Magpie News Collector

animal

Tiny thumbnails may be key for rodents’ global takeover

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 9/4/2025 2:00 PM

Thumbnails might have boosted rodents’ food-handling skills, helping them thrive worldwide. ... Read full Story

animal

Here’s how fruit flies’ giant sperm squeeze into tight spaces

By Science News | Meghan Rosen | 9/4/2025 9:00 AM

Researchers found that fruit fly sperm push against one another and align in orderly bundles, preventing knots that could block reproduction. ... Read full Story

animal

This lizard can tolerate extreme levels of lead

By Science News | Meghan Rosen | 9/2/2025 11:00 AM

Cuban brown anoles have the highest blood lead levels of any vertebrate known — three times that of the previous record holder, the Nile crocodile. ... Read full Story

animal

Horses may have become rideable with the help of a genetic mutation

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 8/28/2025 2:00 PM

To make horses rideable during domestication, people may have inadvertently targeted a mutation in horses to strengthen their backs and their balance. ... Read full Story

animal

The mysterious, extinct ‘Fuegian dog’ was actually a semi-tame fox

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 8/25/2025 9:00 AM

Historic European accounts long described the canids as domesticated dogs. A new study suggests that’s probably not true. ... Read full Story

animal

The phoenix isn’t the only critter to survive the flames

By Science News | Bethany Brookshire | 8/22/2025 9:00 AM

There are no real phoenixes hiding anywhere. But science has revealed that some living things can take quite a bit of heat. ... Read full Story

animal

Frilly bug feet inspire a water-striding robot

By Science News | Emily Conover | 8/21/2025 2:00 PM

Ripple bugs’ nimble movements on the surface of water inspired a robot with automatically unfurling fans on its feet. ... Read full Story

animal

Around the world, birds sing longer in light-polluted areas

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 8/21/2025 2:00 PM

In light-polluted landscapes, birds' singing time is an average of 50 minutes longer per day. It's still unclear if this hurts bird health or helps. ... Read full Story

animal

These giant carnivorous bats hug, cuddle — and even share dinner

By Science News | Jay Kakade | 8/20/2025 2:00 PM

Infrared cameras in Costa Rica revealed that the world’s largest carnivorous bat maintains close social bonds through wing wraps and prey sharing. ... Read full Story

animal

Streaked shearwaters poop only while flying over the ocean

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 8/18/2025 11:00 AM

In-flight defecation may help the birds stay away from feces that can contain pathogens such as bird flu while also fertilizing the ocean. ... Read full Story

animal

A single protein makes lovesick flies spill their guts

By Science News | Sofia Caetano Avritzer | 8/14/2025 2:00 PM

Producing a male-specific protein in digestion-related neurons may have led to the evolution of an odd “romantic” barfing behavior in one species of fruit flies. ... Read full Story

animal

Warm autumns could be a driver in monarch butterflies’ decline

By Science News | Jude Coleman | 8/12/2025 7:01 PM

In the lab, higher temperatures during fall migration led monarchs to break their reproductive pause, increasing their risk of death. ... Read full Story

animal

Squashing the spotted lanternfly problem may require enlisting other species

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 8/8/2025 8:00 AM

The invasive spotted lanternfly has spread to 17 states and can threaten vineyards. But bats, fungi, dogs and even trees may help control them. ... Read full Story

animal

This snail may hold a secret to human eye regeneration

By Science News | Tina Hesman Saey | 8/6/2025 5:00 AM

Golden apple snails can regrow full, functional eyes. Studying their genes may reveal how to repair human eye injuries. ... Read full Story

animal

These plants build ant condos that keep warring species apart

By Science News | Susan Milius | 8/5/2025 12:00 PM

The unique architecture of some ball-like plants high in trees in Fiji lets violent ants live peacefully and feed the plant with valuable droppings. ... Read full Story

animal

The mystery of melting sea stars may finally be solved

By Science News | Siddhant Pusdekar | 8/4/2025 11:00 AM

A bacterium called Vibrio pectenicida may be melting sea stars along North America’s Pacific coast. ... Read full Story

animal

Some probiotics could feed, rather than fend off, infections

By Science News | Tina Hesman Saey | 8/1/2025 1:00 PM

Probiotics containing Lactobacillus gasseri Lg-36 prevented C. difficile infections in mice, but L. acidophilus probiotics made infection more likely. ... Read full Story

animal

Some killer whales hunt in pairs to maximize their bounty

By Science News | Kristel Tjandra | 7/28/2025 9:00 AM

Drone footage from Norway shows killer whales using a highly coordinated and cooperative hunting technique to catch herring. ... Read full Story

animal

This desert beetle runs to cool off

By Science News | Rohini Subrahmanyam | 7/25/2025 9:00 AM

After a sprint, the temperature of the beetle Onymacris plana drops. Efficient running, a body built for cooling and a little bit of lift all help. ... Read full Story

animal

Some penguins save energy by riding ocean currents

By Science News | Sofia Caetano Avritzer | 7/17/2025 2:00 PM

When navigating home, Magellanic penguins alternate between heading straight back in calm waters and swimming with the flow in strong ocean currents. ... Read full Story

art

Sorin Neamțu at Suprainfinit Gallery

by Contemporary Art Daily | Jan 29 2026

connecticut

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

FFNEWS

ArcBest, LTLs still waiting on recovery

by FreightWaves | Jan 30 2026

finance

My untrustworthy and selfish brother is executor of our family estate. How do I stop him from cheating us?

by MarketWatch.com | Jan 30 2026

golf

Masashi Ozaki, Japan’s Dominant Golfer Known as ‘Jumbo,’ Dies at 78

by NY Times | Dec 30 2025

lifestyle

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

by Hello! Magazine | Jan 30 2026

metro

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

by New York Post | Jan 30 2026

music

Ricardo Arjona Kicks Off His ‘Lo Que El Seco No Dijo’ U.S. Tour: Here’s the Full Setlist

by Billboard | Jan 31 2026

nation

Senate passes budget bills ahead of midnight deadline

by upi.com | Jan 30 2026

politics

Trump unloads on ‘radical left’ as he stands by Kristi Noem amid immigration enforcement unrest

by Fox News | Jan 31 2026

science

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

by LIVE SCIENCE | Jan 30 2026

shopping

This Rare Kawasaki Motorcycle Helped Bring Turbos to Two Wheels

by Gear Patrol | Jan 30 2026

sports

Pelé's life in pictures

by CNN | Apr 16 2023

travel

Golf Guide to Limassol Greens, Limassol, Cyprus

by The Travel Magazine | 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.

Tiny thumbnails may be key for rodents’ global takeover

Here’s how fruit flies’ giant sperm squeeze into tight spaces

This lizard can tolerate extreme levels of lead

Horses may have become rideable with the help of a genetic mutation

The mysterious, extinct ‘Fuegian dog’ was actually a semi-tame fox

The phoenix isn’t the only critter to survive the flames

Frilly bug feet inspire a water-striding robot

Around the world, birds sing longer in light-polluted areas

These giant carnivorous bats hug, cuddle — and even share dinner

Streaked shearwaters poop only while flying over the ocean

A single protein makes lovesick flies spill their guts

Warm autumns could be a driver in monarch butterflies’ decline

Squashing the spotted lanternfly problem may require enlisting other species

This snail may hold a secret to human eye regeneration

These plants build ant condos that keep warring species apart

The mystery of melting sea stars may finally be solved

Some probiotics could feed, rather than fend off, infections

Some killer whales hunt in pairs to maximize their bounty

This desert beetle runs to cool off

Some penguins save energy by riding ocean currents

Sorin Neamțu at Suprainfinit Gallery

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)

ArcBest, LTLs still waiting on recovery

My untrustworthy and selfish brother is executor of our family estate. How do I stop him from cheating us?

Masashi Ozaki, Japan’s Dominant Golfer Known as ‘Jumbo,’ Dies at 78

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

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

Ricardo Arjona Kicks Off His ‘Lo Que El Seco No Dijo’ U.S. Tour: Here’s the Full Setlist

Senate passes budget bills ahead of midnight deadline

Trump unloads on ‘radical left’ as he stands by Kristi Noem amid immigration enforcement unrest

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

This Rare Kawasaki Motorcycle Helped Bring Turbos to Two Wheels

Pelé's life in pictures

Golf Guide to Limassol Greens, Limassol, Cyprus

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