WEIRD ANIMALS
New research suggests the concept isn’t so simple. By Christian Yates – If your dog has been alive and kicking its paws for about a decade, the widely held belief is that it has aged as much as a human would have …
SmartNews Keeping you current The Tennessee Aquarium’s internet-famous eel, Miguel Wattson, is powering Christmas lights in the exhibit. By Jason Daley, Smithsonian.Com – Stringing up holiday lights may add a few dollars to the December power bill, but the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga …
How beekeeping helped heal an army veteran. By BBCEarth – After 20 years in the US Military, Eric Grandon’s life was in a downward spiral. Six tours to the Middle East, including Operation Desert Storm, had taken their toll on his body and …
New species said to have been four times heavier than emperor penguin. Patrick Barkham @patrick_barkham – An illustration shows the approximate height of a giant penguin next to a woman. Photograph: Canterbury Museum/AP. A giant penguin that stood as tall as a person …
Scientists are finally starting to understand the centuries-old mystery of “ballooning.” By Ed Yong – A ballooning spider. Michael Hutchinson. On October 31, 1832, a young naturalist named Charles Darwin walked onto the deck of the HMS Beagle and realized that …
By Rosie Turner – There are many animals in the world, and many that are round. Here we take a look at the best circular creatures and how their ball-like shapes help them to adapt to the environment around them. Here for your …
“For decades, a national anti-cruelty law was a dream for animal protectionists. Today, it is a reality.” By Stephen Johnson – Pixabay All 50 states and local governments have animal cruelty laws, but before this week it was only a federal crime to …
Chameleon photo By David Prötzel – Famous for camouflage, their visual communication turns out to run even deeper. – By Brittney Borowiec, Comparative Physiology, Wilfrid Laurier University. Hump-backed and slow, chameleons sway like leaves as they creep along branches. Their coned, protruding eyes …
Scientists have known about the ancient snake group Najash for years, but were not able to gain a thorough understanding of its skull until now. Why did this cheeky snake have two hind legs? (Raúl Gómez) By Brigit Katz – Smithsonian.Com – In …
Report claims 400,000 insect species face extinction amid heavy use of pesticides. Damian Carrington Environment editor @dpcarrington – The study also indicates that insects, including bees, are vanishing due to damage to nature. Photograph: Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters. The “unnoticed insect apocalypse” should set alarm …