Much like the intricate and beautiful webs spiders create in waking life, their minds may spin dreams. New research led by behavioral ecologist Daniela Roessler at the University of Konstanz in Germany shows that jumping spiders (evarcha arcuata) experience a sleep-like state with muscle twitches and rapid-eye-movements (REM) similar to those observed in dreaming humans. […]
Study Suggests Spiders Can Dream Continue Reading »
Two centuries after becoming locally extinct, and three years after being reintroduced, the Galapagos land iguana population is booming on the island of Santiago. In 1835, Charles Darwin observed a large population of iguanas on Santiago, located near the center of the Galagapos archipelago off the coast of Ecuador — a locale the English naturalist
The majestic mustang, a longstanding symbol of freedom and the American West, may be an unlikely hero in the fight against wildfires. According to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) most recent estimates, there are currently about 64,604 wild horses and 17,780 wild burros roaming the western United States. Another 58,800 are in captivity in
How Wild Horses Could Help With Wildfire Prevention in the US Continue Reading »
Lake Tahoe, which Mark Twain called “the fairest picture the whole earth affords,” is famous for its stunning crystalline waters. And in the next few years, scientists say, the world’s clearest large lake could become even clearer due to changes in its ecosystem. In their annual “State of the Lake” report last week, researchers at
Lake Tahoe Could Become Clearer Due to Changing Plankton Populations Continue Reading »
Recent research has shed new light on the evolutionary history of the world’s favorite tuxedo-clad bird. In an international study published in the journal Nature Communications, scientists found specific genetic variations have helped penguins evolve, over 60 million years, from birds of flight to the skilled swimmers we know today. The team of international researchers
New Study Uncovers How Penguins Became Oceanic Birds  Continue Reading »
The lionfish’s showstopping appearance makes it a star of many home aquariums. But in the wild, its presence is often sinister. Avid diver Aarav Chavda told The Guardian he became increasingly depressed witnessing the devastation the invasive species wrought on Florida’s tropical reefs. Then, he devised a plan to harvest lionfish and use their hides
Sustainable Fish Leather, Made From Invasive Species, Could Help Save Coral Reefs Continue Reading »
Manoj Patel, an architect based in Gujarat, India, uses everyday materials in unexpected ways to create designs that benefit people and the planet. One of his latest projects involves repurposing clay roof tiles to create beautiful, functional furniture that’s naturally cool, comfortable, and eco-conscious. As Patel explained to The Better India, most outdoor furniture is
Architect Recycles Clay Roof Tiles to Create Unique, Eco-Friendly Furniture Continue Reading »
It sounds — and looks — like something of the distant future, but a real-life floating city is set to be completed in South Korea within the next three years. In partnership with the United Nations and the city of Busan, tech startup Oceanix presented its plans for the first-of-its-kind city this past spring. It
Floating City Planned in South Korea Will Adjust to Rising Sea Levels Continue Reading »
At the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria, trash used to build up, with nowhere to go but a growing pile in the Sahara desert. That was, until an organization called Precious Plastic teamed up with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as well as residents in the camps. Together, they created a recycling center
A 4-month-old baby giraffe has a new lease on life at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, California, thanks to a brace devised by doctors specializing in human medicine. Msituni, which means “in the forest” in Swahili, was born on February 1 with a life-threatening abnormality. A hyperextension of the carpi (similar in
Meet the Baby Giraffe Saved by Human Medicine Continue Reading »
