Vampire-Like Deer Reveals Itself in Time for Halloween

Medicine & Technology Oct 31, 2014

It’s a fanged creature unlike any other, and it clearly won’t need a costume this Halloween. The unusual herbivore, the Kashmir Musk Deer is a species that was once native to the northern ranges of Afghanistan. Though, in spite of the fact that the species has not been seen for more than 60 years, a team of researchers headed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) recently revealed that more than a handful of the rare species have been identified in alpine meadows of northeast Afghanistan, just in time to come out for Halloween.

Endangered Gray Wolf May Have Made a Trip to Grand Canyon

Oct 31, 2014

It’s a photo worth a thousand words, and one of a near impossible candidate. Captured in the national forest near Grand Canyon National Park, authorities revealed Thursday Oct. 30 that a collared endangered gray wolf from the northern Rocky Mountains may be roaming the lands. A species that environmentalists and national park officials haven’t seen since the 1940’s when the gray wolf was driven to extinction in the area.

An Urban Legend or Possible Truth? Amelia Earhart May Have Been Eaten Alive

Oct 31, 2014

Since her disappearance on July 2, 1937, many have questioned the final hours of pilot Amelia Earhart’s life. Was she lost at sea when her plane disappeared over the South Pacific? Or did she go down with her plane? While many feared the worst, urban legends abounded creating alternate endings for Earhart’s expedition around the world—and it appears that one of those endings may be more frightening that the plane crash itself.

Crytptic New Species of Leopard Frog Found in New York City

Oct 30, 2014

For a field-based ecologist, the continental United States is pretty much a textbook of well-known organisms. The thrilling new species often making front-page news are more likely to found in the tropics or open-oceans, than in the plains of the Midwest or the large metropolis cities of the East and West coasts. With such well-defined niche habitats, the species in the United States aren’t too surprising to the experienced biologist, however, sometimes new life can be found where you’d least expect it. No, we’re not talking about the mutant turtles in the sewers of New York City, but it does appear the jam-packed hub may be home to another unique amphibian, colloquially known as the “Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog”.

The Past And Present of Biotechnology—What Designs Nature Will Inspire

Oct 29, 2014

“At its simplest, biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet.”

How Ancient Kangaroos Walked Off the Face of the Earth and Hopped into Future Generations

Oct 29, 2014

An island nation, entirely secluded from the spread of traditional species found worldwide, Australia is home to a unique form of mammals known for their maternal instincts, classified as “marsupials”. The term may encompass many species, however, when the notable pouches of marsupials are often thought of, the species most easily recognized is the jumping species of kangaroos. But new research published this week in the journal PLOS ONE reveals that kangaroo species may not have always had that famous skip in their step.

What’s the Worst Case Scenario? Hawaii’s Kilauea Lava Flow

Oct 29, 2014

As Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano threatens nearby towns with the destructive force of its lava flow, residents and analysts evaluate the potential casualties and worst case possibilities of this dangerous scenario. And with the lava flow reported to only be 70 yards away from the nearest home on Monday Oct. 27, researchers fear that the worst case scenario may have already begun.

US Fish & Wildlife Service Say African Lions May be Extinct by 2050

Oct 28, 2014

US Fish and Wildlife Service reports that African lions may soon cease to exist by 2050

Mammoth Fossil Trapped In Reservoir—Archaeologists Try to Unearth Rare Skeleton

Oct 28, 2014

Researchers from Idaho State University pray that a new discovery uncovered near American Falls Reservoir in their home state of Idaho may only be part of a whole, yet to be seen. Earlier this month, in the course of surveying an excavation site while working for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the university alongside avid fossil hunters uncovered a portion of a Columbian era mammoth skull complete with tusks. And the team believes the entire rare skeleton may also be buried in the reservoir.

Hawaiian Kilauea Volcano Lava Flow—Update (Oct. 28)

Oct 28, 2014

It’s been an encroaching threat months in the making, and as of Monday, local authorities on Hawaii’s Big Island report that the destructive lava flow they’ve been tracking in recent days is only 70 meters from the nearest residential property… and it’s likely to take its first home in a matter of hours.

Megalodon Sharks became extinct 2.6 million years ago

Oct 27, 2014

The blue whale currently holds the distinction of being the largest marine animal on earth. Its gargantuan size also makes it the biggest animal in the world. But did you know that whales pale in comparison to this marine predator that saw its existence more than 3 million years ago? In fact, whales are said to have been this predator's main dish--a logical conclusion given its hefty size, 7-inch teeth, and deadly, massive bite.

Sky-High Dig Reveals Ancient Paleoindian Workshop Site in Andes

Oct 27, 2014

In a sky-high archaeological dig, based near the peaks of the Peruvian Andes mountains, an international team of researchers unearthed the oldest-known evidence of human settlement high above sea level. In fact, the rock shelters and tool fragments found, date back roughly 12,000 years and lie 14,700 feet above coastal sea level at the base of the mountain range.

Another ‘Big’ Species Added to Endangered Species List? The Sasquatch Debate

Oct 26, 2014

While we ecologists like to often err on the side of caution when it comes to the preservation of species dwindling in the wild, this one has got to be one for the record books. We’ve heard of protecting mammals, marine species, and even those who choose to cross over state lines to inhabit new ecological niches. But what about protecting a “cryptide”? While most people are chalking it up to urban legends, one man from Chautauqua Lake, New York is making a plea to “Save Sasquatch”.

How the Milky Way Dominates the Stellar Block—Dwarf Galaxies, Get Out of the Way

Oct 19, 2014

It’s no big secret that humans tend to think of themselves as the center of the universe. It’s a flaw that has countlessly been proven wrong as science emerged and showed a different view of the world a around us. However, as it turns out, our galaxy may also be to blame for believing it too is the center of the universe.

New Research Started After Rare Beaked Whale Washed Ashore Near Sydney

Oct 16, 2014

When a whale washes ashore, researchers and government agencies are usually the first on scene to assess the causes of death. However, when a rare beaked whale washed ashore in Australia earlier this week, Tuesday Oct. 14, researchers were eager to get to the scene for an entirely different reason — the opportunity to learn something about a deep diving mammal we know so little about.