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A dead northern gannet (Morus bassanus) on a beach
Unprecedented Avian Flu Epidemic Could Presage Year-Round Outbreaks
Nearly 50 million birds have been culled amid efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, which continues to ravage the Northern Hemisphere.
Unprecedented Avian Flu Epidemic Could Presage Year-Round Outbreaks
Unprecedented Avian Flu Epidemic Could Presage Year-Round Outbreaks

Nearly 50 million birds have been culled amid efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, which continues to ravage the Northern Hemisphere.

Nearly 50 million birds have been culled amid efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, which continues to ravage the Northern Hemisphere.

migration

Close up of mastodon tusk
Science Snapshot: Mastodons on the Move
Lisa Winter | Jun 15, 2022 | 2 min read
These Pleistocene Epoch giants likely traveled great distances each year to reach breeding grounds.
Photo of a North American caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in Jasper National Park in Canada
Dozens of Genes Tied to Caribou’s Seasonal Migration
Maddie Bender | May 2, 2022 | 2 min read
Researchers tracked the movements of endangered caribou and sequenced a portion of their genomes to determine which genes may influence migratory behavior.
indoor chicken farm
Avian Flu Case Numbers Soar in Europe
Chloe Tenn | Jan 7, 2022 | 6 min read
The Scientist spoke with the UK’s chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, about this winter’s high bird flu prevalence, the effects of the disease, and efforts to combat it.
mummy
Scratchy Scalps Help Glue Together Pieces of an Ancient Past
Chloe Tenn | Dec 29, 2021 | 3 min read
Scientists find human DNA preserved in lice cement from the heads of South American mummies.
two quails
Chromosomal Rearrangement Linked to Less Mobile Quail
Chloe Tenn | Dec 7, 2021 | 5 min read
The Scientist interviews evolutionary biologist Carles Vilà about how a large genomic inversion detected in common quail affects the birds’ physical characteristics and migratory behaviors.
Cranes in flight
Why Migratory Birds Often Have Paler Wings Than Other Birds
Amanda Heidt | Dec 7, 2021 | 2 min read
A new study suggests that lighter colors may help these species stay cool on their long journeys, when birds are pushing themselves to their physiological limits.
Dongsha Atoll in the South China Sea
Ubiquitous Little Earthworms Might Have Got Around on Driftwood
Annie Melchor | Nov 1, 2021 | 5 min read
Researchers also tried placing the worms on pigeons as part of a study aiming to uncover how the tiny invertebrates ended up all around the world.
A European robin on a tree branch
New Study Fuels Debate About Source of Birds’ Magnetic Sense
Catherine Offord | Jun 23, 2021 | 7 min read
A detailed analysis of cryptochrome 4 shows that the protein is highly sensitive to magnetic fields in vitro, but some researchers dispute the authors’ assertion that the findings could help explain avian magnetoreception.
Ten Minute Sabbatical
Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon | Jun 1, 2021 | 4 min read
Take a break from the bench to puzzle and peruse.
Study Tracks Geographical Gene Flow and Ancestry in the US
Shawna Williams | Sep 1, 2020 | 4 min read
The analysis adds new details to the picture of migration and mixing in a diverse country.
Another Ancient Primate Lineage Sailed to South America
Lisa Winter | Apr 10, 2020 | 3 min read
A new fossil discovery indicates a second primate group also traversed the Atlantic millions of years ago on a raft of vegetation.
ixchel chan hol cenote cave skulls skeletons human remains ancient north american settlers mexico speleology
Skulls from the Yucatán Peninsula a Clue to Early American Settlers
Alejandra Manjarrez, PhD | Apr 7, 2020 | 8 min read
The crania of individuals who lived in the Yucatán Peninsula during the late Pleistocene show a high degree of anatomical diversity among them, and their skull shapes differ from that of other North American populations of the time.
Monarchs Covered 53 Percent Less Area in Mexico this Winter
Ashley Yeager | Mar 16, 2020 | 2 min read
The decline in total occupied forest may not equate to an overall loss in butterfly numbers, but scientists are still concerned that their populations are suffering.
Ancient Wheat Genome Reveals Clues to the Agricultural Past
Jef Akst | Mar 1, 2020 | 5 min read
A museum sample of a 3,000-year-old Egyptian crop plant yields genomic information that helps researchers track the plant’s domestication and migration.
Image of the Day: Flock in the Night
Amy Schleunes | Feb 19, 2020 | 1 min read
The National Weather Service’s radar in Key West captures a spectacular moment in bird migration.
Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Defender Found Dead
Ashley Yeager | Jan 30, 2020 | 2 min read
Details of Homero Gómez González’s death are not yet known.
migration genetics uk wealth inequality education
Opinion: The Nature of Social Inequalities in Great Britain
Abdel Abdellaoui and Judy Luigjes | Oct 21, 2019 | 3 min read
Regional differences in wealth in the UK are tied to genetic variants related to education—and migration is only widening the gap.
Image of the Day: Eel Compass
Emily Makowski | Oct 14, 2019 | 1 min read
Glass eels form a magnetic memory of their estuaries’ currents in order to migrate.
Ancient DNA Traces History of South Asians
Catherine Offord | Sep 6, 2019 | 2 min read
Modern-day populations in India descend from a mixture of peoples living thousands of years ago in South and Central Asia, including the Bronze-Age Indus Valley Civilization, two studies reveal.
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