Science

For 12-year-old Yuvi Agarwal, a keyboard became more than a musical instrument after he noticed it could calm his restless dog, Bozo. The discovery inspired him to wonder whether music could also comfort animals facing the stress of life in shelters. In 2023, Yuvi turned that idea into Wild Tunes, a non-profit that brings volunteer…

The open-air study was designed to mimic future warming while maintaining natural outdoor conditions. Researchers established plots in both open and closed-canopy forest environments and planted seedlings representing 11 tree species. In a Minnesota forest, researchers turned up the heat, not for days or weeks, but for years. Beneath the trees, heating cables warmed the…

A two-month-old epaulette shark pup, born through apparent parthenogenesis, is now on display at Brookfield Zoo’s Living Coast exhibit.Jim Schulz/CZS-Brookfield Zoo A female epaulette shark at Brookfield Zoo in Illinois produced a pup in 2023 despite having no contact with a male for years, in a rare example of parthenogenesis among sharks. The female, which…

PC: Study : Assessment of process variability and colour in synthesised and ancient Egyptian blue pigments A vivid blue pigment used in ancient Egypt has revealed a far more complicated story than its striking colour suggests. Known as Egyptian blue, the material dates back around 5,000 years and is regarded as the world’s oldest synthetic…

Swiftiephylus taylorae (Image Credit: Sarah Schroeder/UCR) Taylor Swift has inspired songs, fashion and fan culture around the world, but her latest namesake comes from an unexpected corner of science: a newly described genus of Australian plant-feeding insects. According to the University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside), entomology doctoral student Sarah Schroeder, a lifelong Swift fan,…

On the edge of farm fields in British Columbia, where cultivated land meets forest and mountain, farmers have long struggled with deer that slip in at dusk to feed on crops. In search of non-lethal ways to protect their harvest, scientists tested a simple idea. They broadcast recordings of human shouts, wolf howls and cougar…

Villagers separate and collect the heads of Sal Borer insects after catching them in the forest. (Photo: Down to Earth and Instagram) In the forests of Madhya Pradesh, a rather unusual “mala” is being used in the fight to save thousands of Sal trees. But this is no ordinary garland. Made from the severed heads…

An aircraft followed the plume from above (Representational AI image) In September 2017, the US Geological Survey (USGS) carried out an unusual experiment on Idaho’s Kootenai River. Researchers released 72.57 kg (160 pounds) of Rhodamine WT dye into the river and then followed its movement through the water. The aim was to understand how a…

During its first decade, the partnership installed approximately 90 acres of artificial habitat, improving about 875 acres of cove complexes. Lake Havasu is famous for striped bass, redear sunfish, world-class fishing tournaments and unforgettable days on the water. But beneath that success is a decades-long conservation effort that many visitors never see. For more than…

Representative Image (AI-generated) Britain’s coastal waters are home to more shark species than many people might expect, but scientists still know surprisingly little about how several of these animals move, feed and reproduce. In a report by The Guardian, researchers outlined plans for a new three-year project that will combine modern electronic tracking with decades…