AI to translate cat faces.
Nature: Scientific Reports wants you to know why your cat is making faces at you. They’ve published a study that uses artificial intelligence to decipher “CatFACS codings”… Read the rest “AI to translate cat faces.”
zoology
Science Art: Cystoidea, by Ernst Haeckel
This is one of the plates from the 100 illustrations in Kunst-Formen der Natur, or “Art Forms in Nature,” by Ernst Haeckel, a scientist – or philosopher of science –… Read the rest “Science Art: Cystoidea, by Ernst Haeckel”
Science Art: Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon Boie), 1898
The word “halcyon,” meaning “calm, idyllic, happy times” came from the Greek name for these little guys, who were said to bring, well, halcyon days. I suppose… Read the rest “Science Art: Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon Boie), 1898”
There are amphibious mice in the Amazon.
Reuters reveals the discovery of 27 new species in the Peruvian Amazon, including a strange species of amphibious mice:
… Read the rest “There are amphibious mice in the Amazon.”Scientists also discovered a spiny mouse, a squirrel, eight types
SONG: Two Wolves Inside Us
SONG: “Two Wolves Inside Us” . (OGG version here.)
ARTIST: grant.
SOURCE: Based on Ecology, 14 Nov 2024, “Canids as pollinators? Nectar foraging by Ethiopian wolves… Read the rest “SONG: Two Wolves Inside Us”
Personalities count… for wolves.
Sentient Science reports on an unexpected flaw that might interfere with human attempts to reintroduce wolves into the wilds of Colorado. The problem isn’t the biology or ecology… Read the rest “Personalities count… for wolves.”
The birds, the bees, the… wolves?
The journal Ecology has some unusual research about wild pollinators. They’ve found that famous species like honeybees and hummingbirds who spread pollen by daintily zipping … Read the rest “The birds, the bees, the… wolves?”
Science Art: Kleiner Wasserbär, 1773
This is what German pastor Johann August Ephraim Goeze dubbed a “tiny water-bear” when he first spotted it among the animacules in the droplets of stagnant water under his … Read the rest “Science Art: Kleiner Wasserbär, 1773”
Science Art: Parasites: a parasitical worm, shown much enlarged, with its hosts, by J. Svoboda after L.W. Sambon.
I’m not sure what to make of this, other than that it’s a worm that somehow feeds on or otherwise inconveniences tigers and monkeys. So I suppose it’s a tropical or subtropical… Read the rest “Science Art: Parasites: a parasitical worm, shown much enlarged, with its hosts, by J. Svoboda after L.W. Sambon.”
Look into a dog’s eyes and your brains can synchronize.
Science Alert explains the allure of the puppy-dog eyes with Chinese research demonstrating brainwaves suddenly syncing up between humans and dogs when they look into each other’s… Read the rest “Look into a dog’s eyes and your brains can synchronize.”
Cats will play fetch too.
The Conversation extends the dog-owner’s friendly game of fetch to feline friends who, researchers have found, can also enjoy bringing back toys that are thrown for them to retrieve… Read the rest “Cats will play fetch too.”
Science Art: Herring Gull 4, by Robert Pos, 2008.
Here’s Larus argentatus, one of those wild animals that barely seems wild because it interacts with people so much. Simple line art captures a wild creature in motion, above a shoreline… Read the rest “Science Art: Herring Gull 4, by Robert Pos, 2008.”
Science Art: Collection of various birds from A History of the Earth and Animated Nature, 1820.
This is an educational poster, retouched by Wikimedia Commons user Rawpixel, of birds. It’s taken from Oliver Goldsmith’s book A History of the Earth and Animated Nature… Read the rest “Science Art: Collection of various birds from A History of the Earth and Animated Nature, 1820.”
A brand new tiny deer.
Awww. Sci News has reported on the historic discovery of a new deer species in Peru. The short-legged dwarf deer Pudella carlae is the first deer discovered in the 21st century, and the first… Read the rest “A brand new tiny deer.”
Science Art: Whelp of the Northern Panther (Felix concolor), 1842.
That is a kitten. A panther kitten. Offspring of the catamount. Doesn’t look all that happy to have its picture engraved.
On a digital device, there’s no telling how large this… Read the rest “Science Art: Whelp of the Northern Panther (Felix concolor), 1842.”