Decades of Collaborative Research Suggest that Chickadees Have Incredible Intelligence — Chickadees are smarter than their tiny heads might indicate. The round little genus of birds has long been a delight for birders, but, more recently, they’ve become a fascinating study species for behavioral scientists, too! Previously, I wrote on crow intelligence in Crows Aren’t Bird-brained, mentioning how crows shine as…

Making Extinction Obsolete by Bringing Back Extinct Animals Through Genetics — In our lifetimes, we may see extinction counteracted by genetic advancement — only in my wildest dreams did I think I might one day type those words to begin a nonfiction article. Modern genetics already felt dangerously close to sci-fi with Dolly the Sheep and CRISPR. But, now, biotech has…

Navigating the Post-COVID Era: The War On Coronavirus is Over, But Battles Rage On Globally — In the middle of May 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States declared the end of COVID-19’s public health emergency. After a wide swath of folks from the United States received vaccinations and/or gained protection after previous infections, the acute number of hospital admissions declined…

Stunning New Study Shows that Reconnaissance is an Important Aspect of Chimp Militaristic Operations — A study published in early November 2023 altered the way we perceive the intelligence of chimpanzees. Though it was previously known that the species engaged in some war-like activities between groups, scientists working in Côte d’Ivoire reported behavior much more sophisticated: chimpanzees are engaging in reconnaissance and surveillance.

Learn A Little About the Internet Sensation: Texas Tech’s Newest Grumpy Mascot — In early November 2023, the internet was taken by storm by an incredible video of an opossum being dragged away off the field at the start of the second quarter of a college football game. The video quickly became memed by social media, celebrating the absolutely silly moment that had…

A Comprehensive Guide to The Science Behind the *Hic* Diaphragm Glitch — Weird fun fact about your author — I am exceptionally prone to hiccups. I’m talking about daily, unwarranted, random hiccups that plague me for a couple of minutes at a time, and it’s been like that since I was young. It’s become a weird joke amongst friends — I hiccup…

The Monoculture Lawn Is Outdated — How You Can Benefit From Replacing It With Native Plants — Have you ever stopped to think about your lawn? It’s more than just a patch of green — it’s a vital part of your local ecosystem. The traditional approach of cultivating manicured lawns with non-native grass is a centuries-old tradition, but it’s time to reevaluate its impact on the environment. …

The West Antarctic ice sheet is set to melt, even if we hit the UN Emission Reduction Target, serving as a warning for the coming centuries. — It’s too late to save the West Antarctic ice shelf from melting, according to new research published on October 23, 2023. The study, published by Kaitlin A. Naughten, Paul R. Holland & Jan De Rydt, paints a concerning picture of the next hundred years. Discover below how the scientists involved…

A Look at the Environmental and Health Consequences of Our Loud Industrial World — When you think of pollution, certain sights come to mind: beaches littered with plastic, greenish liquid pouring out from a pipe. These sorts of pollution get the most attention, they’re charismatically dramatic and often acutely heartbreaking. But, unfortunately, our effect on other creatures isn’t isolated to the chemicals and refuse…