Magpie News Collector

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

The largest arthropod to ever live finally has a head

By Science News | Jason Bittel | 10/9/2024 2:00 PM

Fossils of an extinct giant millipede reveal new details about the arthropod’s anatomy. ... Read full Story

animal

To tell a right-trunked elephant from a lefty, check the wrinkles

By Science News | Susan Milius | 10/8/2024 7:01 PM

Elephant trunks, more sci-fi face-tentacle than ho-hum mammal nose, are getting new scrutiny as researchers explore how the wrinkles grow. ... Read full Story

animal

These sea creatures can fuse their bodies

By Science News | Jude Coleman | 10/7/2024 11:00 AM

A species of comb jelly can fuse its body with another jelly after injury. Some of the pair’s body functions then synchronize. ... Read full Story

animal

Some tadpoles don’t poop for weeks. That keeps their pools clean

By Science News | Andrea Tamayo | 10/4/2024 10:30 AM

Eiffinger’s tree frog babies store their solid waste in an intestinal pouch, releasing less ammonia into their watery cribs than other frog species. ... Read full Story

animal

Dolphins’ open-mouth behaviors during play are like smiles, a study claims

By Science News | Gennaro Tomma | 10/2/2024 11:00 AM

Experts urge caution in calling bottlenosed dolphins’ gesture a humanlike “smile,” but agree it seems to be important for how the animals communicate. ... Read full Story

animal

Coyotes have the face muscles for that ‘sad-puppy’ look

By Science News | Susan Milius | 10/1/2024 7:01 PM

The ability to make heart-melting stares may not be the fruit of dog domestication if their still-wild cousins have the power to do it too. ... Read full Story

animal

Bird nests made with a toxic fungus seem to fend off attacking ants

By Science News | Richard Kemeny | 10/1/2024 9:00 AM

Two species of birds in Costa Rica build nests in trees defended by ants. Ants that encounter the horsehair fungus in the nests develop odd behaviors. ... Read full Story

animal

‘Night Magic’ invites you to celebrate the living wonders of the dark

By Science News | Aimee Cunningham | 9/27/2024 1:30 PM

In the book ‘Night Magic,’ Leigh Ann Henion writes of encounters with salamanders, bats, glowworms and other life-forms nurtured by darkness. ... Read full Story

animal

This fish has legs — and it uses them for more than just walking

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 9/26/2024 11:00 AM

Some sea robins have taste buds on their six crablike legs that help the fish ferret out prey buried in sand as they walk. ... Read full Story

auto

Video: We Can Finally See Inside The Upcoming Audi A7

by carbuzz.com | Oct 30 2024

book

The Queen

by BookPage | Oct 29 2024

connecticut

‘Hateful’: CT’s Puerto Rican community blasts ‘floating island of garbage’ remarks at Trump rally

by CT Mirror | Oct 30 2024

exercise

Want To Live Longer? Try Weekend-Only Exercise, Says New Study

by thehealthy.com | Sep 21 2024

food

Oskar Blues expands its lauded beer line

by THE MANUAL | Oct 30 2024

game

Two Games With Very Similar Titles Are Launching A Day Apart, And They're Being Awesome About It

by GameSpot | Oct 30 2024

how_to

Best Early Black Friday Deals Under $25: Stock Up on Everyday Essentials

by CNET | Oct 30 2024

long_island

Amazon Fresh shoppers line up before dawn for openings of two new Long Island stores

by greaterlongisland.com | Oct 24 2024

metro

These New Yorkers are dressing up as Eric Adams, MTA ads and other NYC lore for Halloween

by New York Post | Oct 30 2024

new_jersey

Housing matters a lot to Hispanic voters in New Jersey

by NJ Spotlight | Oct 30 2024

odd_fun

New Zealand city bids farewell to 'disturbing' hand sculpture

by United Press International, Inc. | Oct 30 2024

people

Jennifer Aniston stirs up controversy with photo after voting for U.S. presidential candidate

by marca.com | Oct 30 2024

shopping

Photoshop and Illustrator Just Got a Massive AI Upgrade. Here Are the 6 Key Features to Try

by Gear Patrol | Oct 30 2024

technology

Mozilla celebrates 20 years with Firefox 132, blocks third-party cookies

by PCWorld | Oct 30 2024

upstate

NY Assembly candidate Jeremy Messina talks issues with NEWS10

by NEWS10 ABC | Oct 30 2024

Word of the Day

syncretism

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 30, 2024 is:

syncretism • \SING-kruh-tiz-um\ • noun

Syncretism refers to the combining of different forms of belief or practice.

// As a scholar of religion, Laila is especially interested in the syncretism of Manichaeism, which was influenced by Christianity, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism.

See the entry >

Examples:

"Explore the archaeological wonders of Chavín de Huantar, where history comes alive. This village, steeped in cultural richness, provides a journey into Peru's ancient past. 'The village of Chavín de Huántar is an example of how tourism can foster syncretism between religious traditions and ancestral cultural elements, generating experiences with a positive impact for the population and improving the quality of life of its residents,' said the UNWTO [United Nations World Tourism Organization]." — Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2023

Did you know?

The ancient Greeks used the term synkrētismos to refer to Cretan cities allied in opposition to a common enemy. In the early 17th century, English speakers adopted the term in the anglicized form syncretism to refer to the union of different religious beliefs. Three centuries later, lexicographers of the 1909 edition of Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language added a new definition of syncretism ("the union or fusion into one or two or more originally different inflectional forms, as of two cases"), but this specialized sense is rarely encountered outside of the field of linguistics. Some related terms that you are more likely to encounter are syncretize ("to attempt to unite and harmonize"), syncretist ("one who advocates syncretism"), and syncretic and syncretistic ("characterized or brought about by syncretism").

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

The largest arthropod to ever live finally has a head

To tell a right-trunked elephant from a lefty, check the wrinkles

These sea creatures can fuse their bodies

Some tadpoles don’t poop for weeks. That keeps their pools clean

Dolphins’ open-mouth behaviors during play are like smiles, a study claims

Coyotes have the face muscles for that ‘sad-puppy’ look

Bird nests made with a toxic fungus seem to fend off attacking ants

‘Night Magic’ invites you to celebrate the living wonders of the dark

This fish has legs — and it uses them for more than just walking

Video: We Can Finally See Inside The Upcoming Audi A7

The Queen

‘Hateful’: CT’s Puerto Rican community blasts ‘floating island of garbage’ remarks at Trump rally

Want To Live Longer? Try Weekend-Only Exercise, Says New Study

Oskar Blues expands its lauded beer line

Two Games With Very Similar Titles Are Launching A Day Apart, And They're Being Awesome About It

Best Early Black Friday Deals Under $25: Stock Up on Everyday Essentials

Amazon Fresh shoppers line up before dawn for openings of two new Long Island stores

These New Yorkers are dressing up as Eric Adams, MTA ads and other NYC lore for Halloween

Housing matters a lot to Hispanic voters in New Jersey

New Zealand city bids farewell to 'disturbing' hand sculpture

Jennifer Aniston stirs up controversy with photo after voting for U.S. presidential candidate

Photoshop and Illustrator Just Got a Massive AI Upgrade. Here Are the 6 Key Features to Try

Mozilla celebrates 20 years with Firefox 132, blocks third-party cookies

NY Assembly candidate Jeremy Messina talks issues with NEWS10

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.New Zealand city bids farewell to 'disturbing' hand sculpture

2.Maryland historical society seeks to identify mystery machine

3.Watch: Romanian pianist hits piano key 500 times in 30 seconds

4.Clown attacked with needle at Halloween event

5.Vatican unveils new cartoon mascot for Catholic Church

6.Cyclist creates Halloween-themed ride by taking skeleton-shaped route

7.Thousands of stolen Bluey coins found

8.Birthday present from aunt earns Ky. woman a $36,000 lottery prize

9.Watch: Large alligator wanders the tarmac at Florida airport

10.Idaho man breaks world record for sorting Peanut M&M's