Non-verbal gestures are an integral part of how humans and some other organisms communicate, as with various sign languages and expressing emotions. A small-bird species called the Japanese tit (Parus minor) also may also use this more complex form of ...
Read More »Sadly, these live-streamed bald eagle eggs likely won’t hatch
Though they’ve captivated the internet since late February, three eagle eggs in a nest in Southern California are unlikely to hatch. Parents Jakie and Shadow continue to take turns keeping the eggs warm, as snow dots their nest overlooking Big ...
Read More »Ireland was once home to deer with massive 12-foot antlers
Ireland may not be home to any snakes, but the island’s actual natural past and present is still bustling with other wildlife. It’s currently home to 40 species of land and marine mammals, 12,000 species of insects, and more than ...
Read More »‘Spectacular’ new orchid species is pollinated by moths
Despite their reputation for being easy for aspiring plant parents to destroy, orchids can be found all over the planet. There are more than 25,000 known species of these plants, with more discovered every year. An international team of scientists ...
Read More »Healthy reef soundscapes can help degraded coral reefs grow
Healthy reefs are known as vibrant homes for colorful corals and fish.. As with any bustling ecosystem, they have their own sounds and can be quite noisy. The purrs, croaks, and grunts of fish and crustaceans that live there and ...
Read More »How citizen scientists are protecting ‘glass eels’
The Hudson River used to be among some of the most contaminated rivers in the United States. Following decades of environmental legislation and activism, wildlife including bald eagles, bears, and whales are being spotted in New York in larger numbers. ...
Read More »Sorry, Darwin: Most male mammals aren’t bigger than females
The idea that most biologically male members of a species are physically larger than the females goes back to Charles Darwin’s 1871 book The Descent of Man. While this is typically true for some species including gorillas, buffalo, and elephants, ...
Read More »Cicadas pee in jet streams like bigger animals
Cicadas are known for emerging in the billions. These groups chatter so loudly that fiber optic cables can pick up the noise. However, the way that they pee is also making waves this year. Instead of urinating in tiny droplets ...
Read More »New squid alert! 100+ species discovered off the coast of New Zealand
The Pacific is the largest and deepest ocean basin on the planet. Scientists barely know just how many different organisms call these deep waters home. Many of these areas are remote and difficult to explore, but that hasn’t stopped efforts ...
Read More »These extinct termites have been stuck in a mating position for 38 million years
It was a mosquito full of dinosaur blood and encased in amber that helped bring the fictional Jurassic Park to life. While real world bugs stuck in sticky substances don’t lead to dangerous dinosaur parks (yet), they do offer scientists ...
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