Latest news with #South America
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Science
- BBC News
Magellanic penguins ride ocean waves to save energy and find food
Penguins are known for being fantastic swimmers, and have developed plenty of helpful features to help them live in the body shape and webbed feet make it easy for them to move underwater and their oily feathers create a water-tight new research shows that they could also be smarter travellers than previously have found that instead of swimming, magellanic penguin ride ocean currents and tides in order to save energy and find food. What did scientists find? The study involved an international team of scientists, led by the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour and involved researchers from Swansea University in Wales. Experts tracked 27 adult Magellanic penguins during their return trips from foraging in the ocean off Argentina in South team used small high-tech tracking devices with GPS and compasses, as well as detailed ocean current information. The team were surprised to discovered that instead of swimming in a straight line back to their nests, the penguins often followed curved paths shaped by the tides. These routes helped the penguins to conserve energy and take advantage of feeding opportunities along the way. Co-author of the study, Professor Rory Wilson from Swansea University's Animal Movement Lab, explained that the penguins adjusted their swimming direction depending on the strength and direction of the currents. He said: "In calm water, they headed straight for home, but when the currents were stronger, they allowed themselves to drift sideways. This made their journey longer, but less tiring."Experts found that this strategy also gave the penguins more chances to feed."The penguins were observed diving and foraging for food during much of their return journey," Professor Wilson team said that their finding could provide a better understanding of how other marine animals, such as seals, turtles, and seabirds, may respond to unpredictable ocean conditions.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Man wins £9,000 from Google after being snapped NAKED in his garden by Street View car
A BLOKE caught starkers in his garden by a Google Street View car for all to see on the internet has won more than £9,000 in compensation. The man's bare backside was pictured by the tech giant's cameras as it shot routes around a small town in Argentina. 2 He claimed that he was stood behind a two metre wall when the embarrassing incident took place back in 2017. His bum was exposed for all to see on the platform, and the story was eventually covered by local Argentine TV as well as being shared widely on social media. The individual - who is a policeman - sought payment from Google for harm to his dignity. Last year, a court dismissed the claim for damages, ruling he only had himself to blame for "walking around in inappropriate conditions in the garden of his home". Google claimed the perimeter wall was not high enough. However, appeals judges have decided the man's dignity was indeed violated. They ordered Google to pay him £9,300 / $12,500. "This involves an image of a person that was not captured in a public space but within the confines of their home, behind a fence taller than the average-sized person. The invasion of privacy... is blatant," they wrote. The judges said "there is no doubt that in this case there was an arbitrary intrusion into another's life." They also concluded that there was "no justification for (Google) to evade responsibility for this serious error that involved an intrusion into the plaintiff's house, within his private domain, undermining his dignity. Shocking Google Street View pic 'showing body loaded into boot' leads to murder arrest after cops find butchered remains "No one wants to appear exposed to the world as the day they were born." Google has had a number of nude mishaps over the years, though many appear to be deliberate exhibitionists. They are eventually blurred out once detected. The firm also blurs out faces, as well as car licence plates. People can also blur out themselves, their house or a vehicle by submitting a request on Google's website. The judges pointed to Google's policy as evidence that it was aware of a duty to avoid harm to third parties. But in this case, "it was not his face that was visible but his entire naked body, an image that should also have been prevented." The court absolved co-accused telecoms company Cablevision SA and news site El Censor of liability for the image spreading, saying their actions had "helped highlight the misstep committed by Google." GOOGLE MAPS TRICK You can use augmented reality (AR) to explore the streets on Google Maps too. When looking up directions, users can select an augmented reality (AR) version of Live View. This means the app that not only gives you directions, but scans the surrounding area to offer users more details about the places they pass. This feature even highlights ATMs, and other pitstops in real time. Image credit: Getty
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Americans told to destroy parasite-infested pink blobs invading Florida: 'Crush on site'
Americans are being urged to destroy strange, sticky pink blobs appearing across Florida, as officials warn they pose a threat to both humans and local ecosystems. These vivid pink clusters are egg masses laid by invasive apple snails from South America, fast-growing species that can cause serious ecological damage once hatched. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has warned residents not to handle the eggs with bare hands, especially around the eyes, nose, or mouth. The slime coating the eggs may carry harmful bacteria and parasites that can infect sensitive areas. Instead, officials are asking the public to crush the clutches using protective footwear. Florida is home to multiple types of apple snails, including the native Florida apple snail. But the state also hosts four exotic species from South America: the island apple snail, channeled apple snail, spike-topped apple snail, and titan apple snail. Health officials are particularly concerned about the channeled apple snail, which can carry rat lungworm, a parasite capable of causing a rare but potentially deadly form of meningitis when humans consume raw or undercooked snails. The US Geological Survey reports these egg masses are commonly spotted in central and southern Florida waterways, including Lake Okeechobee, the St. Johns River, and Everglades National Park. Invasive apple snail populations have also taken hold in Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, and parts of California, where they've become serious pests in agricultural zones. Since 2013, these invasive snails have spread across 38 out of 67 counties in Florida and been found in at least 29 different watersheds. They can grow up to six inches long, lay distinctive bright pink egg masses, and have an aggressive appetite for aquatic vegetation. The exotic snails damaged crops, raised utility costs, lowered home values, and hurt fishing, tourism, and outdoor activities. Unlike Florida's native apple snail, these invaders threaten to push out local species and disrupt ecosystems by eating aquatic plants essential for native fish, birds, and water quality. The FWC said in a public alert: 'If they fall into the water, they will still hatch.' The agency added that the only way to prevent more snails is to completely crush the egg sacs. The invasive apple snail is listed by the FWC as one of the 'world's worst invaders' due to the extensive damage it causes to crops and natural habitats. A 2021 study estimated that this kind of damage and cleanup has costed North America over $26 billion annually since 2010. Moreover, globally, the cost of invasive species has reached $1.288 trillion over the past 50 years. Florida's native apple snail grows slowly and lays fewer eggs. In contrast, invasive snails mature in two to three months and produce large egg clutches. Native apple snail eggs are pale salmon-colored, contain 20 to 80 large, pea-sized eggs, and turn white before hatching, according to the US Geological Survey. The invasive island apple snail can lay up to 2,000 tiny eggs packed in layered clutches several inches long, while the invasive channeled apple snail lays up to 800 slightly larger eggs per clutch. The huge number of eggs and fast reproduction make these snails hard to control. Identifying apple snails apart by their shells is tricky, since they all looks alike. However, Native Florida apple snails are smaller, about two to three inches long, with flat-topped shells. Their shell colors range from yellow to brownish-black. Some exotic snails show bright yellow-orange, yellow-green, or copper tones, a result of aquarium breeding. Their foot tissue also varies in color, from yellow to gray. Most invasive apple snails arrived in Florida through the pet trade. Federal law bans moving apple snails between states, but the FWC stresses pet owners should never release them into the wild.
Wall Street Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Coming Soon to the Coffee Aisle: Tariffs
Americans love their coffee. They're willing to pay for it. Tariffs could test that as the year goes on. 'The tariff impacts will become prominent,' said Tim Cofer, chief executive of Keurig Dr Pepper, talking about coffee's second-half trajectory on the company's Thursday earnings call. The U.S. is set to levy a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods—including coffee beans—from Aug. 1. Coffee beans from Brazil had already gotten more expensive, as poor weather pushed up prices at the end of last year.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fla fight back after early goal, close in on leaders
In the Cícero de Souza Marques Stadium, in the interior of São Paulo, Flamengo came from behind to beat RB Bragantino 2-1, on Wednesday (23), in the 16th round of the 2025 Brazilian Championship. The first half was uneventful, with the Rubro-Negro - taking advantage of the mistakes in the exits - threatening in the arrival of Bruno Henrique, who Cleiton defended. The best chance of the initial stage, however, was in the spectacular free kick by Jhon Jhon, but that Rossi defended with his fingertips. After the interval, however, the game became more exciting. With eight seconds of the ball rolling, in the exit of the ball, RB Bragantino needed three exchanges of passes until Jhon Jhon gave the assist behind the Rubro-Negro defense for Lucas Barbosa, who entered freely in the area and touched in the exit of Rossi to open the scoring. Flamengo did not give up and managed to equalize when Arrascaeta took a free kick in the area, and Léo Pereira rose high to head the ball. The goalkeeper Cleiton, this time, "didn't turn into Neuer" and didn't catch the ball that came on top. This was the 14th goal of "Karolino" with the Rubro-Negro shirt. However, in the final minutes, Viña made a great individual play on the left and touched the ball to Wallace Yan, who served Wesley in the area. The right-back finished with a cross from the first touch, already unbalanced and falling, to decree the turnaround. Wesley, by the way, is in the process of being transferred to Roma.🚦 How it stands With the result, Flamengo reached 33 points and reduced the distance to the leader Cruzeiro to one point. RB Bragantino, on the other hand, remained with 27 points and dropped to fourth place, leaving the third place to Palmeiras, who beat Fluminense 2-1. Massa Bruta returns to the field next Saturday (26), when they visit Fortaleza, at the Arena Castelão, while the Rubro-Negro receives Atlético-MG, at the Maracanã, on Sunday (27). This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here. 📸 Ricardo Moreira - 2025 Getty Images
