Biodiversity in the news

Observatory: How Hummingbirds Get Their Nectar With Tiny ‘Straws’

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:01:24 -0800

Hummingbirds take advantage of the forces of surface tension to extract nectar from a flower.

An Evolve-By Date

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:58:04 -0800

On the 150th anniversary of "Origin of Species," a reminder that in most instances evolution fails rather than succeeds.

Remarkable Creatures: In Snails and Snakes, Features to Delight Darwin

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:30:35 -0800

As the world celebrates the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species,” some facts on snails and snakes that would have intrigued him.

Personal Health: Exploring a Low-Acid Diet for Bone Health

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:49:26 -0800

Proponents suggest that such a regimen could lead to stronger bones than the typical American diet rich in dairy products and animal protein.

Chirps and whistles help estimate the size of bird populations

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:58:08 -0800

The chirps and whistles of birdsong can help to provide an accurate estimate of the size of bird populations.

Trying to Explain a Drop in Infant Mortality

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:04:10 -0800

Mothers in Dane County, Wis., are the subject of a study by researchers into the large racial gap in infant deaths.

A Vision Faces an Environmental Test

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:30:41 -0800

Researchers want to transform a poor, remote Dominican town into a locally owned retreat. But challenges, like hydrilla, an invasive, choking water plant, await.

Is the Tuna in Your Sushi Endangered?

Jennifer Viegas — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:22:31 -0800

This just in from the American Museum of Natural History: unknowlingly consuming endangered tuna A Genetic Tool Uncovers the Species of Tuna Plated in Sushi Restaurants While most of us would never willingly consume a highly endangered species, doing so ...

Three New Ancient Crocodile Species Fossils Found

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:34:00 -0800

A 20-foot-long crocodile with three sets of fangs -- like wild boar tusks -- roamed parts of northern Africa millions of years ago, researchers reported Thursday.

Flashback: Images From the Week's News

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:00 -0800

Take a look back at the top stories of the past week in the Discovery News Flashback Slide Show.

Ten Tips for Staying Healthy and H1N1-Free This Holiday Season

Jennifer Viegas — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:35:25 -0800

From Saint Louis University Medical Center: The holidays are here and with them family, friends, parties and germs. This year, in light of the H1N1 outbreak, many fear that the most wonderful time of the year will end up being ...

Turkeys: A Thanksgiving Tribute

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:11:00 -0800

Take a closer look at everybody's favorite Thanksgiving dinner guest.

New Chameleon Species Discovered

Jennifer Viegas — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:19:16 -0800

Meet Kinyongia magomberae (the Magombera chameleon), a new species of chameleon just found in Tanzania, East Africa. (Credit: Andrew Marshall, University of York) Its discovery was a happy coincidence, although not for one chameleon. Project leader Andrew Marshall, from the ...

Bill Gates Shifts from Computer Viruses to Bird Viruses

Jennifer Viegas — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:32:47 -0800

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates may have lost $18 billion in the economic crisis, but he's still the world's richest man, according to Forbes magazine, which estimates Gates' wealth as being around 40 billion. Gates is more closely associated with computer ...

Climate Not Culprit of Megafauna Extinction

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:09:00 -0800

About 15,000 years ago, some of the largest mammals in North America disappeared off the face of the Earth.

9-Year-Old Girl Finds Bone at Maryland Dinosaur Park

Jennifer Viegas — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:55:38 -0800

"Dinosaur Park" in Prince Georges County, Maryland, has only been open for two weekends, but it's already led to a probable noteworthy find. (Image: Ribbon cutting ceremony for Dinosaur Park, MD. Credit: Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation ...

Presenting...The Katydid

Jennifer Viegas — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:04:59 -0800

Naturalist Mark Fraser is back to share his latest video on katydids. Mark tells me, "Katydids are true masters of the art of camouflage. As they graze in grasses and wild meadows on plant matter, they do so trusting that ...

Thanksgiving Food Sources Can Be Tracked Online

Jennifer Viegas — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:28:17 -0800

From Western Illinois University: Once upon a time, in order to trace the path of a meal from your table to the source, you may only have had to take a short jaunt to a nearby field. But in these ...

Galloping, Dinosaur-Eating Crocodiles Found in the Sahara

Jennifer Viegas — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:19:45 -0800

This just in from National Geographic: A suite of five ancient crocs, including one with teeth like boar tusks and another with a snout like a duck’s bill, have been discovered in the Sahara by National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Paul Sereno. ...

Look Inside the Specimen Cabinet of a Charles Darwin Colleague

Jennifer Viegas — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:39:56 -0800

Have you ever seen a Victorian naturalist's collections cabinet? I have such a cabinet, purchased years ago, at my house. Using a kit, I also put together a more modern-day version way back in the 1970's. Maybe you have a ...

Hobbits Are a New Human Species, Study of Fossils Concludes

Jennifer Viegas — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:04:23 -0800

Is the hobbit human debate over? I doubt it, but the below, from Wiley-Blackwell, puts a strong notch on the side of those who believe "Homo floresiensis" represents a new human species. Researchers from Stony Brook University Medical Center in ...

Story in Photos: Caveman Roasted Bird Feast

Jennifer Viegas — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:37:13 -0800

This week at Discovery News you can read about some of the earliest evidence for human consumption of birds outside of Africa. Around 150,000 years ago, Homo heidelbergensis cavemen ate ducks that they either roasted or consumed whole and raw. ...

Dinosaur Fossils Helicoptered Out of Southern Utah

Jennifer Viegas — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:23:58 -0800

Late Cretaceous dinosaur fossils were helicoptered out of The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah this week. The bones transported from the site represent a Gryposaurus monumentensis, an ankylosaur, a pterosaur, dinosaur-era turtles and a crocodile, along with other ...

Snails: More Protein, Less Expensive Than Beef

Jennifer Viegas — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:16:51 -0800

From Inderscience: A nutritionist in Nigeria says that malnutrition and iron deficiency in schoolchildren could be reduced in her country by baking up snail pie. In a research paper to be published in the International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition ...

Crazy Creatures of the Deep: Big Pic

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:15:00 -0800

A truly bizarre sea cucumber was one of many odd creatures recently spotted in the ocean deep.

University of Georgia Bulldog Mascot Dies at Age 4

Jennifer Viegas — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:31:48 -0800

From the University of Georgia: Uga VII, the legendary Georgia mascot who roamed the sidelines at Bulldog football games, died unexpectedly Thursday morning in Savannah. He died of heart-related causes according to owner Frank W. “Sonny” Seiler. He was four ...