Magpie News Collector

animal

A ‘talking’ ape’s death signals the end of an era

By Science News | Erin Wayman | 5/19/2025 9:00 AM

Kanzi showed apes have the capacity for language, but in recent years scientists have questioned the ethics of ape experiments. ... Read full Story

animal

Some science seems silly, but it’s still worthwhile

By Science News | Karen Kwon | 5/16/2025 1:30 PM

The Salmon Cannon and the Levitating Frog contends that curiosity-driven research helps us understand the world and could lead to unexpected benefits. ... Read full Story

animal

What gene makes orange cats orange? Scientists figured it out

By Science News | McKenzie Prillaman | 5/15/2025 11:00 AM

Researchers found the gene and genetic variation behind orange fur in most domestic cats, solving a decades-long mystery. ... Read full Story

animal

This exquisite Archaeopteryx fossil reveals how flight took off in birds

By Science News | Carolyn Gramling | 5/14/2025 11:05 AM

Analyses unveiled never-before-seen feathers and bones from the first known bird, strengthening the case that Archaeopteryx could fly. ... Read full Story

animal

Wild chimpanzees give first aid to each other

By Science News | Martin J. Kernan | 5/14/2025 12:00 AM

A study in Uganda shows how often chimps use medicinal plants and other forms of health care — and what that says about the roots of human medicine. ... Read full Story

animal

This tool-wielding assassin turns its prey’s defenses into a trap

By Science News | Siddhant Pusdekar | 5/12/2025 3:00 PM

This assassin bug's ability to use a tool — bees’ resin — could shed light on how the ability evolved in other animals. ... Read full Story

animal

Chimp chatter is a lot more like human language than previously thought

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 5/9/2025 2:00 PM

Chimpanzees combine hoots, calls and grunts to convey far more concepts than with single sounds alone. It may be a first among nonhuman animals. ... Read full Story

animal

Ancient poems document the decline of the Yangtze finless porpoise

By Science News | McKenzie Prillaman | 5/5/2025 11:00 AM

The porpoise is critically endangered. Ancient Chinese poems reveal the animal’s range has dropped about 65 percent over the past 1,400 years. ... Read full Story

animal

Frog ribbits erupt via an extravagant variety of vocal sacs

By Science News | Susan Milius | 5/5/2025 9:00 AM

Shape matters as well as size in the great range of male frog show-off equipment for competitive seductive serenades. ... Read full Story

animal

A man let snakes bite him 202 times. His blood helped create a new antivenom

By Science News | Meghan Rosen | 5/2/2025 11:00 AM

A new antivenom relies on antibodies from the blood of Tim Friede, who immunized himself against snakebites by injecting increasing doses of venom into his body. ... Read full Story

animal

Cool water could protect sea stars from a mysterious disease

By Science News | Siddhant Pusdekar | 5/1/2025 1:00 PM

Sunflower sea stars discovered taking refuge in fjords may offer clues to saving the critically endangered species from sea star wasting disease. ... Read full Story

animal

The axolotl is endangered in the wild. A discovery offers hope

By Science News | Anna Gibbs | 4/30/2025 2:00 PM

Introducing captive-bred axolotls to restored and artificial wetlands may be a promising option for the popular pet amphibian. ... Read full Story

animal

Bird flu in cows shows no signs of adapting to humans — yet

By Science News | Tina Hesman Saey | 4/28/2025 9:00 AM

Easy replication in cattle mammary glands means H5N1 bird flu is under no evolutionary pressure to adapt to spread easily in humans. ... Read full Story

animal

This caterpillar wears the body parts of insect prey

By Science News | McKenzie Prillaman | 4/24/2025 2:00 PM

Dubbed the “bone collector,” this caterpillar found on a Hawaiian island disguises itself while stalking spider webs for trapped insects to eat. ... Read full Story

animal

How science can help you train your puppy

By Science News | Joshua Rapp Learn | 4/22/2025 9:00 AM

Puppies with a good grasp of basic gestures, self-confidence and impulse control grow into well-behaved adults, a new study suggests. ... Read full Story

animal

Could Spinosaurus swim? The fierce dinosaur ignites debate

By Science News | Carolyn Gramling | 4/14/2025 11:00 AM

Researchers are still divided about whether Spinosaurus was a swimmer or a wader. What’s clear is that confirming the first swimming dinosaur would be a game-changer. ... Read full Story

animal

Bats wearing tiny mics reveal how the fliers avoid rush hour collisions

By Science News | Susan Milius | 4/11/2025 2:00 PM

As thousands of bats launch nightly hunting, the cacophony of a dense crowd should stymie echolocation, a so-called “cocktail party nightmare.” ... Read full Story

animal

Snakes are often the villains. A new book gives them a fair shake

By Science News | Victoria Jaggard | 4/11/2025 12:00 PM

From demon to danger noodle, human ideas about snakes can be as contradictory as the creatures themselves. In Slither, Stephen S. Hall challenges our serpent stereotypes. ... Read full Story

animal

The story of dire wolves goes beyond de-extinction

By Science News | Meghan Rosen | 4/10/2025 3:59 PM

Some question whether the pups are really dire wolves, or just genetically tweaked gray wolves. But the technology could be used to help at-risk animals. ... Read full Story

animal

Rare books covered with seal skin hint at a medieval trade network

By Science News | Alex Viveros | 4/8/2025 7:01 PM

The furry seal skins may have made their way to French monasteries from as far away as Greenland. ... Read full Story

animal

Greenland sled dog DNA is a window into the Arctic’s archaeological past

by Science News | Jul 10 2025

beauty

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

by The List | Mar 03 2025

book

Pepsi's Most Expensive Celebrity Endorsement Of All Time

by The Daily Meal | Jul 13 2025

football

“He’s a Great Kid” – Brian Daboll Excited to Get Started with #3 Overall Draft Pick Abdul Carter

by ESNY | Apr 24 2025

game

How To Unlock All Secret Characters In Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4

by GameSpot | Jul 12 2025

knowledge

Don’t Make This Mistake at Your Next BBQ—It Could Ruin Your Party

by Reader's Digest | Jul 03 2025

lifestyle

James Bond was almost played by this iconic actor until Roger Moore said yes

by Hello! Magazine | Jul 12 2025

long_island

A Latte Fun opens bigger, bolder second LI spot in Hauppauge

by greaterlongisland.com | Jul 12 2025

new_jersey

NJ Spotlight News: July 11, 2025

by NJ Spotlight | Jul 11 2025

people

Hailee Steinfeld shares details of her trip to Paris but leaves no trace of Josh Allen

by marca.com | Jul 13 2025

politics

North Korea reiterates support for Russia in war with Ukraine: Report

by The Hill | Jul 13 2025

sports

NASA’s new toys for upcoming Artemis mission to map moon’s subsurface, lunar minerals

by Interesting Engineering | Jul 13 2025

world

Russia warns against targeting North Korea

by United Press International, Inc. | Jul 12 2025

Word of the Day

contrite

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 13, 2025 is:

contrite • \kun-TRYTE\ • adjective

Contrite is a formal adjective used to describe someone who feels regret for their bad behavior, or something, such as an apology, that shows such regret.

// Although the mayor appeared contrite about the most recent scandal plaguing city hall, many constituents remained unpersuaded.

See the entry >

Examples:

“At the restaurant, late into the meal, ‘Honey, Honey,’ from the ‘Mamma Mia’ soundtrack began to play, with [Amanda] Seyfried’s 22-year-old voice issuing through the restaurant’s speakers. The waitress came over, contrite. The song was just part of the usual play list. ‘Listen, I love having a stake in pop culture,’ Seyfried reassured her. ‘It’s really nice.’” — Alexis Soloski, The New York Times, 11 Mar. 2025

Did you know?

Props to Elton John: sorry really does seem to be the hardest word. But saying it (in something other than a nonapology, of course) is an important part of being contrite—that is, feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for one’s bad behavior. Contrite traces back to the Latin verb conterere, meaning “to pound to pieces,” “to crush, “to wear out or down,” or “to exhaust mentally or physically.” In Medieval Latin—the Latin used in Medieval times especially for religious or literary purposes—conterere came to mean “to crush in spirit with a sense of one’s sin,” or “to render contrite.” Anglo-French speakers borrowed a form of the verb conterere and made it the adjective contrit, which was in turn adopted into English in the 1300s.

A ‘talking’ ape’s death signals the end of an era

Some science seems silly, but it’s still worthwhile

What gene makes orange cats orange? Scientists figured it out

This exquisite Archaeopteryx fossil reveals how flight took off in birds

Wild chimpanzees give first aid to each other

This tool-wielding assassin turns its prey’s defenses into a trap

Chimp chatter is a lot more like human language than previously thought

Ancient poems document the decline of the Yangtze finless porpoise

Frog ribbits erupt via an extravagant variety of vocal sacs

A man let snakes bite him 202 times. His blood helped create a new antivenom

Cool water could protect sea stars from a mysterious disease

The axolotl is endangered in the wild. A discovery offers hope

Bird flu in cows shows no signs of adapting to humans — yet

This caterpillar wears the body parts of insect prey

How science can help you train your puppy

Could Spinosaurus swim? The fierce dinosaur ignites debate

Bats wearing tiny mics reveal how the fliers avoid rush hour collisions

Snakes are often the villains. A new book gives them a fair shake

The story of dire wolves goes beyond de-extinction

Rare books covered with seal skin hint at a medieval trade network

Greenland sled dog DNA is a window into the Arctic’s archaeological past

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

The Lost Sunday

Pepsi's Most Expensive Celebrity Endorsement Of All Time

“He’s a Great Kid” – Brian Daboll Excited to Get Started with #3 Overall Draft Pick Abdul Carter

How To Unlock All Secret Characters In Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4

Don’t Make This Mistake at Your Next BBQ—It Could Ruin Your Party

James Bond was almost played by this iconic actor until Roger Moore said yes

A Latte Fun opens bigger, bolder second LI spot in Hauppauge

NJ Spotlight News: July 11, 2025

Hailee Steinfeld shares details of her trip to Paris but leaves no trace of Josh Allen

North Korea reiterates support for Russia in war with Ukraine: Report

Pelé's life in pictures

NASA’s new toys for upcoming Artemis mission to map moon’s subsurface, lunar minerals

Russia warns against targeting North Korea

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

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