Something very strange was recently discovered near an old, abandoned chemical plant in Russia: a pack of stray dogs covered in blue fur. The Dzerzhinskoye Orgsteklo plant, which once made hydrocyanic acid and plexiglass, closed down about six years ago — but the building still stands. People who live near the plant began spotting the […]
Continue ReadingCategory Archives: Blog
Dogs of Chernobyl
The Dogs of Chernobyl Are Experiencing Rapid Evolution, Study Suggests For decades, scientists have studied animals living in or near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant to see how increased levels of radiation affect their health, growth, and evolution. A new study analyzed the DNA of 302 feral dogs living near the power plant, compared the […]
Continue ReadingAnimals With The Shortest Lifespans
Many factors determine the lifespan of an animal — habitat, food sources (and availability), the animal’s size and its ability to protect itself from predators. Longevity often depends on the age the animal reaches sexual maturity. The Greenland shark has a lifespan of 500-plus years, but they mate later in life, which accounts for why […]
Continue ReadingRare Bird Spotted in 178 Years
Bird watchers are flocking to northeastern Wisconsin in the hopes of glimpsing a southern shorebird last seen in the state almost 180 years ago. Logan Lasee, a member of the Bay Area Bird Club, spotted a roseate spoonbill in the Ken Euers Nature Area in Green Bay on July 26, Wisconsin Public Radio reported. More […]
Continue ReadingTreetop Trail
Minnesota Zoo opens Treetop Trail, the world’s longest elevated pedestrian loop They cut the ribbon and took a walk Friday at the Minnesota Zoo after years of decay, and then development. The official opening of the new Treetop Trail took place Friday morning. The trail follows the old monorail line that closed in 2013 with […]
Continue ReadingNational Hot Dog Day
When we think of summer, hot dogs come to mind almost immediately. It’s just part of the overall experience. A summer day at the amusement park or at a baseball stadium pairs nicely with a hot dog (or tofu dog, for those of you who prefer a meatless version). Hot dogs don’t have to be […]
Continue ReadingA Fuzzy Invasion
When Alicia Griggs steps outside her suburban Fort Lauderdale home, Florida’s latest invasive species comes a-hoppin’ down the street: lionhead rabbits. The bunnies, which sport an impressive flowing mane around their heads, want the food Griggs carries. But she also represents their best chance of survival and moving where this domesticated breed belongs: inside homes, […]
Continue ReadingWho Pays For Rescues?
When wealthy adventurers take huge risks, who should foot the bill for rescue attempts? When millionaire Steve Fossett’s plane went missing over the Nevada range in 2007, the swashbuckling adventurer had already been the subject of two prior emergency rescue operations thousands of miles apart. And that prompted a prickly question: After a sweeping […]
Continue ReadingFlorida County Under Quarantine
A portion of a Florida county has been placed under quarantine as state officials work to get rid of a giant African land snail (GALS), the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) said Tuesday. The quarantine comes weeks after state officials found the snail in the Miramar area of Broward County, Florida, according […]
Continue ReadingCaptivated by the Multiverse and Alternate Realities?
Loved “Everything Everywhere All at Once?” Can’t get enough of “The Flash” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” this month? Then this list is for you. We’ve compiled a non-exhaustive sampler of fiction about alternate universes and multiverses — from movies to TV to comics to books. It’s a great starter kit if your media tastes […]
Continue Reading