Cave-Dwelling Arachnids — Two New Species Found In Brazil

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Image Credit: Santos AJ, Ferreira RL, Buzatto BA (2013)

Researchers recently discovered two new species of cave-dwelling arachnids in northeastern Brazil — Rowlandius ubajara and Rowlandius potiguara. The arachnids are both a type of short-tailed whipscorpion. The arachnids are a reddish-brown color, and were discovered inhabiting the cool, humid limestone caves present in the otherwise arid northeastern Brazil region. They were both discovered deep inside of these limestone caves. The Arachnids likely prey on the small insects that live in the cave feeding on … Read More

Very Rare Leopards Caught On Camera

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Image Credit: CFIR

Critically endangered Javan leopards have been caught on digital camera traps in West Java. If you have been following conservation news, you know that the Formosan Cloud Leopard was recently declared extinct. They were driven into extinction by human activities. So it is very important that the Javan leopards be protected or they may suffer the same fate. (Javan leopard caught on camera trap from CIFOR stock footage library on Vimeo.) Thirty cameras were placed … Read More

Top Ten New Species Of 2013 — A ‘Musical’ Sponge, World’s Smallest Vertebrate, A ‘Paleolithic’ Fungus, A ‘Trifecta’ Find, & More!

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Lightning raoch - Lucihormetica luckae

The list is here!… Yes, the annual list of ‘Top Ten’ New Species has been announced. Organized annually by the Institute for International Species Exploration (IISE) at the University of Arizona, an international committee of experts reviewed animal, vegetable and microbial species culled from 140 top nominations out of a total candidate pool of 18,000 species — all discovered (and properly named according to taxonomic rules) in the previous calendar year (2012). Top Species Selections … Read More

Current Approach Of Fishery Industry Is Extremely Risky, Research Finds — May Lead To Collapse

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Image Credit: University of York

Overfishing has had an incredible effect on the quantity and diversity of fish present in the oceans of the world, along with greatly reducing biodiversity. Because of this decline in fish numbers, and a number of complete fishery collapses, the industry is becoming increasingly dependent upon only a handful of shellfish species. And now, new research from the University of York has detailed the extreme risks of such a situation/approach. The research has found “that … Read More

Crazy Ants Are Displacing Fire Ants — Invading Texas And The South (VIDEO)

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Image Credit: Joe MacGown, Mississippi Entomological Museum

Crazy ants are currently invading Texas and the southeastern United States, displacing and eliminating the fire ants throughout those areas, according to new research from The University of Texas at Austin. This is of course not a surprise for many of those throughout those regions who have had experiences with those ants. This is just the most recent of the recurrent ant invasions that have been happening since large-scale human movement between North and South … Read More

3D-Printed Pizza In Space! NASA Funds ‘Food Replicator’ For Space Station [VIDEO]

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tessting foord replicator in micro gravity

Regular readers of PS are aware that we have covered many news items of late involving the remarkably versatile technology known as 3D printing/rapid prototyping in which 3D computer design software, laser printing and materials science combine to create real (3 dimensional) objects or materials. This tech has been used to “print” various useful items: solar energy cells, new pharmaceutical compounds (anti-cancer drugs) and even human embryonic stem cells (for organ/tissue replacement therapy). More recently, … Read More

Must Watch Bill Maher Clip — Global Warming Denial Is Biggest Scandal Of Century

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Must Watch Bill Maher Clip — Global Warming Denial Is Biggest Scandal Of Century

Below is a must-watch Bill Maher clip. So many great points and jokes are included in it, but the grand finale is on the topic of global warming denial, the biggest scandal of the last century. Depending on how far it goes, it could actually be the biggest scandal of human history, since its effects could cause the greatest human disaster, death, and chaos… humans have ever seen. h/t to Peter Sinclair Here are some … Read More

Dance Of The Planets 2013 — Venus, Jupiter, And Mercury Dance May 24 – 30

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Image Credit: Nathan August © ; After Sunset via Flickr CC

The Dance of the Planets will be occurring from — roughly — May 24 through May 30. The “dance of the planets” is the name used for the event where Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury, all appear to be right next to each other in the evening sky, and over a period of time appear to rotate and change positions with each other. The show is expected to be a good one this year, so I … Read More

Captive Dolphins Banned In India

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Image Credit: Public Domain

India has released a statement rejecting captive dolphin shows due to damage dolphins sustain when kept in confined spaces. ‘Confinement in captivity can seriously compromise the welfare and survival of all types of cetaceans by altering their behaviour and causing extreme distress,” said B.S. Bonal, the member secretary of the Central Zoo Authority of India. (Source:ENS) Dolphins are some of the most admired animals in the world due to their intelligence and playfulness. However, one … Read More

Top Five Small Wind Turbines (In Sales)

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UGE

Small wind turbines are a perennial point of contention. According to wind energy expert Paul Gipe, they often don’t live up to their hype. However, in very high-wind and off-grid situations, they may sometimes be useful. You really just have to do the best you can to evaluate your unique situation. Check out this guest post below for a look at the small wind turbines that lead the market. It seems not a month goes … Read More