Latest news with #ScienceDaily
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers stunned after footage reveals bizarre animal activity on remote island: 'Carrying them for days at a time'
Trail camera footage from a remote Central American island has left researchers befuddled as to why capuchin monkeys are acting in a never-before-seen way. Captured on an island off the Panama coast, the footage shows five capuchin monkeys kidnapping at least 11 infant howler monkeys over the course of 15 months. Researchers divulged their findings in a study published in Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (via ScienceDaily), which was then reported on by Outdoors. "Young male capuchin monkeys have been abducting baby howler monkeys and carrying them for days at a time," the Max Planck Institute wrote on Instagram. "Nobody was on the island to see which capuchin started the behavior and who copied him. But remote cameras were there." Trail cameras have become valuable research tools for conservationists. They allow researchers to monitor remote areas for long periods of time with remarkable efficiency. And the cameras are often so conspicuous that local wildlife doesn't know they are there, giving an unfiltered look into these creatures' daily lives. Recently, trail cameras have captured remarkable footage, such as a bird's rare mating ritual in Thailand. They've shown rarely-seen glimpses of endangered species, such as an Arabian lynx, tahr, and wolf in Oman. And they've confirmed the reintroduction of species to certain ecosystems, such as river otters throughout Ohio. As far as capuchins, these abductions had not been seen before, and researchers believe it began as random behavior that somehow caught on within this specific population. "The more interesting question is not, 'Why did this tradition arise?' but 'Why here?'" researcher Brendan J. Barrett said in the study. The capuchins did not play with, eat, or hurt any of the babies, and kept them for just a few days. Researchers do believe, however, that all of the abducted babies ended up dying, as the capuchins couldn't provide them with the milk they needed to survive. "Witnessing the spread of this behavior had a profound effect on all of us," researcher Meg Crofoot said in the study. "We therefore feel even more responsible to keep learning from this natural population of primates who, to our knowledge, are the only ones on Earth to be practicing this strange tradition." Do you think people should be allowed to keep exotic animals as pets? Yes No It depends on the animal It depends on the person Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Daily Record
22-04-2025
- Science
- Daily Record
Scientists discover first 'polar planet' orbiting two stars in ‘surprise' find
The planet orbits two stars at once, like the fictional Star Wars world Tatooine. Astronomers have found a planet that orbits around a rare pair of peculiar stars in what has been dubbed a "surprising" discovery. This discovery is the first strong evidence of a 'polar planet' orbiting a pair of stars. Scientists used the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT) to make this exciting discovery. Several planets orbiting two stars at once have been discovered in the past years, but none that orbited their stars in this interesting way had been found. Star Wars fans may recognise that phenomenon from the fictional planet Tatooine in the film franchise. And Science Daily explains that these odd planets typically occupy orbits that roughly align with the angle in which their host stars orbit each other. However, this particular 'polar planet' orbits at a 90 degree angle around its stars. Previous theories assumed that these orbits would be stable, and hints of these planets existing had been found, but there was a lack of clear evidence that these polar planets existed until now. Thomas Baycroft, a PhD student at the University of Birmingham, who led the study published in Science Advances, said: "I am particularly excited to be involved in detecting credible evidence that this configuration exists." The exoplanet, named 2M1510 (AB) b, orbits a pair of young brown dwarf stars, which are bigger than gas-giant planets but too small to be considered proper stars. The two brown dwarfs produce eclipses of one another as seen from Earth, in a phenomenon that astronomers call an 'eclipsing binary'. This star system is incredibly rare, and it is only the second pair of eclipsing brown dwarfs known to date. The system also contains the first exoplanet ever found on a path at right angles to the orbit of its two host stars. "A planet orbiting not just a binary, but a binary brown dwarf, as well as being on a polar orbit is rather incredible and exciting," says co-author Amaury Triaud, a professor at the University of Birmingham. The planet was found while the team was refining the orbital and physical parameters of the two brown dwarfs - but it wasn't a discovery they were expecting. Triaud added: "The discovery was serendipitous, in the sense that our observations were not collected to seek such a planet, or orbital configuration. As such, it is a big surprise." Scientists collected observations with the Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph (UVES) instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope at Paranal Observatory, Chile. This pair of brown dwarfs, known as 2M1510, were first detected in 2018 by the research's co-author Triaud. The astronomers noticed that the orbital path of the two stars in 2M1510 were being pushed and pulled in unusual ways, which led to the discovery of this exoplanet with its strange orbital angle. Baycroft explained that it became clear that the only explanation for this push-pull effect was that there was a planet orbiting at a 90 degree angle to the stars. "Overall, I think this shows to us astronomers, but also to the public at large, what is possible in the fascinating Universe we inhabit", says Triaud. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Study warns the North Pole could experience ice-free conditions within next three years: 'We want to be prepared'
The North Pole is changing at a rapid rate. According to recent research reported by the University of Colorado, Boulder, most of the Arctic's sea ice could melt by 2027. Researchers used computer models to predict the Arctic's first ice-free day in its northernmost ocean. "Ice-free" is defined as less than 1 million square kilometers (about 386,000 square miles) of ice, per the report. They ran over 300 simulations with different scenarios in mind. Based on these, the earliest ice-free day could occur in 2027. The study, which was published in Nature late last year, acknowledged that "predictions of an ice-free Arctic have large uncertainties" and "the highest probability of the earliest ice-free day occurring lies within 7-20 years." A summary of the research published by ScienceDaily said that "sea ice in the Arctic has disappeared at an unprecedented speed of more than 12% each decade." While nothing drastic would happen within those 24 hours, according to the report, it does represent a tipping point — marking the shift away from the Arctic Ocean covered by ice and snow. Since the planet has been steadily warming for decades now, there's seemingly no stopping this change. The only thing that can slow it down is a "drastic cut" in pollution, per the university report. In this report, study co-author Céline Heuzé from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden said: "Because the first ice-free day is likely to happen earlier than the first ice-free month, we want to be prepared." The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that sea ice's light color causes it to reflect more light into space. This maintains Earth's energy balance and keeps the polar regions cool. If the Arctic loses the majority of its sea ice, the region will rapidly decline, putting several species, like polar bears, at risk. It will (and, to an extent, already has) impact Indigenous people in the Arctic, like the Inuit, in part because many of them have traditionally led a hunting lifestyle. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. It will also affect the local ecosystem, restricting food access for walruses and other mammals that rely on the sea ice for hunting. With lower birth rates and less food, species could go extinct. Alexandra Jahn, one of the researchers and a climatologist, said in the university report that "any reductions in emissions" would help slow the sea ice's melting. If you want to do your part in slowing it down, there are a couple of steps you can take to reduce your personal contribution to the planet's warming. You could install solar panels, switching from dirty to clean energy. You could also upgrade to a natural lawn, which helps local pollinators and your neighborhood's ecosystem. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists use gliders and underwater robots to make disturbing discovery: 'A good picture of the areas affected'
Major methane leaks from damaged gas pipelines have contaminated large sections of the Baltic Sea, according to a recent report in Science Daily. New research from the University of Gothenburg reveals methane from the destroyed Nord Stream pipelines spread across a large swath of the southern Baltic Sea. Using underwater robots and monitoring equipment, scientists found methane levels up to 1,000 times above normal that persisted for months. The contamination reached 23 marine protected areas critical for fishing communities and coastal economies. "Our gliders, together with ocean modelling for the southern Baltic Sea, have given us a good picture of the areas affected by the spill. In total, we estimate that over 14% of the entire Baltic Sea was exposed to methane levels that were at least five times above normal," researcher Martin Mohrmann said. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The Nord Stream explosions demonstrate how vulnerable communities are to aging gas infrastructure. The leak affected waters that local fishing industries rely on, potentially harming their livelihoods and economies. When crucial marine environments are damaged by methane contamination, it creates ripple effects through coastal economies that depend on healthy seas. The issue also undermines efforts to transition away from dirty fuels, as methane leaks counteract progress in reducing polluting gases that harm our environment. Some regions are taking proactive steps to address aging gas infrastructure. Several U.S. states have launched programs to identify and repair methane leaks from old pipelines. Many coastal communities are pushing for stricter monitoring of undersea gas lines. The most effective solution is accelerating the shift to renewable energy, as solar and wind power don't carry these risks of catastrophic leaks. Cities including Copenhagen, Denmark, have shown it's possible to rapidly phase out dirty fuel infrastructure while creating new clean energy jobs. Supporting these transitions helps protect both local economies and the environment from disasters while creating more resilient and sustainable communities for generations to come. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts sound alarm over insects laying massive amounts of eggs: 'It's very concerning'
Science Daily reported that the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory have developed computer models that are predicting the changing climate is accelerating the population growth of the spongy moth, an invasive species that is causing extensive damage to North American forests. The report found that the models are much better than those that don't account for the climate. Hotter, drier conditions in North America will limit the growth of a fungus — also invasive to the continent — that infects the spongy moth with pathogens that spread among the population, limiting the number of moths in an area before they can do too much damage. A warmer climate means there will be less fungus growth, so the destructive moths will lay more eggs and reproduce more quickly, resulting in increased defoliation of trees. The research in this case shows that incorporating information about climate conditions helps scientists make better predictions about what the future holds for the ecology of different regions. These computer models account for multiple organisms in an ecosystem and how they interact with each other. This is important for researchers to predict the impact of rising global temperatures, which are causing domino effects in ecosystems and accelerating faster than previously predicted. Most studies about the changing climate look at individual species of plants and animals. "A small amount of climate change can have a big effect when you compound it across multiple species," Greg Dwyer, professor of ecology and evolution, said. "So, computer models are crucial for understanding the effects of climate change on species interactions." Researchers are telling us that we are not worried enough. The warming of the planet and drier conditions are affecting fungal infection rates, causing them to drop dramatically. This drop will cause moth populations to increase dramatically, which will result in the destruction of more trees. Weather conditions in recent years have exacerbated the problem, increasing the number of spongy moth outbreaks. "Our projections were pessimistic, but probably not pessimistic enough. It's very concerning," Dwyer said. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In order to control the population of the spongy moth in North America and limit the destruction of trees, we can take action to combat rising temperatures by making changes in our day-to-day lives. By adopting more sustainable habits, we can help. Reducing waste and being more informed about the products we buy are important components. Supporting clean energy such as solar power is another step we can take. These actions can keep invasive species under control as well as create a healthier planet. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
