Magpie News Collector

animal

Hand-feeding squirrels accidentally changed their skulls

By Science News | Bethany Brookshire | 1/14/2025 7:01 PM

When fed peanuts, red squirrels in Britain developed weaker bites — showing that food supplements to threatened animals could have unintended side effects. ... Read full Story

animal

More new geckos have been found hiding in Southeast Asia’s limestone towers

By Science News | Stefan Lovgren | 1/8/2025 11:00 AM

Nearly 200 new gecko species found in living in karst landscapes reveal the rugged regions as dynamic areas of speciation. ... Read full Story

animal

Poop is on the menu for a surprising number of animals

By Science News | Susan Milius | 1/8/2025 9:00 AM

A new tally finds dozens of species giving food a second go-round, from babies boosting their microbiomes to adults seeking easier-to-access nutrition. ... Read full Story

animal

‘Forever chemicals’ are causing health problems in some wildlife

By Science News | Danielle Beurteaux | 1/7/2025 9:00 AM

Deformed scales in hatchlings and biomarkers indicative of disease progression are two health impacts on turtles at PFAS-polluted sites in Australia. ... Read full Story

animal

Velvet ants have the Swiss Army knife of venoms

By Science News | Amanda Heidt | 1/6/2025 11:00 AM

A velvet ant bite like “hot oil from the deep fryer” delivers an array of peptides that inflicts pain on insects and mammals alike. ... Read full Story

animal

American burying beetles are making a comeback in Nebraska

By Science News | Brianna Randall | 12/31/2024 9:15 AM

Thanks to decades of conservation to restore private grasslands, numbers of the threatened insect are on the rise in the Loess Canyons. ... Read full Story

animal

Dogs team up with AI to sniff out cancer

By Science News | Meghan Rosen | 12/23/2024 10:30 AM

Scientists paired Labrador retrievers with an AI model in a new screening test for breast, lung, colorectal or prostate cancer. ... Read full Story

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

art

Filled with ‘Half-Pots,’ Adam Ledford’s Life-Size Room Drawings Reflect Timeless Routines

by Colossal | Apr 01 2025

basketball

Hawks vs. Trail Blazers odds, score prediction, time: 2025 NBA picks, April 1 best bets from proven model

by CBS Interactive Inc | Apr 01 2025

entertainment

Star Sightings: Doechii Performs in a Denim Outfit in Florida, Edgar Ramirez Gets Pampered Before the Oscars

by ET Online | Mar 31 2025

exercise

Office Chair Butt: Cleveland Clinic Experts on How To Prevent It

by thehealthy.com | Mar 31 2025

food

The Temperature Rule You Should Always Follow For Rye Bread

by The Daily Meal | Apr 01 2025

football

Giants benching of QB Daniel Jones spotlights NFL-wide issue

by ESNY | Nov 18 2024

golf

PGA Tour and LIV Golf Look for Merger Deal Under Trump

by NY Times | Feb 18 2025

health

1 Hour of Screen Time at Bedtime Reduces Sleep by 24 Minutes, Study Finds

by Healthline.com | Apr 01 2025

metro

NY lawmakers pass budget extender as negotiations for key Hochul proposals remain at a ‘standstill’

by New York Post | Apr 01 2025

music

Liza Minnelli Is Headed to the ‘Drag Race’ Season 17 Finale

by Billboard | Apr 01 2025

opinion

JONATHAN TURLEY: Can Trump serve a third term?

by Opinion on Fox News | Apr 01 2025

people

Barack Obama lets his urban swag out showing how to greet LeBron James and Steph Curry

by marca.com | Apr 01 2025

technology

Intel: ‘Panther Lake’ will be our hybrid hero for the PC

by PCWorld | Apr 01 2025

upstate

Schumer slams Trump tariffs on eve of 'Liberation Day'

by NEWS10 ABC | Apr 01 2025

world

Gold prices could keep climbing as Trump’s trade policies rock markets

by Global News | Apr 01 2025

Word of the Day

cynosure

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 1, 2025 is:

cynosure • \SYE-nuh-shur\ • noun

A cynosure is a person or thing that attracts a lot of attention or interest. As a proper noun, Cynosure may refer to the North Star or its constellation Ursa Minor.

// He was the cynosure of all eyes as he walked into the room.

See the entry >

Examples:

"Look at any picture of Kashmir and you'll understand why it is called heaven on earth. And Srinagar, framed by the majestic Zabarwan Mountains, is the cynosure of all travel itineraries, offering a mix of breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and spirituality." — Mallika Bhagat, Times Now (Mumbai, India), 17 Dec. 2024

Did you know?

Ancient mariners noted that all the stars in the heavens seemed to revolve around a particular star, and they relied on that star to guide their navigation. The constellation that this bright star appears in is known to English speakers today as Ursa Minor, or the Little Dipper, but the Ancient Greeks called it Kynósoura, a term that comes from a phrase meaning "dog's tail." Kynósoura passed into Latin and Middle French, becoming cynosure. When English speakers adopted the term in the 16th century, they used it as a name for both the constellation and the star (which is also known as the North Star or Polaris) and also to identify a guide of any kind. By the 17th century, cynosure was also being used figuratively for anything or anyone that, like the North Star, is the focus of attention or observation.

Hand-feeding squirrels accidentally changed their skulls

More new geckos have been found hiding in Southeast Asia’s limestone towers

Poop is on the menu for a surprising number of animals

‘Forever chemicals’ are causing health problems in some wildlife

Velvet ants have the Swiss Army knife of venoms

American burying beetles are making a comeback in Nebraska

Dogs team up with AI to sniff out cancer

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

Filled with ‘Half-Pots,’ Adam Ledford’s Life-Size Room Drawings Reflect Timeless Routines

Hawks vs. Trail Blazers odds, score prediction, time: 2025 NBA picks, April 1 best bets from proven model

Star Sightings: Doechii Performs in a Denim Outfit in Florida, Edgar Ramirez Gets Pampered Before the Oscars

Office Chair Butt: Cleveland Clinic Experts on How To Prevent It

The Temperature Rule You Should Always Follow For Rye Bread

Giants benching of QB Daniel Jones spotlights NFL-wide issue

PGA Tour and LIV Golf Look for Merger Deal Under Trump

1 Hour of Screen Time at Bedtime Reduces Sleep by 24 Minutes, Study Finds

NY lawmakers pass budget extender as negotiations for key Hochul proposals remain at a ‘standstill’

Liza Minnelli Is Headed to the ‘Drag Race’ Season 17 Finale

JONATHAN TURLEY: Can Trump serve a third term?

Barack Obama lets his urban swag out showing how to greet LeBron James and Steph Curry

Intel: ‘Panther Lake’ will be our hybrid hero for the PC

Schumer slams Trump tariffs on eve of 'Liberation Day'

Gold prices could keep climbing as Trump’s trade policies rock markets

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.April Fools' 2025: 'Silent' Crunch bar, ranch-flavored Olipop

2.Small dog plucked out of 'ruff waters' of New York's East River

3.Gas station trip earns Florida woman $5M lottery jackpot

4.Watch: Chopstick 'ninja' skills earn Idaho man a Guinness World Record

5.North Carolina family reunited with missing dog after 3 years

6.Watch: Freshwater crocodile found far from home in Australia

7.Watch: California woman uses world's longest tongue to play Jenga

8.Watch: Snake handler rescues pet bird from hungry python

9.S.C. man makes lottery run for his wife, wins $200,000

10.Watch: Egyptian diver breaks world record for underwater pull-ups in Red Sea