New fossil brings us a step closer to unravelling the mystery of feather evolution

Understanding more about feathers could change the way we think about dinosaurs.

Maria McNamara, Professor, Palaeobiology, University College Cork • conversation
May 21, 2024 ~7 min

How newborn chicks are helping to settle a centuries-old debate about cognition and our senses

Philosophers have been debating whether we need conditioning to link information from different senses for centuries.

Elisabetta Versace, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Queen Mary University of London • conversation
May 17, 2024 ~7 min


The joy of birdwatching: research shows it can improve mental health and foster a sense of wellbeing

Twitching can help promote feelings of positivity, improve mood and foster an affinity with nature

Jolanta Burke, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Positive Health Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences • conversation
May 17, 2024 ~6 min

Why so many animals have a third eyelid, including our pets – yet humans don’t

It’s a question of evolution and adaptation.

Dan Baumgardt, Senior Lecturer, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol • conversation
May 16, 2024 ~7 min

Swifts delayed by cold and wet springs face mounting problems as the climate changes

These birds are a harbinger of summer – but their arrival, and the seasons, are no longer predictable.

Alexander C. Lees, Reader, Manchester Metropolitan University • conversation
May 9, 2024 ~5 min

Why parrotlets adopt (or kill) their rivals’ babies

Competition over love and real estate drive two extreme behaviors of green-rumped parrotlets: adopting or killing their rivals' babies.

Kara Manke-UC Berkeley • futurity
May 7, 2024 ~7 min

Birdwatching may boost student well-being and lower stress

Birdwatching can lower stress and improve well-being for college students, even more than other nature-based activities like walks.

NC State • futurity
May 6, 2024 ~5 min

How bird flu virus fragments get into milk sold in stores, and what the spread of H5N1 in cows means for the dairy industry and milk drinkers

Five livestock experts who study infectious diseases in the dairy industry explain the risks.

Todd Cornish, Professor of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis • conversation
April 25, 2024 ~9 min


‘Mock flock’ clarifies how birds fly in formation

Previously unknown aerodynamic interactions shed light on how birds fly in such a coordinated and seemingly effortless fashion.

James Devitt-NYU • futurity
April 25, 2024 ~6 min

Wild turkey numbers are falling in some parts of the US – the main reason may be habitat loss

Wild turkeys were overhunted across the US through the early 1900s, but made a strong comeback. Now, though, numbers are declining again. Two ecologists parse the evidence and offer an explanation.

William Gulsby, Associate Professor of Wildlife Management, Auburn University • conversation
April 19, 2024 ~10 min

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