Magpie News Collector

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

Giant rats could soon help sniff out illegally smuggled goods

By Science News | Sophie Hartley | 10/30/2024 1:00 AM

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

animal

A common kitchen tool could help koala conservation

By Science News | Kristel Tjandra | 10/28/2024 9:00 AM

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

animal

Male mosquitoes sometimes suck, too

By Science News | Tina Hesman Saey | 10/25/2024 11:00 AM

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

animal

The U.S. empire was built on bird dung

By Science News | Sujata Gupta | 10/25/2024 9:00 AM

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. ... Read full Story

animal

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

By Science News | Stefan Lovgren | 10/24/2024 1:00 PM

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. ... Read full Story

animal

How insects can help catch rhino poachers

By Science News | Jude Coleman | 10/24/2024 11:00 AM

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

animal

Polar bears are being exposed to more pathogens as the climate warms

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 10/23/2024 2:00 PM

Polar bears have been exposed to more viruses, bacteria and parasites in recent decades, a new study shows, possibly acquiring the germs in their diet. ... Read full Story

animal

Science has finally cracked male riflebirds’ flirty secrets

By Science News | Susan Milius | 10/21/2024 11:00 AM

New video upsets the old notion that these birds of paradise use wing clapping to make percussive sounds while courting. ... Read full Story

animal

At-home experiments shed light on cats’ liquid behavior

By Science News | Andrea Tamayo | 10/15/2024 9:00 AM

Cats can flow like liquids through tall crevices, but they solidify a bit as they approach short crannies, new research shows. ... Read full Story

animal

DNA from old hair helps confirm the macabre diet of two 19th century lions

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 10/11/2024 11:00 AM

Genetic analysis of cavity crud from two famed man-eating lions suggests the method could re-create diets of predators that lived thousands of years ago. ... Read full Story

animal

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

by Science News | Nov 21 2024

auto

BMW's Wrist Gadget For Replacing Touchscreens Is Pure Sci-Fi

by carbuzz.com | Nov 22 2024

basketball

How to watch Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks: Live stream, TV channel, start time for Friday's NBA game

by CBS Interactive Inc | Nov 22 2024

beauty

The Innovative Waterdrop Skincare Face Washer Filters Water And Rejuvenates Your Skin

by The List | Jun 23 2024

connecticut

On CT Adoption Day, 40 children find their forever homes

by CT Mirror | Nov 22 2024

fashion

Telfar, famous for the ‘Bushwick Birkin,’ holding open mike and ‘wild surprises’ at opening of new NYC store: ‘It’s going to be a show’

by NY Post | Nov 22 2024

food

The Unexpected Wine You Should Drink With White Chocolate

by The Daily Meal | Nov 22 2024

football

Giants benching of QB Daniel Jones spotlights NFL-wide issue

by ESNY | Nov 18 2024

health

The Pros and Cons of TikTok’s Viral ‘Winter Arc’ Challenge: What to Know

by Healthline.com | Nov 22 2024

knowledge

Cambridge Dictionary Announced Its 2024 Word of the Year

by Reader's Digest | Nov 22 2024

people

Taylor Swift gets Justin Trudeau to dance like any other excited fan at vibrant TAYronto N5 concert

by marca.com | Nov 22 2024

religion

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

by Christian Post | Oct 20 2024

science

Wolves in Ethiopia spotted licking 'red hot poker' flowers like lollipops

by LIVE SCIENCE | Nov 22 2024

soccer

Chelsea Urge PSG’s €65M-Rated Target to Join Manchester United

by Yahoo Sports | Nov 22 2024

world

Irwin Cotler says Iran assassination plot should be ‘wake-up call’ to world

by Global News | Nov 22 2024

Word of the Day

paroxysm

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 22, 2024 is:

paroxysm • \PAIR-uk-sih-zum\ • noun

Paroxysm is a formal word that refers to a sudden strong feeling or uncontrollable expression of emotion. In medical use, paroxysm refers to a sudden attack or increase of symptoms of a disease that often occurs repeatedly.

// The comedy special sent us into paroxysms of laughter.

See the entry >

Examples:

"[Danny] Ray was part of [James] Brown's cape routine for 45 years, assisting him on the song 'Please, Please, Please.' The Godfather of Soul would collapse in a paroxysm of feigned grief during the song, being led away by a solicitous Ray, who draped the singer in a cape. Brown would take a few steps, then return to the microphone. Sometimes, they eschewed the cape, and Brown was merely led away." — Bruce Haring, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2021

Did you know?

Paroxysm didn't just burst onto the scene recently; its roots go back to ancient Greek. The word ultimately erupted from the Greek verb paroxynein, which means "to stimulate." (Oxynein, a parent of paroxynein, means "to provoke" and comes from oxys, a Greek word for "sharp.") In its earliest known English uses in the 15th century, paroxysm referred to a sudden attack or increase of symptoms of a disease—such as pain, coughing, shaking, etc.—that often occur again and again. This sense is still in use, but paroxysm soon took on a broader and now much more common sense referring to an outburst, especially a dramatic physical or emotional one, as in "paroxysms of rage/laughter/joy/delight/guilt."

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

Giant rats could soon help sniff out illegally smuggled goods

A common kitchen tool could help koala conservation

Male mosquitoes sometimes suck, too

The U.S. empire was built on bird dung

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

How insects can help catch rhino poachers

Polar bears are being exposed to more pathogens as the climate warms

Science has finally cracked male riflebirds’ flirty secrets

At-home experiments shed light on cats’ liquid behavior

DNA from old hair helps confirm the macabre diet of two 19th century lions

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

BMW's Wrist Gadget For Replacing Touchscreens Is Pure Sci-Fi

How to watch Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks: Live stream, TV channel, start time for Friday's NBA game

The Innovative Waterdrop Skincare Face Washer Filters Water And Rejuvenates Your Skin

On CT Adoption Day, 40 children find their forever homes

Telfar, famous for the ‘Bushwick Birkin,’ holding open mike and ‘wild surprises’ at opening of new NYC store: ‘It’s going to be a show’

The Unexpected Wine You Should Drink With White Chocolate

Giants benching of QB Daniel Jones spotlights NFL-wide issue

The Pros and Cons of TikTok’s Viral ‘Winter Arc’ Challenge: What to Know

Cambridge Dictionary Announced Its 2024 Word of the Year

Taylor Swift gets Justin Trudeau to dance like any other excited fan at vibrant TAYronto N5 concert

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

Wolves in Ethiopia spotted licking 'red hot poker' flowers like lollipops

Chelsea Urge PSG’s €65M-Rated Target to Join Manchester United

Irwin Cotler says Iran assassination plot should be ‘wake-up call’ to world

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.Look: Hawk swoops toward chicken coop, gets caught in netting

2.Watch: Cat rescued after five days stranded in Washington tree

3.Maryland woman wins her second lottery jackpot in two months

4.Wisconsin 10-year-old calls 911 for help with math homework

5.Look: Loose horse wrangled after running on Utah highway

6.Maryland Lottery player wins $100,008 Keno prize on her birthday

7.Watch: 'Notorious P.I.G.' leads animal control officers on hoof chase in Washington

8.Most-clogged U.S. cities revealed ahead of 'Brown Friday'

9.Watch: North America's oldest macaroni penguin turns 40

10.Banana duct-taped to a wall sells for $6.2m at auction