Odd Creatures News

November 7, 2016

'Mean Girl' Meerkats Can Make More Testosterone

'Cyclops' Beetles Inform 'Chicken-And-Egg' ...

Herbivorous Mammals Have Bigger Bellies

Frog Larvae Become Vegetarian When It Is Hot

Latest Headlines

updated 5:07pm EST

'Ghost Snake' Discovered in Madagascar

Sep. 2, 2016 — Researchers discovered a new snake species in Madagascar and named it 'ghost snake' for its pale grey coloration and elusiveness. The researchers named it Madagascarophis ... read more

'Chemtrails' Not Real, Say Atmospheric Science Experts

Aug. 12, 2016 — Well-understood physical and chemical processes can easily explain the alleged evidence of a secret, large-scale atmospheric spraying program, commonly referred to as ... read more

1967 Solar Storm Nearly Took US to Brink of War

Aug. 9, 2016 — A solar storm that jammed radar and radio communications at the height of the Cold War could have led to a disastrous military conflict if not for the US Air Force's budding ... read more

Chicago Wouldn’t Last Long Under Zombie Invasion, Model Finds

Nov. 4, 2016 — In the unlikely event of the zombie apocalypse, it would take less than two months for the undead to take control of the city, says a new ... read more

Underwater Mushrooms: Curious Lake Fungi Under Every Turned Over Stone

Nov. 1, 2016 — While fungi are well known for being essential in cycling carbon and nutrients, there are only about 100,000 described species in contrast to the 1.5 to 3 millions, assumed ... read more

Crack Discovered in Earth's Magnetic Shield

Nov. 3, 2016 — The GRAPES-3 muon telescope recorded a burst of galactic cosmic rays of about 20 GeV, on 22 June 2015 lasting for two hours. The burst occurred when a giant cloud of plasma ... read more

Spiral Growth: Feedback Loop Behind Spiral Patterns in Plants Uncovered?

Nov. 3, 2016 — For centuries, artists, biologists and mathematicians have been inspired by the recurring patterns of the plant world: the exquisite symmetry of flowers, the sweeping spirals ... read more

Fuel from Sewage Is the Future -- And It's Closer Than You Think

Nov. 2, 2016 — It may sound like science fiction, but wastewater treatment plants across the United States may one day turn ordinary sewage into biocrude oil, thanks to new research. The ... read more

Mouse Mutants With Sleep Defects May Shed Light on the Mysteries of Sleep

Nov. 2, 2016 — The first unbiased genetic screen for sleep defects in mice has yielded two interesting mutants, Sleepy, which sleeps excessively, and Dreamless, which lacks rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The ... read more

Nanobionic Spinach Plants Can Detect Explosives

Nov. 1, 2016 — Spinach is no longer just a superfood: By embedding leaves with carbon nanotubes, engineers have transformed spinach plants into sensors that can detect explosives and ... read more

Who Needs Beef When You Can Eat Bugs?

Playing Pac-Man With Tiny Microbes

Specially Trained Dogs Sniff out Fecal Pollution

Lab Burgers Take on Cows as Consumer Tastes Change

For 10 Months out of the Year, Common Swifts Live in Mid-Air

Oct. 27, 2016 — Common swifts are known for their impressive aerial abilities, capturing food and nest material while in flight. Now, by attaching data loggers to the birds, researchers have confirmed what some had ... read more

The Buzz About Edible Bugs: Can They Replace Beef?

Oct. 26, 2016 — The idea of eating bugs has created a buzz lately in both foodie and international development circles as a more sustainable alternative to consuming meat and fish. Now a report examines how the ... read more

Next-Generation Smartphone Battery Inspired by the Gut

Oct. 26, 2016 — A new prototype of a lithium-sulphur battery -- which could have five times the energy density of a typical lithium-ion battery -- overcomes one of the key hurdles preventing their commercial ... read more

Caught 'Napping': First Direct Evidence of Migratory Hoary Bats Hibernating

Oct. 25, 2016 — Perched among the branches and needles of California's redwood forests are nestled wayfaring hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus). A migratory species capable of traveling hundreds of miles, hoary ... read more

Deep Down Fracking Wells, Microbial Communities Thrive

Oct. 25, 2016 — Microbes have a remarkable ability to adapt to the extreme conditions in fracking wells. A new finding helps scientists understand what is happening inside fracking wells and could offer insight into ... read more

Parasitic Plants May Form Weapons out of Genes Stolen from Hosts

Oct. 24, 2016 — Sneaky parasitic weeds may be able to steal genes from the plants they are attacking and then use those genes against the host plant, according to a team of ... read more

Zebrafish Want to Hang out With Moving 3-D Robotic Models of Themselves

Oct. 24, 2016 — Authenticity is an important trait, and zebrafish take it especially seriously. An interdisciplinary team of researchers has discovered that zebrafish engage more with 3D-moving robotic models of ... read more

Ice Shelf Vibrations Cause Unusual Waves in Antarctic Atmosphere

Oct. 24, 2016 — Low-frequency vibrations of the Ross Ice Shelf are likely causing ripples and undulations in the air above Antarctica, a new study finds. Using mathematical models of the ice shelf, the study's ... read more

New Species of Extremely Leggy Millipede Discovered in a Cave in California

Oct. 24, 2016 — Along with many spiders, pseudoscorpions, and flies discovered and catalogued by the cave explorers, a tiny threadlike millipede was found in the unexplored dark marble caves in Sequoia National ... read more

Lonely 'Lefty' Snail Seeks Mate for Love, and Genetic Study

Oct. 21, 2016 — Scientists are hoping to study the genetics of an ultra-rare garden snail are asking the public for its help in finding the lonely mollusc a mate. The snail’s unique qualities make it a one in a ... read more

Windsurfing Swans: An Overlooked Phenomenon

Oct. 21, 2016 — It is well-known that birds can fly, swim and walk, but now there is scientific evidence that birds also can windsurf. Researchers report that the Mute swan occasionally uses the wings as sails when ... read more

Move Over, Solar: The Next Big Renewable Energy Source Could Be at Our Feet

Oct. 20, 2016 — Flooring can be made from any number of sustainable materials, making it, generally, an eco-friendly feature in homes and businesses alike. Now, flooring could be even more "green," thanks ... read more

Exploring Vast 'Submerged America,' Marine Scientists Discover 500 Bubbling Methane Vents

Oct. 20, 2016 — Five hundred vents newly discovered off the US West Coast, each bubbling methane from Earth's belly, top a long list of revelations about "submerged America" being celebrated by ... read more

Scientists Can Listen to Proteins by Turning Data Into Music

Oct. 20, 2016 — Transforming data about the structure of proteins into melodies gives scientists a completely new way of analyzing the molecules that could reveal new insights into how they work -- by listening to ... read more

Early Humans Used Innovative Heating Techniques to Make Stone Blades

Oct. 20, 2016 — Humans living in South Africa in the Middle Stone Age used advanced heating techniques that vastly improved living conditions during the ... read more

African Clawed Frog Genome Contains Two Full Sets of Chromosomes from 2 Two Extinct Ancestors

Oct. 19, 2016 — Millions of years ago, one species of frog diverged into two species. Millions of years later, the two frogs became one again, but with a few extra chromosomes due to whole genome duplication. Such ... read more

Cheese: A Matter of Love or Hate

Oct. 19, 2016 — Until now, the reason why some people hate cheese has been a mystery, but researchers have just solved this question. To find out what happens in the brain, fifteen people who like cheese and fifteen ... read more

Azure-Winged Magpies Show Human-Like Generosity

Oct. 18, 2016 — Azure-winged magpies, an Asian bird species, take any opportunity to provide food to their group members, even without receiving any reward themselves. A team of cognitive biologists showed this type ... read more

Mystery Species Hidden in Cave Art Appears to Be Unknown Bison-Cattle Hybrid

Oct. 18, 2016 — Ancient DNA research has revealed that Ice Age cave artists recorded a previously unknown hybrid species of bison and cattle in great detail on cave walls more than 15,000 years ... read more

Disguised as a Tuna, Bioswimmer Is Changing the Game for Underwater Inspections

Oct. 18, 2016 — BioSwimmer is a semi-autonomous underwater vehicle equipped to inspect a vessel’s exterior for illicit cargo and contraband, as well as harbor facilities for unwanted ... read more

Thursday, October 27, 2016