Biology

Why The U.S. Government Is Purchasing Water Guns

America is fighting a war against a formidable foe. After years of looking for a weapon to achieve victory, researchers have decided to repel the invaders with powerful water guns. Photo by Chris Reid The enemies in our crosshairs? Invasive species of carp that are consuming algae at an alarming rate. Silver carp and bighead…

io9 Mark Strauss

Cholesterol Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means

Many new studies are complicating our understanding of the role cholesterol plays in heart disease. And last month, a group of researchers published the results of a study showing that what you thought you knew about “bad” cholesterol is probably wrong — or at least far too simplistic. Over at KQED, Liza Gross has the…

io9 Annalee Newitz

You Have a Painkiller Six Times Stronger Than Morphine In Your Saliva

Right now, you are walking around with a mouth full of extremely powerful, untested pharmaceuticals. Your saliva contains opiorphin, a painkiller that’s about six times more powerful than morphine. After so many decades spent prodding lab rats, one would think that there is nothing more to be discovered about the horrid little things, or how…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

These Maps Predict Where Animals of the Future Will Make Their Homes

As our climate changes, so too do the species that thrive, fail, or migrate in an area. A new modeling tool takes what we know about our changing climate and the habits of animals, and gives us a look at just how much climate change could alter the animals in our midst. Top image: Map:…

io9 Ria Misra

Man With Giant Claw Rescues Bear With Milk Can On Its Head

While this Wisconsin lumberjack’s decision to assist the bear with the claw of a timber forwarder, rather than a call to the state’s Department of Natural Resources, was probably ill-advised, it appears the procedure went off without a hitch. In other news: I know people always say it, but, good grief, bears are fast. [Vern…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

‘Vampire’ Squirrel Has World’s Poofiest Tail, Reputed Taste For Blood

Researchers recently determined that tufted ground squirrel, Rheithrosciurus macrotis, a rarely seen inhabitant of the forests of Borneo, has the bushiest tail, relative to its body, of any mammal on Earth. It is also, according to Bornean lore, a bloodthirsty killer. Above, from left to right: Camera trap photos of Rheithrosciurus macrotis in Sarawak, Malaysia…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

Are Cities Evolving Into Hive Organisms?

Today, more than half of the human population lives in hive-like warrens called cities. Does this mean we are on the tipping point of becoming colony animals the way bees and ants did? It’s not entirely impossible. We talked to scientists to find out whether urban humans are evolving into superorganisms. Illustration of hive world…

io9 Annalee Newitz

The Science Of How Eyes Glow In The Dark

When we see animals’ eyes in photos, nature films, flashlight beams, and headlights we see them shining back at us — but human eyes only glow bright red in photos. What causes the shine? What causes the color? The glow of red human eyes is a little like the glow of the moon. It’s the…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

Did You Know Kangaroos Have 5 Limbs?

Kangaroos are famous for their hopping, but a slow-moving roo relies more on its tail to get around than either of its feet. The result is a what biologists call a five-limbed, i.e. “pentapedal,” gait. Yes, you read that correctly. The kangaroo is a pentaped – perhaps the only one on Earth. Researchers led by…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

Why Are These Wasps Stockpiling Ant Corpses in Their Nests?

A group of researchers made a macabre discovery when they discovered a new species of wasp in China’s Gutianshan National Nature Reserve. These wasps lay their eggs in nests that are stuffed with the corpses of freshly-killed ants. As if wasps weren’t creepy enough. The new species is a type of spider wasp, described this…

io9 Annalee Newitz

How to Keep Your Dog Happy When Fireworks Go Off—Using Science!

This weekend, most of us in the United States will seek out a beautiful, glittery fireworks display to celebrate July 4. But while we’re blowing things up, many of our nation’s dogs will be flipping out. After all, “bombs bursting in air” can sound downright terrifying.

io9 Annalee Newitz

This is why you are still alive: How the immune system works

Why are we still alive when our bodies are constantly under attack from bacteria, viruses and more? As this video explains, it is because we have a coordinated army of cells fighting for our cause—and this is thanks to our immune systems. SPLOID is a new blog about awesome stuff. Join us on Facebook

Sploid James Baker

How We Deliberately Used Radiation to Eradicate a Species

Fortunately, they’re not a very pleasant species. Screw worms enjoy laying eggs in the mucus membranes of mammals, and telling their friends to do the same. A little applied radiation really helped. Perhaps. Above, a screw worm fly larvae under an electron microscope. The Unpleasant Habits of Infant Screw Worms It was in the 1950s…

io9 Esther Inglis-Arkell

Spiders Are Adorable And You Know It

Here for spreading far and wide is entomologist-cum-photographer Alex Wild‘s answer to all those arachnophobic “nopenopenopenopenope” spider memes. Because let’s face it, spiders can be pretty adorable (even when you least expect them to be). https://gizmodo.com/dear-science-please-please-name-this-dancing-spider-a-5942321 https://gizmodo.com/holy-crap-this-molting-tarantula-video-is-completely-b-1548190386 [Alex Wild]

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

I Am So Tempted to Say that These European Crows Are Racists

In Europe, there are two groups of crows who are almost identical — except for for thing. Carrion crows are all black, while hooded crows have patches of gray. Each group prefers to mate with their own color. It sounds like what humans would call racism, but instead it’s a lesson in the limits of…

io9 Annalee Newitz

Do Bees Have Hair?

After checking out these amazing photographs of the super-magnified (and rather gorgeous) faces of bees, a question arose: Do bees have hair? https://gizmodo.com/close-up-bee-portraits-are-a-glimpse-into-a-gorgeously-1593799030 So they do? Well, sort of, as commenter and current entomology PhD student Lucy Cooper explains Sort of; they’re special epidermal cells called setae; basically extensions of the cuticle. Setae can have…

io9 Ria Misra

Man Discovers Owl In His House, Becomes Owl Whisperer

What would you do if an owl found its way into your house? Would you panic and lose your composure, or would you steady your nerves, rise to the occasion, and attempt a daring rescue? Colin Wright did both these things, in that order. Blessedly, he recorded his encounter and uploaded the footage to YouTube.…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

Why Humans Can’t Re-Grow Limbs (Yet)

Starfish can re-grow arms; lizards can sprout fresh legs; and hell, flatworms can essentially rematerialize from barely nothing. So why can’t humans do the same? Well, we can regenerate a little—wounds heal, after all—but we lack a fundamental ability to do anything more than repair small quantities of damage. In this video, SciShow explains what…

Tech News Jamie Condliffe

Migaloo, The All-White Humpback, Makes A Rare Appearance

Migaloo, one of the only white humpback whales in the world who isn’t albino, has been spotted for the first time this year off the coast of Australia. According to The Telegraph, Migaloo was photographed with a camera phone Tuesday morning off Green Cape in New South Wales. Oskar Peterson, founder of the White Whale…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

A South Korean Delicacy That Tastes Like A Urinal, Causes Mouth-Peeling

Fermented skate is one of the most popular foods in South Korea, as well as one of the stinkiest. The dish, called “hongeo,” is described even by its fans as smelling distinctly of outhouse. Joe McPherson, American founder of the Korean food blog ZenKimchi, has compared its consumption to “licking a urinal.” Photo credit: eggnara…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez

Why The U.S. Government Is Purchasing Water Guns

Cholesterol Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means

You Have a Painkiller Six Times Stronger Than Morphine In Your Saliva

These Maps Predict Where Animals of the Future Will Make Their Homes

Man With Giant Claw Rescues Bear With Milk Can On Its Head

‘Vampire’ Squirrel Has World’s Poofiest Tail, Reputed Taste For Blood

Are Cities Evolving Into Hive Organisms?

The Science Of How Eyes Glow In The Dark

Did You Know Kangaroos Have 5 Limbs?

Why Are These Wasps Stockpiling Ant Corpses in Their Nests?

How to Keep Your Dog Happy When Fireworks Go Off—Using Science!

This is why you are still alive: How the immune system works

How We Deliberately Used Radiation to Eradicate a Species

Spiders Are Adorable And You Know It

I Am So Tempted to Say that These European Crows Are Racists

Do Bees Have Hair?

Man Discovers Owl In His House, Becomes Owl Whisperer

Why Humans Can’t Re-Grow Limbs (Yet)

Migaloo, The All-White Humpback, Makes A Rare Appearance

A South Korean Delicacy That Tastes Like A Urinal, Causes Mouth-Peeling

Meta’s Two New Smart Glasses Are Slimmer and More Like Regular Glasses

JBL Boombox 3 Speaker at 40% Off Is Now Even Cheaper Than Renewed Units on Amazon

Elizabeth Olsen Promises She Knows Nothing About Her Marvel Future

NASA Rover Finds Glowing, Ruby-Like Crystals on Mars for the First Time

Anker Prime Docking Station Hits Its Lowest Price as Amazon’s Spring Sale Winds Down (14 Ports With 160W Output)

Google TV Streamer 4K Drops to an All-Time Low, Final Hours in Amazon Spring Sale to Turn Any TV Smart on a Budget

The New ‘Masters of the Universe’ Trailer Brings Eternia to Life

AirPods Max 2 Review: Still Ridiculously Expensive and Ridiculously Nice

DJI Osmo 360 Review: The Best 360 Camera for the DJI-Pilled

Aqara Smart Lock U400 Review: Hands-free Unlocking at Its Best

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Review: A Solid 2-in-1 Laptop With Some Glaring Flaws

Sonos Play Review: Call It a Comeback

Sonos Era 100 SL Review: The Cheapest Way Into Wired Sonos Sound

Asus ROG’s Massive Swift OLED Gaming Monitor Epitomizes Excess in the Best Way

The Ikea Varmblixt Smart Lamp Fills a Donut Hole in My Life

Nothing Headphone A vs. Headphone 1: Which Pair of ANC Wireless Headphones Wins?

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