A group of scholars is denouncing what they call unsubstantiated and harmful claims of cannibalistic Caribs migrating to the Caribbean. The story of Christopher Columbus and the colonization of Indigenous Peoples is a part of human history that is often told and retold with contradicting or false claims. According to the researchers, a paper published…

Researchers have found that in the Chilean Andes, two predator species — the puma and the culpeo fox — can successfully share a landscape and hunt for food over the same nighttime hours because they are, in essence, ordering from different menus. «The puma and the culpeo fox are the only top predators on the…

Two recently published studies include important findings related to SARS-CoV-2 transmission and the COVID-19 pandemic: Domestic cats can be asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2, but pigs are unlikely to be significant carriers of the virus. «Other research has shown that COVID-19-infected human patients are transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to cats; this includes domestic cats and even large cats,…

A conservationist has discovered that the glass frog Sachatamia orejuela can be added to the list of species that make use of visual cues in response to their acoustic environments. This is the first time a member of the glass frog family (Centrolenidae) has been observed using visual communication in this manner. Conservation ecologist Rebecca…

Two chimpanzees housed in a zoo in the US have sparked the question about how human dance evolved after being observed performing a duo dance-like behavior, similar to a human conga line. Two chimpanzees housed in a zoo in the US have sparked the question about how human dance evolved after being observed performing a…

The scientists who discovered that natural silks get stronger the colder they get, have finally solved the puzzle of why. The interdisciplinary team examined the behaviour and function of several animal silks cooled down to liquid nitrogen temperature of -196 oC. The fibres included spider silks but the study focused on the thicker and much…

By combining wind speed data with the measured accelerations of a golden eagle outfitted with GPS tracking instruments, researchers suggest that, rather than hindering flight, turbulence is a source of energy that birds may use to their advantage. By combining wind speed data with the measured accelerations of a golden eagle outfitted with GPS tracking…

In evolutionary terms, islands are the stuff of weirdness. It is on islands where animals evolve in isolation, often for millions of years, with different food sources, competitors, predators, and parasites … indeed, different everything compared to mainland species. As a result, they develop into different shapes and sizes and evolve into new species that,…

Scientists have shown that cockatoos can learn from each other a unique skill — lifting garbage bin lids to gather food. The research confirms that cockatoos spread this novel behavior through social learning. Lead co-author, Barbara Klump, said social learning is the basis of different regional cultures, and some animals, such as primates and birds,…

Images from the Perseverance rover confirm that Jezero crater is an ancient Martian lake, MIT researchers report. The team also detected signs of flash flooding strong enough to carry large boulders downstream into the ancient delta. The images also reveal evidence that the crater endured flash floods. This flooding was energetic enough to sweep up…