Striking “lost” bird species found and featured in first-known photo

No-one has seen the Yellow-crested Helmetshrike for about 20 years. That changed when researchers embarked on a six-week expedition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and captured the dramatic-looking yellow-topped bird in its first-known photo.Co… Continue reading Striking “lost” bird species found and featured in first-known photo

Unique fern sucks nutrients from the soil using dead “zombie leaves”

Ordinarily, once a fern’s leaf fronds have died, the plant has no further use for them. Such is not the case with the Cyathea rojasiana fern, though – a scientist has discovered that its dead fronds become “zombie leaves” which suck nutrients from the … Continue reading Unique fern sucks nutrients from the soil using dead “zombie leaves”

Drone pics may be first-ever images of a newborn great white shark

Hard though it may be to believe, there has apparently never been a confirmed sighting of a live newborn great white shark. Such may no longer be the case, however, thanks to recently analyzed aerial drone footage shot in California.Continue ReadingCat… Continue reading Drone pics may be first-ever images of a newborn great white shark

Invasive ant causes chain-reaction, sparing zebras from lions in Kenya

It almost sounds like a fairytale: a tiny ant dramatically impacting a giant lion. But thanks to a study that reveals just how interconnected all life forms really are, researchers have just figured out that it happened on the savannas of Africa.Contin… Continue reading Invasive ant causes chain-reaction, sparing zebras from lions in Kenya

Study shows barnacles are “getting bent” to evade invasive snails

If an enemy you were previously safe from turned up in your neighborhood, what would you do? That’s a problem currently being faced by barnacles in northern Mexico, which are growing sideways to thwart invasive predatory snails.Continue ReadingCategory… Continue reading Study shows barnacles are “getting bent” to evade invasive snails

Active wind turbine control aims to cut bird deaths by 80%

It’s hard to ascertain how many birds fly into the spinning blades of wind turbines and die as a result – and indeed, the topic is so politically charged that I’d recommend a radiation suit before even googling it. The American Bird Conservancy has wad… Continue reading Active wind turbine control aims to cut bird deaths by 80%