Why Are So Many Dolphins Beaching Themselves?
Posted on October 9, 2022
| 4 minutes
| 807 words
| Fernande Dalal
From New England to Peru, an unprecedented number of dolphins have been beaching themselves in recent weeks, and experts are grappling as to why.
On Cape Cod alone, 177 short-beaked common dolphins have stranded and 124 have died, according to an Associated Press report. The report goes on to say that the total is nearly five times the average of 37 common dolphins that have stranded annually there during the last 12 years.
[Read More]Why do dogs howl?
Posted on October 9, 2022
| 1 minutes
| 201 words
| Patria Henriques
Understanding your dog's behavior can be a daunting task. For example, why do dogs howl?
Researchers admit that howling behavior in dogs is still largely a mystery. But if Fido goes wild at the sound of sirens or other dogs, it's not because his ears hurt. It's his ancestry that's partly to blame.
Your pooch shares his penchant for howling with his distant relation, the wolf. Much like barking or growling, howling is a deeply ingrained behavior that helps wolves communicate with one another.
[Read More]8/8/2008: Running the Real Numbers on Numerology
Posted on October 8, 2022
| 3 minutes
| 601 words
| Fernande Dalal
There's a reason that the Beijing Olympics are slated to begin at exactly 8:08:08 PM on 8/8/08. The number 8 is considered lucky in China, and thus the games will supposedly be off to an especially auspicious start.
Of course 8/8/08 is not the only date that holds significance for people. Last year on July 7, 2007, weddings were scheduled for that date at triple the usual number, and thousands of people played sevens in the lotteries.
[Read More]A Longer Life May Not Be in Your Genes
Posted on October 8, 2022
| 4 minutes
| 684 words
| Trudie Dory
Long life spans tend to run in families, a phenomenon that's often attributed to people's genes. But now, a large new study of data from the genealogy website Ancestry reveals that genetics may play less of a role in life span than previously thought.
The reason? Previous studies failed to take into account a quirk of human relationships: that people tend select romantic partners with similar traits to their own. The findings mean that previous studies may have substantially overestimated the heritability of life span, the researchers said.
[Read More]Are Guys Really Better Gamers Than Gals?
Posted on October 8, 2022
| 5 minutes
| 1062 words
| Trudie Dory
Although women now make up almost half of all video game players, the gaming community remains, in some ways, hostile toward women.
For example, the GamerGate controversy, which began in 2014 and involved a harassment campaign against prominent female gamers, journalists and designers, reflected a longstanding undercurrent of misogyny and sexism in the community. In some cases, those who challenged the sexism found themselves threatened with rape or death.
There’s also the long-held stereotype that men are simply better gamers than women.
[Read More]Can you catch COVID-19 from food?
Posted on October 8, 2022
| 4 minutes
| 836 words
| Fernande Dalal
The thought may have crossed your mind as you navigate grocery store aisles or order takeout in the midst of a pandemic: Can you catch the new coronavirus from food?
Experts say there's currently no evidence of the new coronavirus disease, COVID-19, being transmitted through food.
"We don't really have any evidence that food or food packaging is a source for getting sick" from COVID-19, said Benjamin Chapman, a professor and food safety specialist at North Carolina State University.
[Read More]Cannibal 'T. Rex' Ants Seen Live for 1st Time Ever (and They're Shy)
Posted on October 8, 2022
| 4 minutes
| 665 words
| Patria Henriques
Tyrannomyrmex rex is a timid, finicky eater, new research finds. The ants can, however, turn to cannibalism in times of need.
Until now, these Asian ants were a complete mystery to science, despite being discovered more than 20 years ago. No one had ever collected more than a single specimen, and no one had ever observed a T. rex ant alive for an extended period of time. So when biologist Mark Wong stumbled across a colony of T.
[Read More]Dads (Not Just Moms) Can Pass on Mitochondrial DNA, According to Provocative New Study
Posted on October 8, 2022
| 4 minutes
| 680 words
| Patria Henriques
It's long been thought that people inherit mitochondrial DNA — genetic material found inside cells' mitochondria — exclusively from their mothers. But now, a provocative new study finds that, in rare cases, dads can pass on mitochondrial DNA, too.
The study found evidence that 17 people from three different families appeared to inherit mitochondrial DNA from both their mother and their father. The radical findings, from researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, were then confirmed by two additional laboratories using several different testing methods.
[Read More]Fire Ants Hitched Ride Around Globe on 16th-Century Ships
Posted on October 8, 2022
| 3 minutes
| 561 words
| Fernande Dalal
Spanish ships spread tropical fire ants around the globe in the 16th century, according to new research about one of the first worldwide invasive species.
Tropical fire ants (Solenopsis geminata) originally hail from the Americas, but are now found almost anywhere with a tropical climate, including Australia, Africa, India and Southeast Asia. The tiny ants defend their nests aggressively, and their stings leave painful white pustules on the skin, according to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
[Read More]Here's Why the Polar Vortex Always Hits the Midwest
Posted on October 8, 2022
| 3 minutes
| 483 words
| Trudie Dory
As Live Science reported (and all your Chicago friends on Instagram confirmed), it's very cold in the Midwest and Plains right now. That's not just because it's winter, which is always pretty cold out there, but also because a big chunk of Arctic air (the polar vortex) has become trapped in the North American midlatitudes.
Here's the weird thing, though: Cold as it is out there, and cold as it will soon be on the East Coast, the West Coast is doing just fine.
[Read More]