“[T]he fascination with humans and the failure to understand basic condor
etiquette were signs of a more profound problem. Those first reintroduced birds
were released too young, and had not had contact with adults who could teach
them how a condor behaves.”
posted 10/1/2022 8:00pm ∞
“From the perch atop the viewing tower, the spiders carefully surveyed the scene
before descending the tower and climbing up a walkway. Most [Portia jumping]
spiders chose the path that led to the meal, even if this meant moving away from
the prey and passing the incorrect walkway on the way.”
Betsy Mason ,
Spiders are much smarter than you think
(Knowable Magazine ,
October 28, 2021 )
posted 8/21/2022 8:00pm ∞
“No longer needing to sing at high frequencies that could be heard over the
highway’s rumble, the sparrows’ songs became more expansive, occupying more of
the soundscape’s ‘acoustic bandwidth.’ Even those with quiet voices became
audible; in those first months, ‘you could hear four times as many birds as you
could before,’ says [Professor Elizabeth] Derryberry.”
posted 12/23/2022 8:00pm ∞
“[T]he coffee it makes is good. … That grown in South Sudan had ‘notes of
raspberry coulis, figs, plums, and milk chocolate.’ It has comparable caffeine
levels to Arabica, so can be an appropriate substitute as growing conditions for
Arabica continue to decline.”
Diana Gitig ,
Your next pour-over may be Liberica or excelsa
(Ars Technica ,
December 15, 2022 )
posted 12/18/2022 8:00pm ∞
“Wolves with antibodies against [Toxoplasma gondii ] were significantly more
likely to disperse (leave their packs and set out on their own) and to become
pack leaders. Pursuing both of these courses of action constitutes aggressive
and risky wolf behavior.”
posted 12/5/2022 8:00pm ∞