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Science Daily
Articles from Science Daily
sciencedaily.comYellowstone wolves may not have reshaped the national park after all
One of the most celebrated claims about Yellowstone’s wolves is facing a major challenge. Scientists say the study behind the famous trophic cascade story relied on flawed methods that overstated the ecological impact of wolf recovery.
South Australia’s koala boom could end in mass starvation
South Australia’s koala population has grown so large that it may be heading toward a self-made disaster, with forests struggling to support the animals. Researchers say targeted fertility control could prevent widespread starvation and habitat collapse before it’s too late.
Why Sweden’s wolverine conservation success story is unraveling
A world-famous conservation program that helped save Sweden’s endangered wolverines is now struggling as funding stagnates and local trust erodes. Researchers say the decline offers a cautionary lesson: protecting wildlife requires long-term commitment, not just early success.
The secret to pigeons’ incredible navigation was hiding in their liver
Scientists have uncovered a surprising navigation system in pigeons: iron-filled immune cells in the liver that may act like tiny magnetic sensors. Birds deprived of these cells struggled to find their way home under overcast skies, indicating they rely on Earth’s magnetic field for guidance. The discovery could solve a decades-old mystery about animal navigation and reveal an unexpected connection between immunity and sensing the environment.
The ocean's health may depend on a tiny microbe inside fish
A surprising new discovery suggests that tiny microbes living inside fish may be helping shape the chemistry of the world’s oceans. Scientists found evidence that bacteria in the guts of marine fish work alongside their hosts to produce calcium carbonate, a mineral that plays an important role in ocean health and carbon storage.
A New York cemetery was hiding 5.5 million bees underground
A casual walk through an Ithaca cemetery led to the discovery of a gigantic hidden bee population — roughly 5.5 million ground-nesting bees packed beneath the soil. Scientists believe it may be one of the largest bee aggregations ever documented and say the insects are crucial pollinators for apple orchards and other crops. The bees have likely lived there for more than 100 years, thriving in the cemetery’s undisturbed sandy soil.
Scientists say house cats could help unlock new cancer treatments for humans
Scientists have cracked open the “black box” of feline cancer in a landmark study that genetically analyzed nearly 500 cat tumors from around the world. The research uncovered striking similarities between cancers in cats, dogs, and humans — including shared cancer-driving genes tied to aggressive breast cancers.
Humpback whale breaks migration record with 15,000 kilometer ocean journey
Scientists have uncovered an astonishing new chapter in humpback whale migration: two whales were found to have traveled between breeding grounds in Australia and Brazil, crossing more than 14,000 kilometers of open ocean. One whale shattered records by covering at least 15,100 kilometers between sightings, marking the longest confirmed journey ever documented for an individual humpback whale.
Giant squid discovery uncovers a hidden deep-sea world off Australia
Scientists exploring deep underwater canyons off the coast of Western Australia uncovered a hidden world packed with bizarre and elusive marine life — including signs of the legendary giant squid. By analyzing traces of DNA floating in seawater from depths exceeding 4 kilometers, researchers identified 226 species ranging from deep-diving whales to strange fish rarely or never seen in the region before. Some of the creatures may even be unknown to science.
Why do crabs walk sideways? Scientists trace it back 200 million years
Scientists have uncovered new clues about how crabs developed their distinctive sideways movement. A new study, released as a Reviewed Preprint in eLife, brings together the largest dataset yet on how crabs move.
Aggressive “hulk” lizards are wiping out millions of years of evolution
For ages, wall lizards coexisted in three distinct color types, each with its own strategy for survival. Now, a powerful green variant is taking over. These dominant “Hulk” lizards are outcompeting the others, causing yellow and orange morphs to vanish. It’s a dramatic reminder that evolution can flip the script much faster than expected.
Warming waters are supercharging an invasive salmon predator in Alaska
Rising temperatures in a Southcentral Alaska river are driving a noticeable change in the behavior of invasive northern pike. As the water warms, these predators are eating more, raising concerns about the future of native fish such as salmon.
“Baffling” new snake species in Myanmar looks like multiple species at once
Scientists have uncovered a fascinating new species of pit viper in Myanmar that seems to blur the very definition of what a species is.
Scientists just debunked a 50-year myth about Hawaii’s birds
A new study from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is reshaping a decades-old belief about the disappearance of Hawaiʻi's native waterbirds. Researchers report that there is no scientific evidence showing Indigenous People hunted these species to extinction.
Gray whales are entering San Francisco Bay and many aren’t surviving
Gray whales are beginning to break their long-established migration patterns, venturing into risky new territory like San Francisco Bay as climate change disrupts their Arctic food supply. But this unexpected detour is proving deadly: nearly one in five whales that enter the Bay don’t survive, with many struck by ships in the crowded, foggy waters.
Freshwater fish populations plunge 81% as river migrations collapse
A sweeping global report finds that migratory freshwater fish are in steep decline, with populations down roughly 81% since 1970. These species depend on long, connected rivers, but dams and human pressures are cutting off their routes.
Beavers are turning rivers into powerful carbon sinks
Beavers may play an unexpected role in tackling climate change by transforming rivers into effective carbon dioxide sinks, according to a new international study led by researchers at the University of Birmingham.
Scared of spiders? Scientists say the real nightmare is losing them
Members of the arachnid class -- think spiders, scorpions and harvestmen (daddy long legs) -- often trigger feelings of fear or disgust. Despite this reaction, these animals play an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Extreme weather is hitting baby birds hard in a 60-year study
Decades of data from over 80,000 great tits reveal that extreme weather can shape the fate of baby birds. Cold snaps soon after hatching and heavy rain later in development shrink nestling body mass and reduce survival odds.
Scientists discover hedgehogs can hear ultrasound and it could save them from cars
Scientists at the University of Oxford say ultrasonic sound devices might one day help reduce the number of hedgehogs killed by cars. Their idea stems from new research published March 11 in Biology Letters showing for the first time that hedgehogs are capable of hearing high-frequency ultrasound.
Koalas survived a devastating population crash and their DNA is bouncing back
Koalas suffered a massive population decline that left them with dangerously low genetic diversity. However, new genomic research suggests their rapid rebound may be helping reverse some of that genetic damage.
Half of Amazon insects could face dangerous heat stress
A sweeping new study of more than 2,000 insect species reveals a troubling reality: many insects may be far less capable of coping with rising temperatures than scientists once hoped.
Humpback whale recovery is changing who fathers the calves
A new study shows that as humpback whale populations recover from past whaling, older males are gaining a major advantage in reproduction.
Wolves are stealing cougar kills in Yellowstone, study finds
A new study sheds light on the tense relationship between wolves and cougars in Yellowstone National Park. Researchers found that many of their encounters begin when wolves take over prey that cougars have already killed.
Flea and tick treatments for dogs and cats may be harming wildlife
A study published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry by Oxford University Press reports that widely used flea and tick treatments for dogs and cats may pose a serious threat to insects in the natural environment.
Yellowstone wolves may not have reshaped the national park after all
One of the most celebrated claims about Yellowstone’s wolves is facing a major challenge. Scientists say the study behind the famous trophic cascade story relied on flawed methods that overstated the ecological impact of wolf recovery.
South Australia’s koala boom could end in mass starvation
South Australia’s koala population has grown so large that it may be heading toward a self-made disaster, with forests struggling to support the animals. Researchers say targeted fertility control could prevent widespread starvation and habitat collapse before it’s too late.
Why Sweden’s wolverine conservation success story is unraveling
A world-famous conservation program that helped save Sweden’s endangered wolverines is now struggling as funding stagnates and local trust erodes. Researchers say the decline offers a cautionary lesson: protecting wildlife requires long-term commitment, not just early success.
The secret to pigeons’ incredible navigation was hiding in their liver
Scientists have uncovered a surprising navigation system in pigeons: iron-filled immune cells in the liver that may act like tiny magnetic sensors. Birds deprived of these cells struggled to find their way home under overcast skies, indicating they rely on Earth’s magnetic field for guidance. The discovery could solve a decades-old mystery about animal navigation and reveal an unexpected connection between immunity and sensing the environment.
The ocean's health may depend on a tiny microbe inside fish
A surprising new discovery suggests that tiny microbes living inside fish may be helping shape the chemistry of the world’s oceans. Scientists found evidence that bacteria in the guts of marine fish work alongside their hosts to produce calcium carbonate, a mineral that plays an important role in ocean health and carbon storage.
A New York cemetery was hiding 5.5 million bees underground
A casual walk through an Ithaca cemetery led to the discovery of a gigantic hidden bee population — roughly 5.5 million ground-nesting bees packed beneath the soil. Scientists believe it may be one of the largest bee aggregations ever documented and say the insects are crucial pollinators for apple orchards and other crops. The bees have likely lived there for more than 100 years, thriving in the cemetery’s undisturbed sandy soil.
Scientists say house cats could help unlock new cancer treatments for humans
Scientists have cracked open the “black box” of feline cancer in a landmark study that genetically analyzed nearly 500 cat tumors from around the world. The research uncovered striking similarities between cancers in cats, dogs, and humans — including shared cancer-driving genes tied to aggressive breast cancers.
Humpback whale breaks migration record with 15,000 kilometer ocean journey
Scientists have uncovered an astonishing new chapter in humpback whale migration: two whales were found to have traveled between breeding grounds in Australia and Brazil, crossing more than 14,000 kilometers of open ocean. One whale shattered records by covering at least 15,100 kilometers between sightings, marking the longest confirmed journey ever documented for an individual humpback whale.
Giant squid discovery uncovers a hidden deep-sea world off Australia
Scientists exploring deep underwater canyons off the coast of Western Australia uncovered a hidden world packed with bizarre and elusive marine life — including signs of the legendary giant squid. By analyzing traces of DNA floating in seawater from depths exceeding 4 kilometers, researchers identified 226 species ranging from deep-diving whales to strange fish rarely or never seen in the region before. Some of the creatures may even be unknown to science.
Why do crabs walk sideways? Scientists trace it back 200 million years
Scientists have uncovered new clues about how crabs developed their distinctive sideways movement. A new study, released as a Reviewed Preprint in eLife, brings together the largest dataset yet on how crabs move.
Aggressive “hulk” lizards are wiping out millions of years of evolution
For ages, wall lizards coexisted in three distinct color types, each with its own strategy for survival. Now, a powerful green variant is taking over. These dominant “Hulk” lizards are outcompeting the others, causing yellow and orange morphs to vanish. It’s a dramatic reminder that evolution can flip the script much faster than expected.
Warming waters are supercharging an invasive salmon predator in Alaska
Rising temperatures in a Southcentral Alaska river are driving a noticeable change in the behavior of invasive northern pike. As the water warms, these predators are eating more, raising concerns about the future of native fish such as salmon.
“Baffling” new snake species in Myanmar looks like multiple species at once
Scientists have uncovered a fascinating new species of pit viper in Myanmar that seems to blur the very definition of what a species is.
Scientists just debunked a 50-year myth about Hawaii’s birds
A new study from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is reshaping a decades-old belief about the disappearance of Hawaiʻi's native waterbirds. Researchers report that there is no scientific evidence showing Indigenous People hunted these species to extinction.
Gray whales are entering San Francisco Bay and many aren’t surviving
Gray whales are beginning to break their long-established migration patterns, venturing into risky new territory like San Francisco Bay as climate change disrupts their Arctic food supply. But this unexpected detour is proving deadly: nearly one in five whales that enter the Bay don’t survive, with many struck by ships in the crowded, foggy waters.
Freshwater fish populations plunge 81% as river migrations collapse
A sweeping global report finds that migratory freshwater fish are in steep decline, with populations down roughly 81% since 1970. These species depend on long, connected rivers, but dams and human pressures are cutting off their routes.
Beavers are turning rivers into powerful carbon sinks
Beavers may play an unexpected role in tackling climate change by transforming rivers into effective carbon dioxide sinks, according to a new international study led by researchers at the University of Birmingham.
Scared of spiders? Scientists say the real nightmare is losing them
Members of the arachnid class -- think spiders, scorpions and harvestmen (daddy long legs) -- often trigger feelings of fear or disgust. Despite this reaction, these animals play an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Extreme weather is hitting baby birds hard in a 60-year study
Decades of data from over 80,000 great tits reveal that extreme weather can shape the fate of baby birds. Cold snaps soon after hatching and heavy rain later in development shrink nestling body mass and reduce survival odds.
Scientists discover hedgehogs can hear ultrasound and it could save them from cars
Scientists at the University of Oxford say ultrasonic sound devices might one day help reduce the number of hedgehogs killed by cars. Their idea stems from new research published March 11 in Biology Letters showing for the first time that hedgehogs are capable of hearing high-frequency ultrasound.
Koalas survived a devastating population crash and their DNA is bouncing back
Koalas suffered a massive population decline that left them with dangerously low genetic diversity. However, new genomic research suggests their rapid rebound may be helping reverse some of that genetic damage.
Half of Amazon insects could face dangerous heat stress
A sweeping new study of more than 2,000 insect species reveals a troubling reality: many insects may be far less capable of coping with rising temperatures than scientists once hoped.
Humpback whale recovery is changing who fathers the calves
A new study shows that as humpback whale populations recover from past whaling, older males are gaining a major advantage in reproduction.
Wolves are stealing cougar kills in Yellowstone, study finds
A new study sheds light on the tense relationship between wolves and cougars in Yellowstone National Park. Researchers found that many of their encounters begin when wolves take over prey that cougars have already killed.
Flea and tick treatments for dogs and cats may be harming wildlife
A study published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry by Oxford University Press reports that widely used flea and tick treatments for dogs and cats may pose a serious threat to insects in the natural environment.
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