News in the science world
On this page you'll find links to stories that are new and/or noteworthy in the scientific community.
3-8-22 - After nearly two decades of searching, the culprit for mysterious bald eagle deaths has been found. This article is nearly a year old, but it's got some interesting information in it. Researchers have found that a new species of cyanobacteria found on an invasive waterweed is creating a never-before seen neurotoxin that causes death in birds and fish that consume it. Read the article here.
3-7-22 - The invasive Joro spider has spread throughout Georgia and is expected to spread into more of the southeastern US this summer. This seems to be getting more attention nationally and that's a good thing because he's not considered to be harmful and researchers believe he may be beneficial because he is known to have an appetite for the also invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. We haven't yet found a way to significantly control this stink bug's population growth, so hopefully this guy will be the answer we've been looking for. Read the article here.
2-24-22 - Evidence of altruistic behavior in Magpies. An interesting article in The Conversation reveals how a group of Magpies that were selected to wear mini tracking devices as part of a study thwarted the researchers and removed them from each other! Read the article here.
2-24-22 - The Cretaceous meteor that wiped out most of life on earth was found to have hit in the spring. So much for April showers bringing May flowers. A new article in the journal Nature indicates that the meteor that hit the Yucatan Peninsula and wiped out nearly three-quarters of life on earth struck during the spring. To read the news article click here. For the journal article click here.
2-22-22 - Pterodactyl fossil unveiled in Scotland reveals new species of this ancestor to modern birds. A fossil was revealed this week that confirmed Pterosaurs, the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight, were much larger than previously thought during the Jurassic period. In the later Cretaceous period, Pterodactyls grew to the size of fighter jets, but were thought to be the size of birds during the earlier Jurassic period. Read the news story here.
2-22-22 - Another reason for us to protect our seagrasses. An article published in Science today summarized a study that reveals seagrasses, which are known emitters of methane thanks to the microbes that colonize them, continue to emit the gas even after their death. When alive and healthy seagrasses sequester carbon from the atmosphere, helping to lower the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but they are shown to emit methane, a greenhouse gas with a higher warming potential than carbon dioxide even after their deaths. Read the science article here.
2-17-22 - Nearly half of bald and golden eagles may have lead poisioning. An article in Science detailed a study that surveyed eagles in 38 states found that nearly half of them have lead poisoning that is thought to be due to ingesting ammunition fragments while feeding on carcasses of dead animals that have been killed by hunters. This is a particular concern for golden eagles. Read about the study here.
2-5-22 - Lizards may be protecting people from Lyme disease in the southeastern United States. An article reported last week in PLOS Biology revealed that the behavior of Black-legged ticks, also known as Deer Ticks, in the southeastern United States may be responsible for fewer reported cases of Lyme disease than in the northeastern United States. The link to the Science article summary is here. It's an interesting read.