Life science - Populations and ecosystems

  • Coral reefs: Massive threats to survival around the globe

    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.


    Thursday, July 10th, 2008
  • Whale research: No killing required

    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.


    Thursday, January 17th, 2008
  • Miracles of migration

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


    Thursday, October 4th, 2007
  • Polyandry: Bees do it. What’s the big advantage?

    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?


    Thursday, July 19th, 2007
  • Life within: New study shows beneficial bacterial invasion

    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.


    Thursday, June 28th, 2007
  • Sharks: The Necessary Killer?

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


    Thursday, March 29th, 2007
  • Ants: My Family, Right or Wrong!

    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?


    Thursday, December 7th, 2006
  • Dating the Caveman: “Last” Neanderthal Found?

    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?


    Thursday, September 14th, 2006
  • “Nature Deficit Disorder”: Should We Worry?

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


    Thursday, July 27th, 2006
  • Revealed: Humans not Such Deadly Hunters!

    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.


    Thursday, May 11th, 2006


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