Scientists have reported a surprising sight in the Democratic Republic of Congo - thousands of tiny fish climbing UP a tall waterfall. The fish use special fins to climb the rock wall behind the waterfall. The scientists say knowing about the unusual activity may be important for protecting the fish.
Posts tagged as “scientists”
Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have discovered that rice seeds that "hear" the sound of raindrops seem to sprout faster than those that do not. The study is the first to suggest that seeds can sense sound, and use the information to help them "decide" when to sprout.
Scientists have found a recording of a whale song made in 1949. It may be the earliest recording of a whale song ever made. The discovery is important because it provides a record of how sounds in the ocean have changed over the last 75 years.
Regent honeyeaters are beautiful black and yellow birds found in southeastern Australia. There used to be huge flocks of them, but now they're in danger of dying out. But scientists may have found a way to help the birds survive – by getting older birds to teach younger birds how to sing.
For over 100 years, scientists have wondered how cats manage to land on their feet when they fall. Some questions about how cats do this have been solved. But many mysteries remain. Now, researchers in Japan have shown that part of the secret may have to do with the way a cat's spine is built.
Raccoons are known for being clever. They have a long history of getting into containers that humans want to keep them out of. Now, scientists have shown that It's not just the food that drives the raccoons. They seem to enjoy solving puzzles, even when they aren't getting food as a reward.
For the first time in roughly 150 years, giant tortoises have begun roaming Floreana Island in the Galapagos Islands again. The tortoises were released last Friday. It's a big step in restoring the island's natural environment, and is part of a larger project to return several other animals to the island.
Scientists have reported the first known case of a cow using a tool. Veronika, a pet cow in Austria, was studied as she used a broom to scratch different parts of her body. The study suggests that cows may be a lot smarter than many people believe.
Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have developed some of the world's smallest robots. The tiny, light-powered robots are smaller than a grain of salt. But they have a built-in computer and can control their own movements as they swim through water.
Gladys West, whose work helped lead to the creation of GPS, has died at age 95. Ms. West, a Black mathematician and computer programmer, grew up working on a farm in Virginia. Her efforts for the US Navy helped make GPS possible. But until recent years, very few people knew of her work.
Scientists have long known that some dogs can learn the names of lots of toys. Now, a recent study shows that these dogs can even learn the names of new toys just by listening in while people talk about the toys. This is a skill that young children have, but dogs usually don't.