Magpie News Collector

animal

Crabs’ sideways walk may have evolved just once

By Science News | Sierra Bouchér | 5/15/2026 1:00 PM

A study of 50 crab species in Japan traces the iconic sideways walk to a single ancestor, suggesting the trait drove the group's remarkable diversity. ... Read full Story

animal

Female rats like a different kind of tickling than males

By Science News | Hannah Thomasy | 5/14/2026 9:00 AM

Female rats prefer gentler tickling, a finding that could reshape animal happiness research. ... Read full Story

animal

Hantavirus questions grow in the wake of a cruise ship outbreak

By Science News | Tina Hesman Saey | 5/13/2026 1:25 PM

Scientists still don’t know why Andes hantavirus is the only one shown to spread from person to person. ... Read full Story

animal

Territorial conflict may explain male primates’ large size

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 5/12/2026 7:01 PM

Male primates may be larger than females partly because of pressure from rival groups, not just competition with males inside their own group. ... Read full Story

animal

If wings came before flight, what were they for?

By Science News | Lily Burton | 5/8/2026 1:00 PM

Scientists use simulated dinosaurs to trigger real insect brains and test how wings originally evolved. ... Read full Story

animal

Neandertals used rhinoceros teeth as tools

By Science News | Javier Barbuzano | 5/6/2026 9:00 AM

Finds at sites in Spain and France suggest that Neandertals used the teeth of ancient rhinos for heavy-duty fabrication. ... Read full Story

animal

Singing mice puff up air sacs to make their sweet songs

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 5/5/2026 7:01 PM

To serenade with their high-pitched songs, singing mice inflate a throat sac — a use for air sacs seemingly unknown in any other animal. ... Read full Story

animal

What to know about a rare hantavirus outbreak at sea

By Science News | Tina Hesman Saey | 5/5/2026 1:12 PM

Public health officials are racing to find out how the sometimes deadly hantavirus got aboard a cruise ship and if there has been human-to-human spread. ... Read full Story

animal

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

By Science News | Tina Hesman Saey | 4/30/2026 2:00 PM

In cows’ guts, ciliates contain a tiny organelle called a hydrogenobody that may drive production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. ... Read full Story

animal

Giant, kraken-like octopuses may have ruled the Cretaceous deep

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 4/23/2026 2:00 PM

Some octopuses that lived over 72 million years ago were as long as whales. These huge predators may have been the largest invertebrates ever. ... Read full Story

animal

Humidity makes these bees turn green

By Science News | Jake Buehler | 4/21/2026 7:01 PM

North American sweat bees change color depending on the surrounding humidity. It might be a more widespread phenomenon among insects. ... Read full Story

animal

Got pesky, invasive corals? Blast ‘em away with air guns

By Science News | Danielle Beurteaux | 4/21/2026 11:00 AM

Compressed air bids bye-bye to invasive sun corals in Brazil. The blasts obliterated soft tissue and fragments couldn't regenerate. ... Read full Story

animal

This kea parrot is the first-known disabled alpha male

By Science News | RJ Mackenzie | 4/20/2026 11:00 AM

With half a beak, Bruce has developed an innovative fighting style that has won the kea top status in his flock, videos and documented interactions reveal. ... Read full Story

animal

An endangered mouse may need a helping hand to adapt to climate change

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 4/17/2026 2:02 PM

Pacific pocket mice are geographically isolated, but the species may retain the genetic diversity needed to adapt to climate change. ... Read full Story

animal

This tree is number one for cloud forest mammals going number two

By Science News | Bethany Brookshire | 4/16/2026 11:00 AM

The strangler fig is a keystone species in the tropics, providing food and shelter, and a place to poop for 17 different mammal species. ... Read full Story

animal

New mutations help the H5N1 bird flu virus infect cows but not people

By Science News | Tina Hesman Saey | 4/14/2026 12:00 PM

The findings show how the H5N1 bird flu virus is evolving in livestock and what that may mean for human health. ... Read full Story

animal

Talking dogs and chatty cats could one day ‘speak’ in our language

By Science News | Laura Sanders | 4/13/2026 12:30 PM

Advances in decoding animal sounds might someday make animal translators a possibility. ... Read full Story

animal

For gray whales, San Francisco Bay is becoming a deadly pit stop

By Science News | Gennaro Tomma | 4/13/2026 12:00 AM

Climate change could be forcing gray whales to seek food in San Francisco Bay, where vessel strikes may be driving rising deaths. ... Read full Story

animal

Mummified reptile hints at the origins of how we breathe

By Science News | Carolyn Gramling | 4/8/2026 11:00 AM

A cave preserved two animals’ rib cages, cartilage and even traces of protein, revealing a flexible breathing apparatus like that of today’s land dwellers. ... Read full Story

animal

A new book finds parenting inspiration in the animal kingdom

By Science News | Erin Garcia de Jesús | 4/7/2026 9:00 AM

In The Creatures’ Guide to Caring, science journalist Elizabeth Preston looks to the animal kingdom to explore what it means to be a good parent. ... Read full Story

animal

Crabs’ sideways walk may have evolved just once

by Science News | May 15 2026

basketball

Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell reaches conference finals for first time, matches Kobe with Game 7 stat line

by CBS Interactive Inc | May 18 2026

connecticut

How to honor America’s 250th if you feel torn

by CT Mirror | May 18 2026

entertainment

Jennifer Aniston Says Her Signature California Glow 'Didn't Just Fall Off a Truck' — Here’s How She Masters It

by ET Online | May 08 2026

finance

Dow futures drop, oil prices push higher as Iran war remains stuck in stalemate

by MarketWatch.com | May 17 2026

football

DraftKings Super Bowl Promo Code: Get Extended $300 Seahawks-Patriots Bonus

by ESNY | Feb 08 2026

golf

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

by NY Times | Apr 15 2026

how_to

Premier League Soccer: Stream Newcastle vs. West Ham From Anywhere Live

by CNET | May 17 2026

music

Ella Langley & More Record-Setters at 2026 ACM Awards

by Billboard | May 17 2026

nation

White House touts U.S.-China deals following Trump's Beijing trip

by upi.com | May 18 2026

new_jersey

NJ Spotlight News: May 15, 2026

by NJ Spotlight | May 15 2026

people

Taylor Swift is staying one step ahead of AI by legally protecting her voice and image

by marca.com | Apr 28 2026

retirement

Trump signs order aiming to help expand access to retirement accounts

by Fox News | Apr 30 2026

shopping

11 Cool New Gadgets to Keep on Your Radar

by Gear Patrol | May 17 2026

wellness

Want to Live Longer? Start Flossing Your Teeth

by Self.com | Apr 22 2026

Word of the Day

vindicate

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 18, 2026 is:

vindicate • \VIN-duh-kayt\ • verb

To vindicate someone is to show that they are not guilty. Vindicate can also mean “to show that someone or something that has been criticized or doubted is correct, true, or reasonable.”

// A series of testimonies helped vindicate the defendant.

// Their much-maligned approach to the problem has now been vindicated by these positive results.

See the entry >

Examples:

“He [Bob Dylan] never expressed embarrassment over the dismal commercial failure of his would-be cinematic masterpiece, Renaldo and Clara, even after the film’s financers, Warner Bros., warned Dylan that the film’s nearly five hour running time would ensure its failure (which would prove true). Dylan insisted that the film needed every frame. And who knows, art history may vindicate him.” — Ron Rosenbaum, Bob Dylan: Things Have Changed, 2025

Did you know?

It’s hard not to marvel at the rich history of vindicate. Vindicate, which has been used in English since at least the mid-16th century, comes from a form of the Latin verb vindicare, meaning “to set free, avenge, or lay claim to.” Vindicare, in turn, comes from vindex, a noun meaning “claimant” or “avenger.” Truly, vindex has proven to be an incredible hulk of a word progenitor over the centuries. Other descendants of this “avenger” assembled in English include avenge itself, revenge, vengeance, vendetta, and vindictive.

Crabs’ sideways walk may have evolved just once

Female rats like a different kind of tickling than males

Hantavirus questions grow in the wake of a cruise ship outbreak

Territorial conflict may explain male primates’ large size

If wings came before flight, what were they for?

Neandertals used rhinoceros teeth as tools

Singing mice puff up air sacs to make their sweet songs

What to know about a rare hantavirus outbreak at sea

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

Giant, kraken-like octopuses may have ruled the Cretaceous deep

Humidity makes these bees turn green

Got pesky, invasive corals? Blast ‘em away with air guns

This kea parrot is the first-known disabled alpha male

An endangered mouse may need a helping hand to adapt to climate change

This tree is number one for cloud forest mammals going number two

New mutations help the H5N1 bird flu virus infect cows but not people

Talking dogs and chatty cats could one day ‘speak’ in our language

For gray whales, San Francisco Bay is becoming a deadly pit stop

Mummified reptile hints at the origins of how we breathe

A new book finds parenting inspiration in the animal kingdom

Crabs’ sideways walk may have evolved just once

Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell reaches conference finals for first time, matches Kobe with Game 7 stat line

How to honor America’s 250th if you feel torn

Jennifer Aniston Says Her Signature California Glow 'Didn't Just Fall Off a Truck' — Here’s How She Masters It

Dow futures drop, oil prices push higher as Iran war remains stuck in stalemate

DraftKings Super Bowl Promo Code: Get Extended $300 Seahawks-Patriots Bonus

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

Premier League Soccer: Stream Newcastle vs. West Ham From Anywhere Live

Ella Langley & More Record-Setters at 2026 ACM Awards

White House touts U.S.-China deals following Trump's Beijing trip

NJ Spotlight News: May 15, 2026

Taylor Swift is staying one step ahead of AI by legally protecting her voice and image

Trump signs order aiming to help expand access to retirement accounts

11 Cool New Gadgets to Keep on Your Radar

Want to Live Longer? Start Flossing Your Teeth

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.Look: Police probing 'BBQ goods' theft find fox with mouth full of hot dogs

2.Maryland man wins $50,000 from lottery ticket he got for free

3.Watch: Empty Waymo taxis flood into Atlanta neighborhood

4.Watch: Illinois museum's 'Knight Rider' car gets speeding ticket from NYC

5.Look: Nashville Zoo announces birth of male pudu calf

6.Watch: Bear caught on camera enjoying 'all-you-can-eat' bird seed 'buffet'

7.Look: Ohio man wins two lottery prizes in under a month

8.Police seek owner of loose parrot spotted in Pennsylvania

9.Look: Ohio police apprehend ball python for 'unwanted slithering'

10.Watch: Toddler comes face to face with bobcat in California