Magpie News Collector

animal

Canadian humpback whales thrive with a little help from their friends

By Science News | Chiara Marchisio | 1/30/2026 9:00 AM

Humpback whales are teaching each other a feeding technique called bubble netting, and it's helping a Canadian population recover from whaling. ... Read full Story

animal

Spider silk-making organs evolved due to a 400-million-year-old genetic oops

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 1/27/2026 9:00 AM

An ancient ancestor of spiders and relatives doubled its genome about 400 million years ago, setting the stage for the evolution of spinnerets. ... Read full Story

animal

Some vaccines are making progress in protecting vulnerable species

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 1/26/2026 9:00 AM

Vaccines can be a crucial conservation tool. But getting shots to wildlife, and developing them in the first place, is tough. ... Read full Story

animal

How Greenland sharks defy aging

By Science News | Meghan Rosen | 1/23/2026 1:00 PM

When it comes to bucking the biological ails of aging, humans could learn something from Greenland sharks. ... Read full Story

animal

Animals experience joy. Scientists want to measure it

By Science News | Amber Dance | 1/22/2026 9:00 AM

Scientists have long focused on quantifying fear and other negative emotions in animals. Now they’re trying to measure positive feelings — and it’s a challenge. ... Read full Story

animal

There’s life beneath the snow, but it’s at risk of melting away

By Science News | Bethany Brookshire | 1/20/2026 1:00 PM

An array of animals and plants survive winter in the subnivium, nature’s igloo. But climate change is threatening this hidden seasonal ecosystem. ... Read full Story

animal

This tool-using cow defies expectations for bovine braininess

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 1/19/2026 11:00 AM

Veronika the cow uses a brush as a tool to scratch herself, revealing rare problem-solving skills and expanding what we know of tool use in animals. ... Read full Story

animal

This fish may play a hole in its head like a drum

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 1/16/2026 11:00 AM

The rockhead poacher is a little fish with a big pit in its head. The divot may be like a drum, making sound that rises above a chaotic, nearshore din. ... Read full Story

animal

Animal personalities can play a big role in saving species

By Science News | Darren Incorvaia | 1/15/2026 3:00 PM

From bold foxes to gregarious birds, animals’ personalities are increasingly being seen as crucial to conservation efforts. ... Read full Story

animal

How cheetah mummies could help bring the species back to Arabia

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 1/15/2026 11:00 AM

Arabian cheetah mummies' DNA reveals that the long-lost population could be closely replaced by a cheetah population in northwestern Africa. ... Read full Story

animal

Queen bumblebees are poor foragers thanks to sparse tongue hair

By Science News | Emily Conover | 1/12/2026 3:05 PM

The density of fine hairs on bumblebees’ tongues determines how much nectar they can collect — and workers put queen bees to shame. ... Read full Story

animal

Among chimpanzees, thrill-seeking peaks in toddlerhood

By Science News | Sujata Gupta | 1/12/2026 9:00 AM

In humans, teens do the most dangerous things. In chimpanzees, that honor goes to toddlers. The difference may lie in caregiver supervision. ... Read full Story

animal

An all-female wasp is rapidly spreading across North America’s elms

By Science News | Ute Eberle | 1/9/2026 1:00 PM

The elm zigzag sawfly has spread to 15 states in five years. Now it's attacking the tree that cities planted to replace Dutch elm disease victims. ... Read full Story

animal

In a Quebec park, a science game brings predator-prey dynamics to life

By Science News | Danielle Beurteaux | 1/6/2026 9:00 AM

Results show that players’ choices echo predator-prey patterns seen in wildlife, though scientists stress the limits of the analogy. ... Read full Story

animal

These sick baby ants sacrifice themselves to protect their colony

By Science News | Rohini Subrahmanyam | 1/5/2026 9:00 AM

When infected by a fungal disease, ant pupae actively emit a chemical cue that prompts workers to get rid of them for the good of the colony. ... Read full Story

animal

These scientific discoveries brought us joy in 2025

By Science News | Laura Sanders | 1/2/2026 10:00 AM

Amidst a tough year for science, glimmers of joy burst through in revelations from the silly to the sublime. ... Read full Story

animal

In a first, orcas and dolphins seen possibly hunting together

By Science News | Gennaro Tomma | 12/31/2025 8:00 AM

New footage shows orcas and dolphins coordinating hunts, hinting at interspecies teamwork to track and catch salmon off British Columbia. ... Read full Story

animal

Science taught us a few new tricks about our pets in 2025

By Science News | Carly Kay | 12/29/2025 10:00 AM

Are we reading our dog’s moods right? Does TV really comfort them when we’re away? These pet stories were catnip to us this year. ... Read full Story

animal

Have a taste of our favorite food stories from 2025

By Science News | Carly Kay | 12/24/2025 10:00 AM

This year, researchers took a bite out of culinary innovation. Check out some of our favorite food-related stories from 2025. ... Read full Story

animal

These are our favorite animal stories of 2025

By Science News | Carly Kay | 12/22/2025 11:00 AM

From clever cockatoos to vomiting spiders, these cool critters captivated us this year. ... Read full Story

animal

Canadian humpback whales thrive with a little help from their friends

by Science News | Jan 30 2026

book

CT officials approve UConn acquisition of Prospect-owned hospital

by CT Mirror | Jan 30 2026

entertainment

Molly Sims Reveals How to Get a Good Night's Sleep (or at Least Look Like You Did)

by ET Online | Jan 30 2026

exercise

Dua Lipa’s Trainer Just Revealed the Body Part the Pop Star Trains the Hardest

by thehealthy.com | Dec 03 2025

football

Baptism by Fire: Looking for Value on the Jaxson Dart Prop Market Ahead of First Giants’ Start

by ESNY | Sep 26 2025

how_to

Australian Open 2026 Tennis Livestream: How to Watch the Finals for Free

by CNET | Jan 30 2026

lifestyle

Inside the $15K Grammys bag gifted to KATSEYE, Sabrina Carpenter and more

by Hello! Magazine | Jan 30 2026

mental

People Who Did This One Thing in Their 20s Were the Happiest at Age 80

by thehealthy.com | Dec 22 2025

metro

NYPD on hunt for sicko accused of raping 14-year-old girl in Manhattan building

by New York Post | Jan 30 2026

odd_fun

Watch: Lost dog found in Philadelphia after four years

by United Press International, Inc. | Jan 30 2026

retirement

The best (and worst) housing markets for retirees in 2026

by Fox News | Jan 08 2026

science

New triple-drug treatment stops pancreatic cancer in its tracks, a mouse study finds

by LIVE SCIENCE | Jan 30 2026

sports

How to Recover When You’re Socially Drained, According to Therapists

by Self.com | Jan 30 2026

Word of the Day

short shrift

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 31, 2026 is:

short shrift • \SHORT-SHRIFT\ • noun

Short shrift means “little or no attention or thought” or “quick work.” In religious use it refers to barely adequate time for confession before execution.

// Certain neighborhoods have received short shrift from the city government.

See the entry >

Examples:

“[Charlie] Caplinger echoed the concerns of many speakers at the meeting, with charter captains saying the recreational fishing industry’s economic contributions were being given short shrift.” — Mike Smith, NOLA.com (New Orleans, Louisiana), 6 Nov. 2025

Did you know?

We’ve got a confession to make, but we’ll keep it brief: while it’s technically possible to make “long shrift” of something, you’re unlikely to find long shrift in our dictionary anytime soon. Short shrift, on the other hand, has been keeping it real—real terse, that is—for centuries. The earliest known use of the phrase comes from Shakespeare’s play Richard III, in which Lord Hastings, who has been condemned by King Richard to be beheaded, is told by Sir Richard Ratcliffe to “Make a short shrift” as the king “longs to see your head.” Although now archaic, the noun shrift was understood in Shakespeare’s time to refer to the confession or absolution of sins, so “make a short shrift” meant, quite literally, “keep your confession short.” However, since at least the 19th century the phrase has been used figuratively to refer to a small or inadequate amount of time or attention given to something.

Canadian humpback whales thrive with a little help from their friends

Spider silk-making organs evolved due to a 400-million-year-old genetic oops

Some vaccines are making progress in protecting vulnerable species

How Greenland sharks defy aging

Animals experience joy. Scientists want to measure it

There’s life beneath the snow, but it’s at risk of melting away

This tool-using cow defies expectations for bovine braininess

This fish may play a hole in its head like a drum

Animal personalities can play a big role in saving species

How cheetah mummies could help bring the species back to Arabia

Queen bumblebees are poor foragers thanks to sparse tongue hair

Among chimpanzees, thrill-seeking peaks in toddlerhood

An all-female wasp is rapidly spreading across North America’s elms

In a Quebec park, a science game brings predator-prey dynamics to life

These sick baby ants sacrifice themselves to protect their colony

These scientific discoveries brought us joy in 2025

In a first, orcas and dolphins seen possibly hunting together

Science taught us a few new tricks about our pets in 2025

Have a taste of our favorite food stories from 2025

These are our favorite animal stories of 2025

Canadian humpback whales thrive with a little help from their friends

The Wolf and His King

CT officials approve UConn acquisition of Prospect-owned hospital

Molly Sims Reveals How to Get a Good Night's Sleep (or at Least Look Like You Did)

Dua Lipa’s Trainer Just Revealed the Body Part the Pop Star Trains the Hardest

Baptism by Fire: Looking for Value on the Jaxson Dart Prop Market Ahead of First Giants’ Start

Australian Open 2026 Tennis Livestream: How to Watch the Finals for Free

Inside the $15K Grammys bag gifted to KATSEYE, Sabrina Carpenter and more

People Who Did This One Thing in Their 20s Were the Happiest at Age 80

NYPD on hunt for sicko accused of raping 14-year-old girl in Manhattan building

Watch: Lost dog found in Philadelphia after four years

The best (and worst) housing markets for retirees in 2026

New triple-drug treatment stops pancreatic cancer in its tracks, a mouse study finds

Pelé's life in pictures

How to Recover When You’re Socially Drained, According to Therapists

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.Watch: Lost dog found in Philadelphia after four years

2.Ohio man's stocking stuffer delivers $100,000 lottery prize

3.11-year-old juggler breaks world record using a pindaloo

4.Watch: Raccoon stows away to Belarus in shipped car

5.Watch: Bighorn sheep rescued from frozen river in Colorado

6.Maryland man collects his second big lotter prize in under 2 years

7.Watch: Semi crash covers Wisconsin highway in beer kegs

8.Watch: Production error turns 'crying horse' toy into viral sensation

9.Look: Michigan State Police capture mini donkey named Dolly Parton

10.Look: Kangaroo found hopping loose down Texas road