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Categories: Ecology: Animals, Space: The Solar System
Published Constantly on the hunt for food: Harbor porpoises more vulnerable than previously thought
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Constantly on the hunt for food: Harbor porpoises more vulnerable than previously thought to the disturbances from humans. The small whales spend more than 60 percent of their day hunting small fish to stay warm in the cold waters. New research shows that harbor porpoises spend little energy on this hunting strategy, but that it makes them vulnerable to human disturbance.
Published Potentially habitable 'exo-Venus' with Earth-like temperature discovered
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Astronomers have made the rare and tantalizing discovery of an Earth-like exoplanet 40 light-years away that may be just a little warmer than our own world. The potentially-habitable planet, named Gliese 12 b, orbits its host star every 12.8 days, is comparable in size to Venus -- so slightly smaller than Earth -- and has an estimated surface temperature of 42 C (107 F), which is lower than most of the 5,000-odd exoplanets confirmed so far. That is assuming it has no atmosphere, however, which is the crucial next step to establishing if it is habitable.
Published Escaped GMO canola plants persist long-term, but may be losing their extra genes
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Populations of canola plants genetically engineered to be resistant to herbicides can survive outside of farms, but may be gradually losing their engineered genes, reports a new study.
Published Australian study proves 'humans are planet's most frightening predator'
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study demonstrates that kangaroos, wallabies and other Australian marsupials fear humans far more than any other predator.
Published The origin of the sun's magnetic field could lie close to its surface
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Surprise findings suggest sunspots and solar flares could be generated by a magnetic field within the Sun's outermost layers. If confirmed, the findings could help scientists better predict space weather.
Published Improving statistical methods to protect wildlife populations
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source In human populations, it is relatively easy to calculate demographic trends and make projections of the future if data on basic processes such as births and immigration is known. The data, given by individuals, can be also death and emigration, which subtract. In the wild, on the other hand, understanding the processes that determine wildlife demographic patterns is a highly complex challenge for the scientific community. Although a wide range of methods are now available to estimate births and deaths in wildlife, quantifying emigration and immigration has historically been difficult or impossible in many populations of interest, particularly in the case of threatened species.
Published Rabies outbreaks in Costa Rica cattle linked to deforestation
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Deforestation in Costa Rica raises the risk of cattle becoming infected with rabies by vampire bats, finds a new study.
Published Genes provide hope for the survival of Arabia's last big cat
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The release of captive bred animals carefully selected for their genes can make a significant contribution to the successful recovery of the dwindling wild population and avert the prospect of extinction. Despite revealing extremely low levels of genetic diversity in the wild leopard population in Oman, the research team discovered higher levels of genetic diversity in captive leopards across the region. This important genetic resource has the potential for a major role in successful recovery of the Arabian leopard.
Published Webb Telescope offers first glimpse of an exoplanet's interior
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A surprisingly low amount of methane and a super-sized core hide within the cotton candy -- like planet WASP-107 b.
Published Meerkat chit-chat
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers unravel the vocal interactions of meerkat groups and show they use two different types of interactions to stay in touch.
Published Cooperative hunting requires less brainpower than previously thought
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Through the use of artificial intelligence technology, a team of scientists has shown that advanced cognitive abilities are unnecessary for cooperative hunting. Their findings suggest that cooperative hunting, previously thought to be a complex social behavior seen primarily in mammals such as lions and chimpanzees, can also develop in species with lower levels of cognitive ability.
Published Cloudy waters causes African fish to develop bigger eyes
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Variations in water quality can impact the development of the visual system of one species of African fish, suggests a new study.
Published Otters, especially females, use tools to survive a changing world
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Sea otters are one of the few animals that use tools to access their food, and a new study has found that individual sea otters that use tools -- most of whom are female -- are able to eat larger prey and reduce tooth damage when their preferred prey becomes depleted.
Published Hubble views the dawn of a sun-like star
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Looking like a glittering cosmic geode, a trio of dazzling stars blaze from the hollowed-out cavity of a reflection nebula in a new image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The triple-star system is made up of the variable star HP Tau, HP Tau G2, and HP Tau G3. HP Tau is known as a T Tauri star, a type of young variable star that hasn't begun nuclear fusion yet but is beginning to evolve into a hydrogen-fueled star similar to our Sun.
Published Robotic 'SuperLimbs' could help moonwalkers recover from falls
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source SuperLimbs, a system of wearable robotic limbs, can physically support an astronaut and lift them back on their feet after a fall, helping them conserve energy for other essential tasks.
Published Bees and butterflies on the decline in western and southern North America
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Bee and butterfly populations are in decline in major regions of North America due to ongoing environmental change, and significant gaps in pollinator research limit our ability to protect these species, according to a new study.
Published Tiger beetles fight off bat attacks with ultrasonic mimicry
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source When tiger beetles hear a bat nearby, they respond by creating a high-pitched, ultrasonic noise, and for the past 30 years, no one has known why. In a new study, scientists lay the mystery to rest by showing that tiger beetles use ultrasonic warning signals that mimic those of toxic moths.
Published Detection of an Earth-sized exoplanet orbiting the ultracool dwarf star SPECULOOS-3
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Astronomers have just discovered a new Earth-sized exoplanet around SPECULOOS-3, an 'ultracool dwarf' star as small as Jupiter, twice as cold as our Sun, and located 55 light-years from Earth. After the famous TRAPPIST-1, SPECULOOS 3 is the second planetary system discovered around this type of star.
Published Parasitic worm likely playing role in decline of moose populations
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A parasitic worm that can infest the brains of moose appears to be playing a role in the decline of the iconic animal in some regions of North America. Moose populations have been dwindling for years across the country due to many contributing factors, but new research has found the impact of Eleaophora schneideri, also known as the arterial worm, has likely been underestimated.
Published Climate change is most prominent threat to pollinators
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new article has found that climate change is the most prominent threat to pollinators -- such as bumblebees, wasps, and butterflies -- who are essential for biodiversity conservation, crop yields and food security. The research suggests that many of the threats to pollinators result from human activities.