Magpie News Collector

animal

Octopus arms are adaptable but some are favored for particular jobs

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 9/11/2025 11:00 AM

Octopuses are ambidextrous, a new study finds, but they favor their front arms for investigating surroundings and their back arms for locomotion. ... Read full Story

animal

Just like humans, many animals get more aggressive in the heat

By Science News | Katarina Zimmer | 9/8/2025 9:00 AM

From salamanders to monkeys, many species get more violent at warmer temperatures — a trend that may shape their social structures as the world warms. ... Read full Story

animal

Tiny thumbnails may be key for rodents’ global takeover

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 9/4/2025 2:00 PM

Thumbnails might have boosted rodents’ food-handling skills, helping them thrive worldwide. ... Read full Story

animal

Here’s how fruit flies’ giant sperm squeeze into tight spaces

By Science News | Meghan Rosen | 9/4/2025 9:00 AM

Researchers found that fruit fly sperm push against one another and align in orderly bundles, preventing knots that could block reproduction. ... Read full Story

animal

This lizard can tolerate extreme levels of lead

By Science News | Meghan Rosen | 9/2/2025 11:00 AM

Cuban brown anoles have the highest blood lead levels of any vertebrate known — three times that of the previous record holder, the Nile crocodile. ... Read full Story

animal

Horses may have become rideable with the help of a genetic mutation

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 8/28/2025 2:00 PM

To make horses rideable during domestication, people may have inadvertently targeted a mutation in horses to strengthen their backs and their balance. ... Read full Story

animal

The mysterious, extinct ‘Fuegian dog’ was actually a semi-tame fox

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 8/25/2025 9:00 AM

Historic European accounts long described the canids as domesticated dogs. A new study suggests that’s probably not true. ... Read full Story

animal

The phoenix isn’t the only critter to survive the flames

By Science News | Bethany Brookshire | 8/22/2025 9:00 AM

There are no real phoenixes hiding anywhere. But science has revealed that some living things can take quite a bit of heat. ... Read full Story

animal

Frilly bug feet inspire a water-striding robot

By Science News | Emily Conover | 8/21/2025 2:00 PM

Ripple bugs’ nimble movements on the surface of water inspired a robot with automatically unfurling fans on its feet. ... Read full Story

animal

Around the world, birds sing longer in light-polluted areas

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 8/21/2025 2:00 PM

In light-polluted landscapes, birds' singing time is an average of 50 minutes longer per day. It's still unclear if this hurts bird health or helps. ... Read full Story

animal

These giant carnivorous bats hug, cuddle — and even share dinner

By Science News | Jay Kakade | 8/20/2025 2:00 PM

Infrared cameras in Costa Rica revealed that the world’s largest carnivorous bat maintains close social bonds through wing wraps and prey sharing. ... Read full Story

animal

Streaked shearwaters poop only while flying over the ocean

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 8/18/2025 11:00 AM

In-flight defecation may help the birds stay away from feces that can contain pathogens such as bird flu while also fertilizing the ocean. ... Read full Story

animal

A single protein makes lovesick flies spill their guts

By Science News | Sofia Caetano Avritzer | 8/14/2025 2:00 PM

Producing a male-specific protein in digestion-related neurons may have led to the evolution of an odd “romantic” barfing behavior in one species of fruit flies. ... Read full Story

animal

Warm autumns could be a driver in monarch butterflies’ decline

By Science News | Jude Coleman | 8/12/2025 7:01 PM

In the lab, higher temperatures during fall migration led monarchs to break their reproductive pause, increasing their risk of death. ... Read full Story

animal

Squashing the spotted lanternfly problem may require enlisting other species

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 8/8/2025 8:00 AM

The invasive spotted lanternfly has spread to 17 states and can threaten vineyards. But bats, fungi, dogs and even trees may help control them. ... Read full Story

animal

This snail may hold a secret to human eye regeneration

By Science News | Tina Hesman Saey | 8/6/2025 5:00 AM

Golden apple snails can regrow full, functional eyes. Studying their genes may reveal how to repair human eye injuries. ... Read full Story

animal

These plants build ant condos that keep warring species apart

By Science News | Susan Milius | 8/5/2025 12:00 PM

The unique architecture of some ball-like plants high in trees in Fiji lets violent ants live peacefully and feed the plant with valuable droppings. ... Read full Story

animal

The mystery of melting sea stars may finally be solved

By Science News | Siddhant Pusdekar | 8/4/2025 11:00 AM

A bacterium called Vibrio pectenicida may be melting sea stars along North America’s Pacific coast. ... Read full Story

animal

Some probiotics could feed, rather than fend off, infections

By Science News | Tina Hesman Saey | 8/1/2025 1:00 PM

Probiotics containing Lactobacillus gasseri Lg-36 prevented C. difficile infections in mice, but L. acidophilus probiotics made infection more likely. ... Read full Story

animal

Some killer whales hunt in pairs to maximize their bounty

By Science News | Kristel Tjandra | 7/28/2025 9:00 AM

Drone footage from Norway shows killer whales using a highly coordinated and cooperative hunting technique to catch herring. ... Read full Story

basketball

The Conversation: Do the Bulls actually have a plan to escape their cycle of mediocrity?

by CBS Interactive Inc | Sep 17 2025

beauty

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

by The List | Mar 03 2025

book

Replaceable You

by BookPage | Sep 16 2025

exercise

Here’s How Many Steps You Really Need To Walk, Says a Cleveland Clinic Sports Cardiologist Based on New Research

by thehealthy.com | Aug 28 2025

finance

ABC pulls Jimmy Kimmel following government pushback over Charlie Kirk comments

by MarketWatch.com | Sep 17 2025

football

Kick off Jets’ season with this cool Sauce Gardner bobblehead

by ESNY | Sep 11 2023

mental

Special Olympics Advocates: Don’t Leave This Community Out of Mental Health Discussions

by thehealthy.com | May 28 2025

new_jersey

As threats increase, so may protection for Congress

by NJ Spotlight | Sep 17 2025

odd_fun

Look: Drones searching for wallaby that escaped from England farm

by United Press International, Inc. | Sep 17 2025

opinion

America schools need to stop spending money on staff who HARM kids’ learning

by New York Post | Sep 17 2025

real_estate

An affluent Brooklyn neighborhood leads the pack in citywide rent declines — see why

by NY Post | Sep 17 2025

retirement

Retirees face staggering 6-figure health care bill when leaving the workforce

by Fox News | Jul 30 2025

science

What are the 'magic numbers' in nuclear physics, and why are they so powerful?

by LIVE SCIENCE | Sep 17 2025

technology

New sodium structure pushes solid-state batteries to work in subzero temps

by Interesting Engineering | Sep 17 2025

world

U.S. and Saudis conduct Middle East’s largest counter-drone exercise

by United Press International, Inc. | Sep 17 2025

Word of the Day

jovial

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for September 17, 2025 is:

jovial • \JOH-vee-ul\ • adjective

Jovial describes people as well as moods, attitudes, etc., that are cheerful and jolly.

// The audience was in a jovial mood as the headlining comedian walked onto the stage.

See the entry >

Examples:

"Transport yourself to a sumptuous hidden garden somewhere in Europe, where the meats are plentiful and the specials oh so tantalizing. The rustic communal tables and jovial service will make you feel like you're hanging out with your extended family in the old country." — Briony Smith, The Toronto Star, 29 Mar. 2025

Did you know?

In ancient Roman astrology, people were thought to share the personality traits of the god whose planet was rising when they were born. The largest planet was named after the chief Roman god Jupiter, also called Jove. Jove was a sky god and a bringer of light, as well as a great protector who kept heroes focused on being loyal to the gods, the state, and family. Ancient mythology is full of stories of Jupiter (Zeus in the Greek myths) behaving badly, but jovial points only to the joy and happiness of a supremely powerful god: it describes the cheerful and jolly among us. (Jovian is the adjective that describes what is simply related to Jove/Jupiter.) Jovial has historically been contrasted with saturnine, which describes those with a gloomy or surly disposition. Sad Saturn was the father of Jupiter and his siblings, and he was exiled (understandably) for swallowing them all.

Octopus arms are adaptable but some are favored for particular jobs

Just like humans, many animals get more aggressive in the heat

Tiny thumbnails may be key for rodents’ global takeover

Here’s how fruit flies’ giant sperm squeeze into tight spaces

This lizard can tolerate extreme levels of lead

Horses may have become rideable with the help of a genetic mutation

The mysterious, extinct ‘Fuegian dog’ was actually a semi-tame fox

The phoenix isn’t the only critter to survive the flames

Frilly bug feet inspire a water-striding robot

Around the world, birds sing longer in light-polluted areas

These giant carnivorous bats hug, cuddle — and even share dinner

Streaked shearwaters poop only while flying over the ocean

A single protein makes lovesick flies spill their guts

Warm autumns could be a driver in monarch butterflies’ decline

Squashing the spotted lanternfly problem may require enlisting other species

This snail may hold a secret to human eye regeneration

These plants build ant condos that keep warring species apart

The mystery of melting sea stars may finally be solved

Some probiotics could feed, rather than fend off, infections

Some killer whales hunt in pairs to maximize their bounty

The Conversation: Do the Bulls actually have a plan to escape their cycle of mediocrity?

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

Replaceable You

Here’s How Many Steps You Really Need To Walk, Says a Cleveland Clinic Sports Cardiologist Based on New Research

ABC pulls Jimmy Kimmel following government pushback over Charlie Kirk comments

Kick off Jets’ season with this cool Sauce Gardner bobblehead

Special Olympics Advocates: Don’t Leave This Community Out of Mental Health Discussions

As threats increase, so may protection for Congress

Look: Drones searching for wallaby that escaped from England farm

America schools need to stop spending money on staff who HARM kids’ learning

An affluent Brooklyn neighborhood leads the pack in citywide rent declines — see why

Retirees face staggering 6-figure health care bill when leaving the workforce

What are the 'magic numbers' in nuclear physics, and why are they so powerful?

New sodium structure pushes solid-state batteries to work in subzero temps

U.S. and Saudis conduct Middle East’s largest counter-drone exercise

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.Look: Drones searching for wallaby that escaped from England farm

2.Look: Colorado firefighters hoist cow out of hip-deep mud

3.N.C. woman wins 'best birthday present ever' from lottery game

4.Look: Venomous snake found hundreds of miles from native range

5.Watch: Entangled deer rescued from soccer net in New York

6.Watch: Stunt performer pulls a car while on fire to break world record

7.Impulse purchase from car wash earns Illinois dad $1M lottery prize

8.Watch: Hilda Baci cooks up nearly 20,000-pound serving of jollof rice

9.Teenagers and their parents get huge fine for online video restaurant 'prank'

10.Cheating scandal nearly sinks World Stone Skimming Championships