Month: Feb 2019

Dracula ant snaps up world record

When you think of fast animals, cheetahs and falcons are probably at the top of your list. However, an animal speed record has just been won by an unusual candidate – the dracula ant. Scientists from the United States have discovered that when these ants snap their jaws, it’s the fastest movement made by any … Continue reading Dracula ant snaps up world record →

Human history preserved in whale earwax

Scientists are measuring stress in whales – using the animal's earwax. The research is uncovering how recent human history has affected whales. Whale earwax has light and dark bands, with one of each made every year. The bands are caused by the different conditions the whales experience on their annual migrations (travel). This means that … Continue reading Human history preserved in whale earwax →

Spiders use electricity to fly

If you’ve read or watched Charlotte’s Web, you might remember the scene where hundreds of baby spiders fly away from the farm on their webs. This technique, used by many spiders, caterpillars and mites, is called ballooning. You might expect that the spiders use the wind to balloon, like flying a kite. However, Dr Erica … Continue reading Spiders use electricity to fly →

Birds’ eyes work as a compass

Migrating birds 'see' magnetic fields... and scientists now think they know how. Many birds, such as robins, travel thousands of kilometres during spring and autumn. For years, scientists have thought that they use Earth's magnetic field to navigate, like having an inbuilt compass, but they weren't sure how it worked. Researchers from Germany and Denmark … Continue reading Birds’ eyes work as a compass →