Magpie News Collector

animal

Some snakes lack the ‘hunger hormone.’ Experts are hungry to know why

By Science News | Andrea Lius | 2/17/2026 1:00 PM

The complex biology of ghrelin, the hunger hormone, has researchers wondering how its absence helps snakes last a long time with no food, if at all. ... Read full Story

animal

A sea turtle boom may be hiding a population collapse

By Science News | Melissa Hobson | 2/13/2026 9:00 AM

In Cape Verde, conservation has boosted the sea turtle population 100-fold — but the male-female balance is way off. ... Read full Story

animal

A bonobo’s imaginary tea party suggests apes can play pretend

By Science News | RJ Mackenzie | 2/5/2026 2:00 PM

Apes, like humans, are capable of pretend play, challenging long-held views about how animals think, a new study suggests. ... Read full Story

animal

Some dung beetles dig deep to keep their eggs cool

By Science News | Elizabeth Pennisi | 2/4/2026 11:00 AM

A temperate tunneling species of dung beetle seems capable of adapting to climate change, but their tropical cousins may be less resilient. ... Read full Story

animal

These beetle larvae lure in bees by mimicking flowers

By Science News | Richard Kemeny | 2/3/2026 1:00 PM

These parasitic beetle larvae lure in bees with complex floral aromas before hitching a ride back to their nests and eating their eggs. ... Read full Story

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

Cows’ methane burps may be fueled by a newfound organelle in gut microbes

by Science News | Apr 30 2026

beauty

Miley Cyrus' Oscars 2025 Hair Would Have Been Perfect If Not For One Fatal Flaw

by The List | Mar 02 2025

entertainment

Skincare Meets Sweat: Why Sofia Richie, Kate Hudson, and Adriana Lima Are Working Out at BURN

by ET Online | May 01 2026

exercise

Lindsey Vonn Says She Still Feels 29—Here’s What She’s Doing Differently

by thehealthy.com | Apr 15 2026

game

GameStop Announces Shocking Buyout Offer For eBay, Priced At $55.5 Billion

by GameSpot | May 03 2026

golf

Saudi Fund to Back Away From LIV Golf Under Mounting Financial Pressures

by NY Times | Apr 15 2026

lifestyle

Jimmy Fallon, Rafa Nadal steal the spotlight at star-studded Miami Grand Prix

by Hello! Magazine | May 03 2026

long_island

Strong Island FC retires No. 44 in honor of Miller Place’s Andrew Salgado

by greaterlongisland.com | May 02 2026

metro

14 injured, including 12 firefighters, after fast-spreading fire tears through NYC homes

by New York Post | May 04 2026

music

Fans Choose Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Bring Your Love’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music

by Billboard | May 04 2026

nation

United Airlines flight strikes turnpike light pole, injuring driver

by upi.com | May 03 2026

new_jersey

NJ Spotlight News: May 1, 2026

by NJ Spotlight | May 01 2026

opinion

Miranda Devine: Dems seek a blue-collar MAGA man to win back Trump voters — but better look in the mirror

by New York Post | May 03 2026

shopping

13 Awesome New Motorcycles Rolling Out Right Now

by Gear Patrol | May 03 2026

upstate

Saratoga Springs hosts largest Comic Con in Upstate NY

by NEWS10 ABC | May 03 2026

Word of the Day

scrupulous

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 4, 2026 is:

scrupulous • \SKROO-pyuh-lus\ • adjective

Scrupulous describes someone who is very careful about doing something correctly, or something marked by such carefulness. Scrupulous can also describe someone who is careful about doing what is honest and morally right.

// She was always scrupulous about her work.

// Being an editor requires scrupulous attention to detail.

// Less scrupulous companies find ways to evade the law.

See the entry >

Examples:

“Scrupulous directors make sure that the sound of their movies is grossly efficient, so that the dramatic meaning of a scene is apparent even in the worst theatre or home system in the country …” — David Denby, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2026

Did you know?

People described as scrupulous might feel discomfort if their work is not executed with a sharp attention to detail. Such discomfort might present itself as a nagging feeling, much as a sharp pebble in a shoe might nag a walker intent on getting somewhere. And we are getting somewhere. The origin of scrupulous is founded in just such a pebble. Scrupulous and its close relative scruple (“a feeling that prevents you from doing something that you think is wrong”) both come from the Latin noun scrupulus, “a small sharp stone,” the diminutive of scrupus, “a sharp stone.” Scrupus has a metaphorical meaning too: “a source of anxiety or uneasiness.” When the adjective scrupulous entered the English language in the 15th century, it described someone careful about preserving their moral integrity, but it now is also commonly used for someone who is careful in how they execute tasks.

Some snakes lack the ‘hunger hormone.’ Experts are hungry to know why

A sea turtle boom may be hiding a population collapse

A bonobo’s imaginary tea party suggests apes can play pretend

Some dung beetles dig deep to keep their eggs cool

These beetle larvae lure in bees by mimicking flowers

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

Cows’ methane burps may be fueled by a newfound organelle in gut microbes

Miley Cyrus' Oscars 2025 Hair Would Have Been Perfect If Not For One Fatal Flaw

Skincare Meets Sweat: Why Sofia Richie, Kate Hudson, and Adriana Lima Are Working Out at BURN

Lindsey Vonn Says She Still Feels 29—Here’s What She’s Doing Differently

GameStop Announces Shocking Buyout Offer For eBay, Priced At $55.5 Billion

Saudi Fund to Back Away From LIV Golf Under Mounting Financial Pressures

Jimmy Fallon, Rafa Nadal steal the spotlight at star-studded Miami Grand Prix

Strong Island FC retires No. 44 in honor of Miller Place’s Andrew Salgado

14 injured, including 12 firefighters, after fast-spreading fire tears through NYC homes

Fans Choose Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Bring Your Love’ as This Week’s Favorite New Music

United Airlines flight strikes turnpike light pole, injuring driver

NJ Spotlight News: May 1, 2026

Miranda Devine: Dems seek a blue-collar MAGA man to win back Trump voters — but better look in the mirror

13 Awesome New Motorcycles Rolling Out Right Now

Saratoga Springs hosts largest Comic Con in Upstate NY

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.N.C. man's son's birthday numbers deliver big lottery jackpot

2.Look: Crying kitten rescued from Texas storm drain

3.Watch: 7-foot alligator caught trying to cross Florida highway

4.'Escaped zebra' in Armenia was a painted donkey

5.Look: Baby eagle returns to nest after surgery to remove fish hook

6.19 Screenshots Of Helicopter Parents Who Desperately Need To Loosen Their Grip

7.Passengers pulled from water after learner driver crashes bus into major European river

8.Watch: San Diego Zoo launches Elephant Valley live camera

9.Look: Helicopter complicates morning drop-off at Tennessee school

10.Ohio woman's mistaken lottery purchase wins seven-figure jackpot