New Atlas

Science Audio available

RFID tech may tell us if hummingbird feeders are really a good idea

Ben Coxworth December 14, 2018

While it's kind of people to set up hummingbird feeders in their back yards, some scientists are wondering if the practise may be causing more harm than good. In an effort to better understand the issue, researchers equipped a group of the birds with tags that were read by devices at feeders.

A male Anna's hummingbird, which is commonly found along the California coast

Medical Audio available

World's first full-body medical scanner generates astonishing 3D images

Rich Haridy November 19, 2018

After over decade of development, the world’s first full-body medical scanner has produced its first images. The groundbreaking imaging device is almost 40 times faster than current PET scans and can capture a 3D picture of the entire human body in one instant scan.

The new EXPLORER full-body scanner promises faster and more detailed medical imaging

Environment

Bad news for birds: Spring is getting earlier the farther north you go

James Holloway March 5, 2018

Not only is spring springing earlier, but how early depends on how far from the equator you are, according to a new study. Spring arrives four days earlier for every 10 degrees north you may find yourself, which is about three times the variation previously thought.

Migratory birds could be hit hardest by earlier springs

Science

How cheese changed the shape of the human skull

Michael Irving August 27, 2017

Switching to farming from hunting left an indelible mark on our biology, as the softer foods meant we didn’t need to spend so much energy chewing. Studying hundreds of pre-industrial era human skulls, new research has singled out the foodstuff with the biggest impact on our skull shape: cheese.

As we switched from hunting to farming, soft foods like cheese changed the shape of the ...

Biology

Geckos rapidly evolve bigger heads in response to human activity

Michael Irving August 1, 2017

Life is adept at adapting, and the environment is changing faster than ever thanks to us. Evolution is normally thought of in millions of years, but a new study has observed how human activity has directly driven separate populations of geckos to evolve new attributes in the space of just 15 years.

The gecko species Gymnodactylus amarali has been found to be evolving larger heads in response to ...

Biology

Study shows warming, acidifying oceans could dissolve sea creatures

Michael Irving April 19, 2017

Warming oceans might sound like a good thing for swimmers, but they're wreaking havoc on marine life. Researchers at UC Davis have found that warming and acidifying waters can cause invertebrate organisms called bryozoa to begin dissolving – and other sea creatures could soon face a similar fate.

When exposed to conditions that already occur in some parts of the ocean, invertebrate aquatic creatures ...

Biology

What makes a panda black and white?

Nick Lavars March 3, 2017

Scientists have thrown up plenty of potential reasons for the highly contrasting colors of the giant panda bear. But now they believe they have some concrete answers, with new research revealing the "why" behind the animal's iconic black and white patches.

The team suggests that pandas evolved their two-tone appearance due to their poor diet of bamboo

Environment

Dinner or debris? Seabirds chow down on plastic because it stinks like food

Nick Lavars November 10, 2016

A new study has revealed that the stench emitted from the ocean's plastic waste is the same one that some species rely on to find food, shining new light on why sometimes the animals mistakenly consume the debris.

Science

Tackling the fungi that could wipe out the world's banana supply within a decade

Michael Irving August 15, 2016

Evolving fungal diseases are threatening the global banana industry, and a total “bananageddon” could wipe out the fruit within a decade. Researchers at University of California, Davis have sequenced the genomes of the fungi to find a way to fight back.

A three-fungus disease complex threatens to wipe out the world's banana crops within the next decade

Environment

Rising ocean acid levels skew predator/prey relationship

Danny Gallagher July 1, 2016

A new study suggests that changes in the ocean's acidic levels due to atmospheric carbon dioxide could change the predator-prey relationship of ocean life, by tipping the scales in favor of the predator.

Normally, black turban snails (top) escape predation by sea stars by crawling out of tide pools