Animals

Air pollution makes the scent of a night-blooming plant less enticing to pollinating moths. Researchers in a Science study discovered that nitrate radicals severely degrade key odour components that attract pollinating insects to the pale evening primrose (Oenothera pallida).

How does noise and light affect coral reefs? An international team explores.

In celebration of the International Year of Camelids 2024, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is collaborating with partners to highlight the important role camelids play in community livelihoods and in building resilience to climate change – particularly in mountains and arid and semi-arid lands. They are at risk of death when they eat plastics in Dubai. So be mindful of your environment. 

In a research first, rain is found as the best indicator and driver of biodiversity.

We know from watching the movie Fly Away Home with Anna Paquin that Canadian geese bred in captivity identify and imprint on the first mother they see. We also learn that Canadian geese can learn to fly with airplanes, and then evetually rewild. True story. Does the Fly Away Home theory really work for all birds?

A few years after a fresh influx of water raised its levels, the large lake has nearly gone dry and dried out completely in August 2023. Lake Urmia was the largest lake in the Middle East and was one of the largest hypersaline lakes.

Have you thought about keeping an octopus as a pet?

Nursing mothers might feel like they are penguins: new research published in the journal Science finds that penguins can sleep 10,000 times a day for an average of 4 seconds at a time.

Deep sea miners want to explore faster than science can show how devastating mining for minerals on our last frontier can be.  So science is working to pick up the pace so deep sea mining will not happen without a major shift in policy and research. The latest research to come out is that deep sea mining can harm jellyfish. 

Blast fishing is linked to shark sightings, possibly sea lion death and dead whales.

Fisherman in Lebanon make their own dynamite to explode the sea near nature reserves, harvesting tonnes of fish.

Orcas are sinking sinks off the coast of Morocco. A hurt killer whale is teaching other whales payback.

The FAO-based group are working with NGOs urging the adoption of measures that would allow the GFCM to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and cases of non-compliance within its region

Despite being a relatively new scientific field, conservation genomics is already being used to inform wildlife management decisions and aid endangered (and potentially even extinct) species.

Whether you’re going by bus, train, or plane, double check the pet policies. Many planes allow smaller pets onboard in pet carriers while larger pets are checked in as cargo. Either way, try to select direct flights to minimize the stress for your furry friend.