Wednesday, 8 February, 2012

Coral reefs are the ocean’s biodiversity hotspots, but a new study finds that one-third of reef-building corals are under some threat of extinction.

Japan says it must kill hundreds of whales each year to do “research” on them; but science has plenty of ways to study whales without killing them. Digital-recording tags, whale songs, even whale scats, are the best ways to study these mysterious marine mammals.

Migration of songbirds, butterflies, turtles and seals. Where does the natural urge to move originate?

A honeybee queen mates with 15 guys. This weakens family ties in the hive, possibly hampering the selfless behavior these bees need for survival. Does polyandry have hidden benefits for bees?

Without trillions of bacteria in our guts, we die. But how do these bacteria colonize the bug-free human infant just after birth? New study details bacterial balancing act.

Big sharks eat little sharks and rays, which eat shellfish. So ultimately, hunting big sharks may cause shellfish to disappear.

The Argentine ant invaded California 100 years ago, forming “super-colonies” that stretch hundreds of miles. Most ants attack nearby nests. Why have Argentine ants declared peace with neighbors?

Neanderthals survived thousands of years longer in Europe, a new study finds. What does this tell us about the demise of the caveman and the triumph of modern humans?

As kids spend more times indoors, experts wonder what is being lost. Do humans need nature?

Just after humans reached the Western Hemisphere, many large mammals went extinct. Some scientists have blamed hyper-effective human hunting. But a new study fingers changes in climate and environment.