Magpie News Collector

animal

How luna moths grow extravagant wings

By Science News | Susan Milius | 5/30/2025 12:00 PM

Warm temperatures, not just predator pressure, may favor luna moths’ long bat-fooling streamers, a geographic analysis of iNaturalist pics shows. ... Read full Story

animal

Genetics might save the rare, elusive saola — if it’s not already extinct

By Science News | Tom Metcalfe | 5/29/2025 9:00 AM

A new genetic study could help saolas survive by enabling better searches through environmental DNA. But some experts fear they may be extinct already. ... Read full Story

animal

Bedbugs may have been one of the first urban pests

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 5/27/2025 7:01 PM

Common bedbugs experienced a dramatic jump in population size about 13,000 years ago, around the time humans congregated in the first cities. ... Read full Story

animal

The first cicada concert was 47 million years ago

By Science News | Larissa G. Capella | 5/27/2025 9:00 AM

A 47-million-year-old cicada fossil from Germany’s Messel Pit could teach us about the evolution of insect communication. ... Read full Story

animal

Penguin poop gives Antarctic cloud formation a boost

By Science News | Carolyn Gramling | 5/22/2025 11:10 AM

Penguin poop provides ammonia for cloud formation in coastal Antarctica, potentially helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change in the region. ... Read full Story

animal

Juvenile capuchins are kidnapping infants of another monkey species

By Science News | Freda Kreier | 5/19/2025 11:00 AM

Over 15 months on Jicarón Island, researchers saw five capuchin juveniles abduct 11 endangered howler monkey infants — all for no clear purpose. ... Read full Story

animal

A ‘talking’ ape’s death signals the end of an era

By Science News | Erin Wayman | 5/19/2025 9:00 AM

Kanzi showed apes have the capacity for language, but in recent years scientists have questioned the ethics of ape experiments. ... Read full Story

animal

Some science seems silly, but it’s still worthwhile

By Science News | Karen Kwon | 5/16/2025 1:30 PM

The Salmon Cannon and the Levitating Frog contends that curiosity-driven research helps us understand the world and could lead to unexpected benefits. ... Read full Story

animal

What gene makes orange cats orange? Scientists figured it out

By Science News | McKenzie Prillaman | 5/15/2025 11:00 AM

Researchers found the gene and genetic variation behind orange fur in most domestic cats, solving a decades-long mystery. ... Read full Story

animal

This exquisite Archaeopteryx fossil reveals how flight took off in birds

By Science News | Carolyn Gramling | 5/14/2025 11:05 AM

Analyses unveiled never-before-seen feathers and bones from the first known bird, strengthening the case that Archaeopteryx could fly. ... Read full Story

animal

Wild chimpanzees give first aid to each other

By Science News | Martin J. Kernan | 5/14/2025 12:00 AM

A study in Uganda shows how often chimps use medicinal plants and other forms of health care — and what that says about the roots of human medicine. ... Read full Story

animal

This tool-wielding assassin turns its prey’s defenses into a trap

By Science News | Siddhant Pusdekar | 5/12/2025 3:00 PM

This assassin bug's ability to use a tool — bees’ resin — could shed light on how the ability evolved in other animals. ... Read full Story

animal

Chimp chatter is a lot more like human language than previously thought

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 5/9/2025 2:00 PM

Chimpanzees combine hoots, calls and grunts to convey far more concepts than with single sounds alone. It may be a first among nonhuman animals. ... Read full Story

animal

Ancient poems document the decline of the Yangtze finless porpoise

By Science News | McKenzie Prillaman | 5/5/2025 11:00 AM

The porpoise is critically endangered. Ancient Chinese poems reveal the animal’s range has dropped about 65 percent over the past 1,400 years. ... Read full Story

animal

Frog ribbits erupt via an extravagant variety of vocal sacs

By Science News | Susan Milius | 5/5/2025 9:00 AM

Shape matters as well as size in the great range of male frog show-off equipment for competitive seductive serenades. ... Read full Story

animal

A man let snakes bite him 202 times. His blood helped create a new antivenom

By Science News | Meghan Rosen | 5/2/2025 11:00 AM

A new antivenom relies on antibodies from the blood of Tim Friede, who immunized himself against snakebites by injecting increasing doses of venom into his body. ... Read full Story

animal

Cool water could protect sea stars from a mysterious disease

By Science News | Siddhant Pusdekar | 5/1/2025 1:00 PM

Sunflower sea stars discovered taking refuge in fjords may offer clues to saving the critically endangered species from sea star wasting disease. ... Read full Story

animal

The axolotl is endangered in the wild. A discovery offers hope

By Science News | Anna Gibbs | 4/30/2025 2:00 PM

Introducing captive-bred axolotls to restored and artificial wetlands may be a promising option for the popular pet amphibian. ... Read full Story

animal

Bird flu in cows shows no signs of adapting to humans — yet

By Science News | Tina Hesman Saey | 4/28/2025 9:00 AM

Easy replication in cattle mammary glands means H5N1 bird flu is under no evolutionary pressure to adapt to spread easily in humans. ... Read full Story

animal

This caterpillar wears the body parts of insect prey

By Science News | McKenzie Prillaman | 4/24/2025 2:00 PM

Dubbed the “bone collector,” this caterpillar found on a Hawaiian island disguises itself while stalking spider webs for trapped insects to eat. ... Read full Story

art

INCONTRI at Deborah Schamoni

by Contemporary Art Daily | Aug 01 2025

auto

Sony-Honda Is Now Building Pre-Production Units Of The Afeela EV

by carbuzz.com | Aug 02 2025

connecticut

Judge sends English Station cleanup dispute back to DEEP

by CT Mirror | Aug 01 2025

finance

Afraid to leave your job right now? Here’s how to stay put without killing your career.

by MarketWatch.com | Aug 02 2025

golf

War Amputees Find New Purpose on the Golf Course

by NY Times | Jul 25 2025

how_to

Use Netflix Like a Pro: 16 Overlooked Tips and Tricks

by CNET | Aug 01 2025

long_island

Pita Bowl opens its second Long Island spot with a third on the way

by greaterlongisland.com | Aug 01 2025

metro

Two convicted NYC killers released without bail after drug-dealing arrests in tony Greenwich Village: ‘Insanity’

by New York Post | Aug 02 2025

music

Universal Music and Spotify Share Price Declines Highlight a Bad Week for Music Stocks

by Billboard | Aug 01 2025

nutrition

Carnivore Diet: Expert Clinicians List the Foods, Effects, and Health Risks

by thehealthy.com | Jul 10 2025

people

Taylor Swift has Travis Kelce more excited than might be expected after her surprising latest move

by marca.com | Aug 02 2025

politics

Trump says he hasn’t been asked to pardon Maxwell, Santos, likely won’t pardon Diddy

by The Hill | Aug 02 2025

retirement

Retirees face staggering 6-figure health care bill when leaving the workforce

by Fox News | Jul 30 2025

shopping

Seiko’s New Tool Watch is a Leveled Up Version of An Affordable Classic

by Gear Patrol | Aug 01 2025

sports

Word of the Day

palimpsest

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 2, 2025 is:

palimpsest • \PAL-imp-sest\ • noun

Palimpsest in its original use refers to writing material (such as a parchment manuscript) used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased; the underlying text is said to be “in palimpsest.” Palimpsest in extended use refers to something that has usually diverse layers or aspects apparent beneath the surface.

// Scholars believe the motive for making palimpsests was often economic—reusing parchment was cheaper than preparing a new skin.

// The ancient city is an architectural palimpsest.

See the entry >

Examples:

“My aim was to trace the course of … the Aqua Marcia, built between 144 and 140 B.C. by Julius Caesar’s ancestor Quintus Marcius Rex. … The original tuff arches carried the Marcia across a steep ravine. Subsequent retaining walls and buttresses have transformed the bridge into a palimpsest of building styles.” — David Laskin, The New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024

Did you know?

Long ago, writing surfaces were so highly valued that they were often used more than once. Palimpsest in its original use referred to an early form of recycling in which an old document was erased to make room for a new one when parchment ran short. (The word is from the Greek palimpsēstos, meaning “scraped again.”) Fortunately for modern scholars, the erasing process wasn’t completely effective, so the original could often be distinguished under the newer writing. De republica, by Roman statesman and orator Cicero, is one of many documents recovered from a palimpsest. Nowadays, the word palimpsest can refer not only to such a document but to anything that has multiple layers apparent beneath the surface.

How luna moths grow extravagant wings

Genetics might save the rare, elusive saola — if it’s not already extinct

Bedbugs may have been one of the first urban pests

The first cicada concert was 47 million years ago

Penguin poop gives Antarctic cloud formation a boost

Juvenile capuchins are kidnapping infants of another monkey species

A ‘talking’ ape’s death signals the end of an era

Some science seems silly, but it’s still worthwhile

What gene makes orange cats orange? Scientists figured it out

This exquisite Archaeopteryx fossil reveals how flight took off in birds

Wild chimpanzees give first aid to each other

This tool-wielding assassin turns its prey’s defenses into a trap

Chimp chatter is a lot more like human language than previously thought

Ancient poems document the decline of the Yangtze finless porpoise

Frog ribbits erupt via an extravagant variety of vocal sacs

A man let snakes bite him 202 times. His blood helped create a new antivenom

Cool water could protect sea stars from a mysterious disease

The axolotl is endangered in the wild. A discovery offers hope

Bird flu in cows shows no signs of adapting to humans — yet

This caterpillar wears the body parts of insect prey

INCONTRI at Deborah Schamoni

Sony-Honda Is Now Building Pre-Production Units Of The Afeela EV

Judge sends English Station cleanup dispute back to DEEP

Afraid to leave your job right now? Here’s how to stay put without killing your career.

War Amputees Find New Purpose on the Golf Course

Use Netflix Like a Pro: 16 Overlooked Tips and Tricks

Pita Bowl opens its second Long Island spot with a third on the way

Two convicted NYC killers released without bail after drug-dealing arrests in tony Greenwich Village: ‘Insanity’

Universal Music and Spotify Share Price Declines Highlight a Bad Week for Music Stocks

Carnivore Diet: Expert Clinicians List the Foods, Effects, and Health Risks

Taylor Swift has Travis Kelce more excited than might be expected after her surprising latest move

Trump says he hasn’t been asked to pardon Maxwell, Santos, likely won’t pardon Diddy

Retirees face staggering 6-figure health care bill when leaving the workforce

Seiko’s New Tool Watch is a Leveled Up Version of An Affordable Classic

Pelé's life in pictures

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.Wild Pennsylvania Highway Spill Leads To Commuters' Wurst Nightmare

2.Thousands of hot dogs spill across busy highway

3.'This shouldn't have happened': Bishop who interrupted church choir in dressing gown apologises

4.Watch: Newborn squirrel rescued after falling out of tree

5.Watch: Paddleboarding pooches break three world records

6.Look: Escaped monitor lizard returns to Massachusetts, evades capture

7.Look: Firefighters rescue bobcat stuck in front grill of vehicle

8.Watch: Giant baseball with 6,750 signatures breaks world record

9.South Africa Hopes Injecting Horns With Radioactive Material Curbs Rhino Poaching

10.Wayward sea lion found wandering in California road