks all the rules
3+ week, 2+ day ago (380+ words) In the damp shade beneath moss-covered trees, high in the mountains of Taiwan and mainland Japan or deep within the subtropical forests of Okinawa, an unusual organism quietly grows. At first glance, it resembles a mushroom. In reality, it is…...
A mysterious black snake hidden for centuries is now named for Steve Irwin
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (211+ words) A research team has identified a previously unknown species of wolf snake in the remote Great Nicobar Islands of India. The find adds to the growing list of unique wildlife recorded in the Andaman and Nicobar region, an area known…...
New research uncovers the massive squid diet of Hawaiian pilot whales
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (469+ words) How much energy a species must take in each day is an important indicator of its vulnerability if food becomes scarce. For short-finned pilot whales, which routinely plunge to depths of up to 1700m in search of squid, this information is…...
A 480-million-year-old parasite still infects oysters today
2+ mon, 1+ week ago (779+ words) A surprising new study has revealed that a parasite still troubling modern oysters first began infecting shell-dwelling sea creatures hundreds of millions of years before the dinosaurs vanished. Researchers reporting in iScience used high-resolution 3D imaging to examine 480-million-year-old fossil shells…...
Scientists shocked as birds soaked in “forever chemicals” still thrive
3+ mon, 4+ day ago (232+ words) A new paper in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, published by Oxford University Press, indicates high levels of exposure to "forever" chemicals in the environments of many tree swallow bird groups in the United States. Despite this, chemical exposure did not…...
Sharks’ teeth are crumbling in acid seas
4+ mon, 2+ week ago (275+ words) Sharks can famously replace their teeth, with new ones always growing as they're using up the current set. As sharks rely on their teeth to catch prey, this is vital to the survival of one of the oceans' top predators....
This genetic breakthrough could help thousands of species cheat extinction
5+ mon, 3+ week ago (553+ words) Gene editing technologies -- such as those used in agriculture and de-extinction projects -- can be repurposed to offer what an international team of scientists is calling a transformative solution for restoring genetic diversity and saving endangered species. In a new Nature…...
Cluck once, and the river shakes: Inside the Amazon’s giant snake saga
6+ mon, 3+ week ago (416+ words) What inspired you to become a researcher? Can you tell us about the research you're currently working on? Could you tell us about one of the legends surrounding anacondas? What could be the reasons why the traditional role of anacondas…...