Magpie News Collector

animal

Feeding sharks ‘junk food’ takes a toll on their health

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 1/30/2025 10:45 AM

Many blacktip reef sharks in French Polynesia are commonly fed by tourists. But the low-quality diet is changing the sharks’ behavior and physiology. ... Read full Story

animal

This drawing is the oldest known sketch of an insect brain

By Science News | Tina Hesman Saey | 1/28/2025 7:01 PM

Found in a roughly 350-year-old manuscript by Dutch biologist Johannes Swammerdam, the scientific illustration shows the brain of a honeybee drone. ... Read full Story

animal

Chatty bats are more likely to take risks

By Science News | Richard Kemeny | 1/28/2025 7:01 PM

Bats may broadcast their personalities to others from a distance, new experiments suggest, which could play into social dynamics within a colony. ... Read full Story

animal

Like flyways for birds, we need to map swimways for fish

By Science News | Stefan Lovgren | 1/28/2025 9:00 AM

Mapping fish migration routes and identifying threats is crucial to protecting freshwater species and their habitats, ecologists argue. ... Read full Story

animal

Cricket frogs belly flop their way across water

By Science News | McKenzie Prillaman | 1/27/2025 11:00 AM

Cricket frogs were once thought to hop on the water’s surface. They actually leap in and out of the water in a form of locomotion called porpoising. ... Read full Story

animal

Fever’s link with a key kind of immunity is surprisingly ancient

By Science News | McKenzie Prillaman | 1/24/2025 9:00 AM

When sick, Nile tilapia seek warmer water. That behavioral fever triggers a specialized immune response, hinting the connection evolved long ago. ... Read full Story

animal

Mole or marsupial? This subterranean critter with a backward pouch is both

By Science News | Susan Milius | 1/23/2025 9:00 AM

Genetic analyses have solved the riddle of where a marsupial mole fits on the tree of life: It’s a cousin to bilbies, bandicoots and Tasmanian devils. ... Read full Story

animal

In chimpanzees, peeing is contagious

By Science News | Gennaro Tomma | 1/20/2025 11:00 AM

The first study of copycat urination in an animal documents how one chimpanzee peeing prompts others to follow suit. Now researchers are exploring why. ... Read full Story

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

This caterpillar wears the body parts of insect prey

by Science News | Apr 24 2025

beauty

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

by The List | Mar 03 2025

fashion

Bizarre ‘lobster’ purse has fashionistas vowing they’d ‘sell a kidney’ — you can get one for $35 at this popular discount store

by NY Post | Apr 25 2025

finance

The NYSE’s most famous trader says it’s a great time for traders and shares how to play the volatility

by MarketWatch.com | Apr 26 2025

food

The New England Brand With The Best Store-Bought Canned Clam Chowder

by The Daily Meal | Apr 26 2025

knowledge

Here’s Why Bathroom Towels Have Those Woven Strips on Both Ends

by Reader's Digest | Apr 25 2025

mental

Audi Crooks on Keeping Eyes on the Prize and Caring for Mental Health

by thehealthy.com | Mar 07 2025

odd_fun

British man unknowingly buys back his own stolen car

by United Press International, Inc. | Apr 25 2025

people

Donald Trump lashes out at NFL owners for not taking Shedeur: "Are they stupid?"

by marca.com | Apr 26 2025

politics

Maher warns Gore against making Trump Nazi comparisons

by The Hill | Apr 26 2025

shopping

New Balance’s Next Dad Shoe Looks So Technical, They Added “Utility” to the Name

by Gear Patrol | Apr 26 2025

sports

Drake invests in Venezia, will sponsor kit

by ESPN Inc. | Aug 14 2024

technology

5,000-year-old Peruvian Caral civilization grave reveals high status of women

by Interesting Engineering | Apr 26 2025

travel

Cruise Review: Springtime in the Fjords with Ambassador Cruise Line on board Ambience

by The Travel Magazine | Apr 25 2025

wellness

Endometriosis and Diet: The Best Foods to Eat and Avoid for Pain and Bloating

by Self.com | Apr 25 2025

Word of the Day

nonchalant

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 26, 2025 is:

nonchalant • \nahn-shuh-LAHNT\ • adjective

Someone described as nonchalant is relaxed and calm, either because they do not care about something or because they are not worried about something. Nonchalant can also be used to describe something, such as demeanor or behavior, that expresses such relaxed, calm unconcern.

// The team showed a somewhat nonchalant attitude at the beginning of the season, but they became more serious once the championship was within reach.

See the entry >

Examples:

"He is largely unaffected by the fame and fortune and all the talk of greatness tends to be greeted with a nonchalant shrug." — The Evening Times (Glasgow, Scotland), 19 Mar. 2024

Did you know?

Since nonchalant ultimately comes from words meaning "not" and "be warm," it's no surprise that the word is all about keeping one's cool. Nonchalant’s Old French ancestor is the verb nonchaloir, meaning "to disregard," which combines non-, meaning "not," with chaloir, meaning "to concern." Chaloir in turn traces back to the Latin calēre, meaning "to be warm" (calēre is also the forerunner of the heat-related English word calorie). You might assume that the prefix non- implies the existence of an antonymous chalant, but no such word has developed in English. It’s no big deal though—if you want a word that means the opposite of nonchalant, both concerned and interested can do the job.

Feeding sharks ‘junk food’ takes a toll on their health

This drawing is the oldest known sketch of an insect brain

Chatty bats are more likely to take risks

Like flyways for birds, we need to map swimways for fish

Cricket frogs belly flop their way across water

Fever’s link with a key kind of immunity is surprisingly ancient

Mole or marsupial? This subterranean critter with a backward pouch is both

In chimpanzees, peeing is contagious

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

This caterpillar wears the body parts of insect prey

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

Bizarre ‘lobster’ purse has fashionistas vowing they’d ‘sell a kidney’ — you can get one for $35 at this popular discount store

The NYSE’s most famous trader says it’s a great time for traders and shares how to play the volatility

The New England Brand With The Best Store-Bought Canned Clam Chowder

Here’s Why Bathroom Towels Have Those Woven Strips on Both Ends

Audi Crooks on Keeping Eyes on the Prize and Caring for Mental Health

British man unknowingly buys back his own stolen car

Donald Trump lashes out at NFL owners for not taking Shedeur: "Are they stupid?"

Maher warns Gore against making Trump Nazi comparisons

New Balance’s Next Dad Shoe Looks So Technical, They Added “Utility” to the Name

Drake invests in Venezia, will sponsor kit

5,000-year-old Peruvian Caral civilization grave reveals high status of women

Cruise Review: Springtime in the Fjords with Ambassador Cruise Line on board Ambience

Endometriosis and Diet: The Best Foods to Eat and Avoid for Pain and Bloating

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.British man unknowingly buys back his own stolen car

2.Tourist wins lottery prize of over $3M while visiting Chicago

3.Watch: Pawesome pooches shred the waves at Florida dog surfing festival

4.'Ferocious' woodpecker damages 25 vehicles in Massachusetts town

5.Baby screech owl rescued from busy Florida parking lot

6.Watch: Cypriot busts a move with 468 wine glasses balanced on his head

7.Dog rescued from commuter train tracks in Massachusetts

8.The art of misdirection: How one woman beat the Magic Circle's ban on female members

9.Loose goat evades pursuing police in Georgia

10.Maryland woman has won three big lottery prizes, always in mid-April