Most animals produce calls that reflect their body size. A larger animal will sound lower-pitched because its vocal tract, the air-filled tube that produces and filters sounds, is longer. But harbor seals do not always sound ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 29, 2022
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10
Open water swimming is not for the fainthearted, especially when air and water temperatures are frigid. So how do furry Weddell seal pups born on the Antarctic sea ice keep on swimming?
Plants & Animals
Apr 25, 2022
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10
As the old English saying goes "a little of what you fancy does you good," but the current human type 2 diabetes epidemic suggests that you can have too much of a good thing.
Plants & Animals
Apr 21, 2022
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32
The later stages of pregnancy can make life difficult as the fetus presses against the diaphragm, making it hard to breathe. But snakes that constrict their victims before swallowing them whole have to overcome the challenges ...
Plants & Animals
Mar 25, 2022
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Few human adults gallop; the equine gait tends to be the preserve of little kids mimicking horses or exercise classes. But for camels, lions and giraffes, galloping is a key fixture of their repertoire as they shift up through ...
Plants & Animals
Mar 8, 2022
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608
From foraging for prey to evading predators, ship strikes or other dangers, a dolphin's survival often hinges on being able to crank up the speed and shift its swimming into high gear.
Plants & Animals
Feb 24, 2022
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130
Robber flies snatch victims from the air using the same interception strategy as guided missiles and falcons, but how do they intercept airborne quarry when their view is obstructed by foliage and clutter? Researchers from ...
Plants & Animals
Feb 15, 2022
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Lurking beneath overhanging foliage, archerfish have one thing on their mind: taking a well-aimed pot-shot at the next insect that settles within range. Squirting a ballistic jet of water, these tenacious assassins precisely ...
Plants & Animals
Feb 11, 2022
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5
At night, hummingbirds lower their body temperature and metabolism drastically by dropping into an energy-saving state of inactivity called torpor. Scientists from multiple universities now find there's more than one level ...
Plants & Animals
Feb 2, 2022
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47
At Christmas, thousands of greetings cards feature the iconic winter plumage of the robin. But not all the robins you might find in your backyard are permanent natives to your country. In the UK, for example, some will have ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 5, 2022
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