In Tulsa, Oklahoma, over the last 30 years, the number of cliff swallows killed by moving vehicles has drastically decreased. That change can't be accounted for by alterations in traffic patterns or swallow populations, say scientists. Instead, they think it's tied to the fact that the birds' wingspan is also decreasing. This adaptation — whether selected for by vehicular birdicide and/or other factors — helps swallows be more nimble in the air at high speeds, making it easier for them to avoid oncoming traffic. (EDIT: Sorry guys, I made an error here. Some of the researchers were from Tulsa, but study actually happened in Nebraska. Evolution takes place throughout the plains states.)
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5:11 am Wed
Mar 20, 2013
Evolution happens. Even in Oklahoma.
"Old gas blob from Uranus found in vintage Voyager 2 data"
Yes, that is actually Space.com’s brilliant headline on this story about a new discovery from data collected in 1986 by NASA’s intrepid spacecraft. When the probe neared Uranus (heh heh), it measured the planet’s surrounding magnetic field. Recently, NASA scientists Gina DiBraccio and Daniel Gershman analyzing Voyager’s old data found a “wobble” in Uranus’s magnetosphere […]
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It's fun to watch tardigrades squirm around on Twitch, adorably
Watch Quick test! from atinyworld on www.twitch.tv What the world needs now are tardigrades, sweet tardigrades. ‘A tiny world’ is a fun little internet window into the microscope with Julie Laurin, who lives in Ottowa, Ontario.
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Scientists: Drug hippos are... good?
Cocaine, as they say, is one hell of a drug. In fact, it was recently shown in a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science to have greatly helped the re-wilding a good chunk of Columbia. How you might ask? Pablo Escobar’s hippos, which are still hanging around breeding in Columbia […]
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Rad Power Bikes want to get the world out of their cars and they just may have figured out how to do it
Electric bikes aren’t toys. And they aren’t a fad. In fact, more and more communities are starting to catch on that e-bikes are a lot more than an amusing gadget for the tech geek. Following a six-month study, Johnson County, Kansas, home to many Kansas City suburbs, became just the latest U.S. community to allow […]
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Do double the good with eco-friendly produce bags from a brand that gives back
Whether you’re living in a city that has already taken measures to reduce plastic bag use, the small silver lining of the pandemic has inspired you to make changes, or you’ve already started living a greener lifestyle, reusable produce bags are a great addition to your shopping routine. And if you’re going to invest in […]
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Are you cut out to be a COVID-19 stay-at-home teacher for your kids? Maybe these DIY projects can help.
Dealing with all the COVID-19 fallout is one of the new realities of our ever-changing world — and that isn’t likely going away anytime soon. It’s also prompted a rash of existential questions for parents. Questions like how do I protect my kids? Or how do I soothe their fears? And there’s also one of […]
