Magpie News Collector

animal

Just like humans, many animals get more aggressive in the heat

By Science News | Katarina Zimmer | 9/8/2025 9:00 AM

From salamanders to monkeys, many species get more violent at warmer temperatures — a trend that may shape their social structures as the world warms. ... Read full Story

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

Deep Antarctic waters hold geometric communities of fish nests

by Science News | Oct 29 2025

beauty

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

by The List | Mar 03 2025

book

We always come back to the second-chance romance

by BookPage | Oct 28 2025

connecticut

Trump ordered to pay SNAP benefits; CT officials still want to help

by CT Mirror | Oct 31 2025

fashion

Rise of women under 30 having major anti-aging surgery — once reserved for their grandmothers

by NY Post | Oct 30 2025

food

This Classic Breakfast Cereal Only Has 4 Ingredients (It's Not Cheerios)

by The Daily Meal | Nov 01 2025

metro

Conservative mom sued for calling DEI teacher ‘woke’ celebrates as defamation case tossed

by New York Post | Nov 02 2025

new_jersey

NJ Spotlight News special edition — ‘Painting Community’: October 31, 2025

by NJ Spotlight | Oct 31 2025

opinion

Michael Goodwin: A Zohran Mamdani mayoralty would mean a long, sour decline for NYC

by New York Post | Nov 02 2025

politics

Obama calls NYC mayoral frontrunner Mamdani just days before crucial election

by Fox News | Nov 02 2025

retirement

Two-thirds of Americans back Trump's $1,000 baby savings plan proposal, new survey finds

by Fox News | Sep 30 2025

science

We sharpened the James Webb telescope's vision from a million miles away. Here's how.

by LIVE SCIENCE | Nov 01 2025

shopping

7 New Pocket Knives, Multi-Tools and EDC Items You Might Have Missed

by Gear Patrol | Nov 01 2025

wellness

Sleep Doctors Say Waking Up at the Same Time Every Day Can Help You Doze Off Faster

by Self.com | Oct 31 2025

world

Roots CEO Meghan Roach caught Bo Bichette’s home run ball in decisive Game 7

by Global News | Nov 02 2025

Word of the Day

arbitrary

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

arbitrary • \AHR-buh-trair-ee\ • adjective

Arbitrary describes something that is not planned or chosen for a particular reason, is not based on reason or evidence, or is done without concern for what is fair or right.

// Because the committee wasn’t transparent about the selection process, the results of the process appeared to be wholly arbitrary.

// An arbitrary number will be assigned to each participant.

See the entry >

Examples:

“The authority of the crown, contemporaries believed, was instituted by God to rule the kingdom and its people. England’s sovereign was required to be both a warrior and a judge, to protect the realm from external attack and internal anarchy. To depose the king, therefore, was to risk everything—worldly security and immortal soul—by challenging the order of God’s creation. Such devastatingly radical action could never be justified unless kingship became tyranny: rule by arbitrary will rather than law, threatening the interests of kingdom and people instead of defending them.” — Helen Castor, The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV, 2024

Did you know?

Donning black robes and a powdered wig to learn about arbitrary might seem to be an arbitrary—that is, random or capricious—choice, but it would in fact jibe with the word’s etymology. Arbitrary comes from the Latin noun arbiter, which means “judge” and is the source of the English word arbiter, also meaning “judge.” In English, arbitrary first meant “depending upon choice or discretion” and was specifically used to indicate the sort of decision (as for punishment) left up to the expert determination of a judge rather than defined by law. Today, it can also be used for anything determined by or as if by chance or whim.

Just like humans, many animals get more aggressive in the heat

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

Deep Antarctic waters hold geometric communities of fish nests

13 Major Hair Transformations Celebrities Still Regret

We always come back to the second-chance romance

Trump ordered to pay SNAP benefits; CT officials still want to help

Rise of women under 30 having major anti-aging surgery — once reserved for their grandmothers

This Classic Breakfast Cereal Only Has 4 Ingredients (It's Not Cheerios)

Conservative mom sued for calling DEI teacher ‘woke’ celebrates as defamation case tossed

NJ Spotlight News special edition — ‘Painting Community’: October 31, 2025

Michael Goodwin: A Zohran Mamdani mayoralty would mean a long, sour decline for NYC

Obama calls NYC mayoral frontrunner Mamdani just days before crucial election

Two-thirds of Americans back Trump's $1,000 baby savings plan proposal, new survey finds

We sharpened the James Webb telescope's vision from a million miles away. Here's how.

7 New Pocket Knives, Multi-Tools and EDC Items You Might Have Missed

Sleep Doctors Say Waking Up at the Same Time Every Day Can Help You Doze Off Faster

Roots CEO Meghan Roach caught Bo Bichette’s home run ball in decisive Game 7

Word of the Day

10 Odd & Fun

1.Watch: Venomous snake rescued from backyard swimming pool

2.Ohio man forgets winning lottery ticket at home, wins another $500,000

3.Watch: Lost dog found 5 years later, 520 miles from home

4.Ozzy Osbourne pumpkin mosaic breaks Guinness World Record

5.Watch: Deer rescued from between bars of metal fence in Virginia

6.Ohio State marks mascot's 60th by breaking a world record

7.Watch: Utah man drops 1,917-pound pumpkin onto his Geo Metro

8.Watch: Dog rescued after fall from San Francisco cliff

9.Please, Please, Please Do Not Wear Any Of These Wildly Offensive Halloween Costumes This Year

10.Watch: Dog reunited with owner 7 years after burglary in Florida