Magpie News Collector

animal

These are the 5 most popular Science News stories of 2024

By Science News | Science News Staff | 12/20/2024 1:00 PM

Science News drew millions of visitors to our website this year. Here’s a recap of the most-read and most-watched news stories of 2024. ... Read full Story

animal

These are our favorite animal stories of 2024

By Science News | Darren Incorvaia | 12/18/2024 9:00 AM

Pigeons that do somersaults, snakes that fake death with extra flair and surprised canines are among the organisms that enthralled the Science News staff. ... Read full Story

animal

Sheep earwax can record a dangerous diet

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 12/17/2024 9:00 AM

Sheep that eat death camas plants record the toxic meal in their earwax, a goopy health data repository that researchers are increasingly exploring. ... Read full Story

animal

The screams of thirsty plants may prompt some moths to lay eggs elsewhere

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 12/11/2024 9:00 AM

Female moths may pick up on the ultrasonic wailing of distressed plants and opt to lay their eggs on different, healthier plants. ... Read full Story

animal

Climate stress may undermine male spiders’ romantic gift giving

By Science News | Susan Milius | 12/5/2024 9:00 AM

Even spider love lives show an effect of climate uncertainty: Stressed males may offer a bit of silk-wrapped junk rather than a tasty insect treat. ... Read full Story

animal

New videos reveal the hidden lives of Andean bears

By Science News | Sophie Hartley | 12/4/2024 8:00 AM

The footage give clues to the range of plants the bears eat and how they mate, information important for conservation. ... Read full Story

animal

Ethiopian wolves are the first large carnivores found to slurp nectar

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 12/3/2024 9:00 AM

Wolves from three different packs were seen licking red hot poker flowers. That sweet tooth could make them the first known large predator pollinators. ... Read full Story

animal

Giant hornets have been sighted in Europe for the first time

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 12/2/2024 8:00 AM

Four southern giant hornets have turned up in Spain. Similar stingers, known for honeybee attacks, had the Pacific Northwest on edge a few years ago. ... Read full Story

animal

Videos capture orcas’ tricks for taking down the largest fish on Earth

By Science News | Susan Milius | 11/29/2024 12:00 AM

Citizen science videos document for the first time how orcas coordinate an attack against whale sharks. ... Read full Story

animal

This ‘hidden figure’ of entomology fought for civil rights

By Science News | Susan Milius | 11/27/2024 8:00 AM

Margaret S. Collins, the first Black American female entomologist to earn a Ph.D., overcame sexism and racism to become a termite expert. ... Read full Story

animal

For adult chimps, playing may be more important than previously thought

By Science News | Gennaro Tomma | 11/21/2024 11:00 AM

A multiyear study of dozens of wild, adult chimps suggests that play helps reduce tension and boost cooperation among individuals. ... Read full Story

animal

Clams use fiber optics to channel sunlight to symbiotic algae

By Science News | Elie Dolgin | 11/19/2024 11:00 AM

Mineral crystals in heart cockles’ shells protect symbiotic algae from ultraviolet rays and could lead to innovations in internet infrastructure. ... Read full Story

animal

Stray DNA is all around us. It could revolutionize conservation

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 11/14/2024 9:00 AM

Environmental DNA harvested from the ocean, land and air can help scientists monitor wildlife. The challenge is figuring out how to interpret this eDNA. ... Read full Story

animal

A twisted protein sheds light on chronic wasting disease in deer

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 11/12/2024 9:00 AM

The detailed structure of a misfolded protein from a diseased deer could help explain why the disease hasn’t made the leap to humans. ... Read full Story

animal

Bees flying near cars are dying by the millions, a roadkill study suggests

By Science News | Amanda Heidt | 11/7/2024 1:00 PM

Scientists in Utah put sticky traps on car bumpers to tally how many bees get hit on a typical trip. The broader toll is immense, they estimate. ... Read full Story

animal

Putting vampire bats on treadmills reveals an unusual metabolism

By Science News | Susan Milius | 11/5/2024 7:01 PM

A bat gym shows that vampires are more like some insects, burning amino acids from blood proteins rather than the carbs or fats other mammals rely on. ... Read full Story

animal

Why finding bird flu in a U.S. pig for the first time is raising new worries

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 11/1/2024 3:41 PM

Swine can act as so-called “mixing vessels” for human and bird flus, giving avian viruses an opportunity to adapt for spreading in people. ... Read full Story

animal

A single enzyme can alter the vibrant colors in parrot plumage

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 10/31/2024 2:00 PM

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

animal

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

By Science News | Sandy Ong | 10/31/2024 9:00 AM

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. ... Read full Story

animal

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

By Science News | Susan Milius | 10/30/2024 8:00 AM

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. ... Read full Story

animal

These are the 5 most popular Science News stories of 2024

by Science News | Dec 20 2024

art

Magic and Mystery Illuminate Hari & Deepti’s Paper-Cut Dioramas

by Colossal | Dec 20 2024

beauty

Sydney Sweeney's 5 Most Stunning Hair Transformations

by The List | Jun 01 2024

book

Social Security Fairness Act passes Senate, set to become law

by CT Mirror | Dec 21 2024

finance

My Social Security benefit will be $4,500 a month. My wife’s is now $615. Can she get more?

by MarketWatch.com | Dec 21 2024

golf

Why People on TikTok Are Slathering Their Face with Beef Tallow

by Healthline.com | Dec 21 2024

mental

16 Mindfulness Quotes When You Need to Quiet Your Mind

by thehealthy.com | Sep 16 2024

metro

Adams’ ex-aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin hosts NYC toy drive, sings Beyoncé’s ‘Cuff It’ — day after she was hit with bribery charges

by New York Post | Dec 21 2024

music

Music Stocks Dragged Down Amid Dreary Week for Global Markets

by Billboard | Dec 20 2024

nation

Bidens spread holiday cheer with visit to D.C. children's hospital

by upi.com | Dec 20 2024

people

Kim Kardashian stuns in red at festive family outing

by marca.com | Dec 21 2024

religion

What do we know about the brothers and sisters of Jesus?

by Christian Post | Oct 20 2024

upstate

Undisputed Champions helps kids with disabilities fight adversity

by NEWS10 ABC | Dec 21 2024

Word of the Day

testimonial

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 21, 2024 is:

testimonial • \tess-tuh-MOH-nee-ul\ • noun

A testimonial is a written or spoken statement in which a person says they used a product or service and liked it, or that they appreciate someone's work, skill, character, etc. Testimonial is also used as a synonym of evidence and testimony.

// The website is full of testimonials from satisfied customers.

// The book's popularity is a testimonial to its timeliness.

See the entry >

Examples:

"To commemorate their successful journey in the sport, the team released a heartfelt tribute video featuring testimonials from team members sharing their fondest memories." — Lydia Mee, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

Did you know?

In 1639, Scottish poet William Drummond responded to the politics of his day with a cheeky set of new laws, including one stipulating that "no man wear a ... periwig, unless he have a testimonial from a town-clerk, that he is either bald, sickly, or asham'd of white hairs." Testimonials take different forms, but always, like in Drummond's facetious law, they provide affirmation or evidence. (Testimonial traces to Latin testimonium, meaning "evidence" or "witness.") In the 19th century, testimonial developed a new use, referring to a tribute—that is, a gift presented as a public expression of appreciation. Today, testimonial is most often used to refer to a statement—such as one posted on any number of websites devoted to consumer reviews—that endorses a product or service.

These are the 5 most popular Science News stories of 2024

These are our favorite animal stories of 2024

Sheep earwax can record a dangerous diet

The screams of thirsty plants may prompt some moths to lay eggs elsewhere

Climate stress may undermine male spiders’ romantic gift giving

New videos reveal the hidden lives of Andean bears

Ethiopian wolves are the first large carnivores found to slurp nectar

Giant hornets have been sighted in Europe for the first time

Videos capture orcas’ tricks for taking down the largest fish on Earth

This ‘hidden figure’ of entomology fought for civil rights

For adult chimps, playing may be more important than previously thought

Clams use fiber optics to channel sunlight to symbiotic algae

Stray DNA is all around us. It could revolutionize conservation

A twisted protein sheds light on chronic wasting disease in deer

Bees flying near cars are dying by the millions, a roadkill study suggests

Putting vampire bats on treadmills reveals an unusual metabolism

Why finding bird flu in a U.S. pig for the first time is raising new worries

A single enzyme can alter the vibrant colors in parrot plumage

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

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

These are the 5 most popular Science News stories of 2024

Magic and Mystery Illuminate Hari & Deepti’s Paper-Cut Dioramas

Sydney Sweeney's 5 Most Stunning Hair Transformations

Pavlo Gets the Grumps

Social Security Fairness Act passes Senate, set to become law

My Social Security benefit will be $4,500 a month. My wife’s is now $615. Can she get more?

Golf’s Highs and Lows in 2024

Why People on TikTok Are Slathering Their Face with Beef Tallow

16 Mindfulness Quotes When You Need to Quiet Your Mind

Adams’ ex-aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin hosts NYC toy drive, sings Beyoncé’s ‘Cuff It’ — day after she was hit with bribery charges

Music Stocks Dragged Down Amid Dreary Week for Global Markets

Bidens spread holiday cheer with visit to D.C. children's hospital

Kim Kardashian stuns in red at festive family outing

What do we know about the brothers and sisters of Jesus?

Undisputed Champions helps kids with disabilities fight adversity

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.'Dumb Mistake': Baby Jesus Goes Missing, Reappears With Note At Colorado Nativity Scene

2.Virginia home gets unexpected owl tree-topper

3.Fort Worth fire department rescue horse from cattle guard

4.Overdue book returned to U.K. library after 30 years

5.'Almost perfectly spherical' egg auctioned for $250

6.Forgetful lottery player wins $50,000 prize in Washington

7.Look: 'Snake' that prompted police response in Massachusetts was a fake

8.Watch: Spider monkey caught running loose through Texas neighborhood

9.Watch: Santa Claus presides over day of weddings ahead of Christmas

10.Look: 20-year-old blind cat rescued from frozen lake