When we think of symbiotic relationships (aka ones that are mutually beneficial), we typically think of two plants or animals that work well together. Did you know, however, that sheep and solar farms can benefit each other similarly? Sheep living in pasture with solar panels benefit from shade in hot weather and more nutritious grass...
Scientists in China have genetically modified a tobacco plant to produce cocaine in its leaves. Cocaine is a chemical compound called tropane alkaloid, which naturally appears in the leaves of the Erythroxylum coca plant. The drug is infamous for its abuse and highly addictive nature. Still, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved...
Researchers accidentally discovered that swarming bees can produce an electric charge. Ellard Hunting and his colleagues at the University of Bristol in the UK were tracking weather in a field station. However, their electric field monitors found an increase in atmospheric electric charge although there were no storms around. The researchers realized the charge came...
A photo of two hunters posing with two small dead elephants sparked outrage online. Featured were Mike Jines, an executive at an energy company, and professional hunter Max “Buzz” Delezenne during an expedition in Zimbabwe. After the photo went viral, Jines received death threats from people enraged at the killing of baby elephants. However, Jines...
Believe it or not, cows are not all meaningless mooing and slow blinks. A study suggests that these animals communicate with each other about how they feel through their vocal expressions. Cows may not be the most intelligent creatures out there, but they are some of the compassionate, and humans must learn to respect this. ...
Happy birthday to Jonathan the giant tortoise, who turned 190 years old this year. He is the oldest living animal, according to Guinness World Records. Additionally, Jonathan is the oldest chelonian — a category of animals that include tortoises, turtles, and terrapins — ever recorded. He resides on the remote tropical island of St. Helena,...
When Boyan Slat was 18, he planned to rid the oceans of plastic. About ten years later, Slat is 27, an inventor, and the founder of the Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit that plans to remove 90% of the floating plastic in the ocean by 2040. This plan seemed incredible at first. The first plastic-catching device...
Rang-du-Fliers is a small village in France known for being close to the annual kite festival. Its grey, wind-swept surroundings have been otherwise unnoteworthy. A controversial €72 million (about £63 million) project plans to bring the Amazon rainforest to Europe. The plan is to assemble the largest domed tropical greenhouse in the world by this once unremarkable village. “This...
A man named Brad Rich was out on a boat expedition with his friends off the coast of Seward in Alaska [1]. They were on a mission to film the beautiful seagulls native to the area. If being in the “right place, at the right time, at the exact moment” ever needed a visual description,...
Having a backyard means getting out to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air with family and friends. Barbecuing, lounging by the pool, planting flowers in the garden, etc.. However what usually comes with beautiful nature and fresh air, is the variety of insects and more particularly, BEES! The spring, summer and early autumn is a...
As climate change continues and global temperatures are increasing, the snow and ice at the top of Mount Everest is melting. With that, it is revealing a shocking amount of garbage left by mountain climbers underneath – and human bodies. Now, there are teams tasked with the job of removing it all, which is in...
Animal abuse stories are gut-wrenching. Beyond the horror of seeing a living being tortured, there’s an element of betrayal. The human owner is expected to love and provide for the animals. Their welfare becomes the human’s responsibility. When this trust is betrayed, it leaves the animal not only physically but psychologically damaged. Many are never...
