Animals

More Stories in Animals

  1. Animals

    A single enzyme can alter the vibrant colors in parrot plumage

    Tweaking the chemical composition of a parrot-specific pigment can shift feathers from red to yellow or green.

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  2. Animals

    This marine biologist discovered a unique blue whale population in Sri Lanka

    In addition to studying the world’s only nonmigratory blue whales, marine biologist Asha de Vos seeks to change her compatriots’ attitudes toward the ocean.

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  3. Animals

    These hornets may be the alcohol-detox champs of the animal world

    Vespa orientalis fed an 80-percent-ethanol brew still did hornet tasks and had normal life spans. This trick may be an adaptation to gut-dwelling yeast.

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  4. Animals

    Giant rats could soon help sniff out illegally smuggled goods

    African giant pouched rats can detect landmines and diseases. Now some have been trained to sense elephant ivory, pangolin scales and more.

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  5. Animals

    A common kitchen tool could help koala conservation

    A simple device sucks koala DNA out of the air, making it easier for conservationists to detect the elusive marsupials.

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  6. Health & Medicine

    Male mosquitoes sometimes suck, too

    Blood isn’t actually toxic to all male mosquitos. In at least one virus-carrying species, it may even help them live longer.

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  7. Science & Society

    The U.S. empire was built on bird dung

    A mid-1850s act let the United States seize islands rich in bird guano. Those strategic outposts fueled the U.S. rise to power, a researcher says.

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  8. Animals

    The ‘Mekong ghost’ megafish has resurfaced after an extinction scare 

    Rediscovery of giant salmon carp in Cambodia sparks hope for the rare fish’s survival and efforts to conserve one of the greatest diversity hot spots.

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  9. Life

    How insects can help catch rhino poachers

    A new study looks at which insects can be used as biological clocks to determine when a rhino was killed.

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