Our Creature Feature series investigates the characteristics, behaviors, threats and just plain oddities of animals around the world.
ENVIRONMENT Large and small, beautiful and bizarre, researchers have released the top ten new species for 2018. (CNN) What were the top ten two years ago? Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas Amphipod Epimeria quasimodo, a tiny crustacean, is abundant in the frigid waters of the ocean surrounding Antarctica. What are amphipods? In what other … Continue reading Top 10 New Species!
SCIENCE If the famous cryptid exists, this eDNA hunt ought to find evidence—but if not, scientists will still gain valuable ecological data. (National Geographic) What is the Loch Ness Monster? What is eDNA? Use our resources to find out. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit, including today’s MapMaker Interactive map. Discussion Ideas A new genetic study aims … Continue reading Scientists Sift for DNA … of the Loch Ness Monster
SCIENCE Red tides and bright blue waves make SoCal glow. (San Jose Mercury News) What is bioluminescence? Use our great resource as a go-to reference. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas Why are waves turning electric blue when crashing into California beaches? Miles of Southern California beaches are experiencing a “red tide”—a rapid, dense accumulation … Continue reading Bioluminescent Beasties Light Up California Beaches
ENVIRONMENT Good news! Black rhinos have returned to Chad for the first time in 46 years. (Independent) Use our resources to learn more about black rhinos. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas Six rhinoceroses were recently airlifted to Zakouma National Park, Chad, from a conservation facility in South Africa. But wait … we thought there … Continue reading Return of the Rhino
SCIENCE Technology developed to study earthquakes could help conservationists monitor elephant populations from afar. (Pacific Standard) Learn more about how elephants communicate with our great video resource. (Cue up to about 1:36.) Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit. Discussion Ideas The Pacific Standard article identifies two ways elephants communicate using vocalization: sound and infrasound. What is sound? … Continue reading Earthquake-Monitoring Tech May Help Save Elephants
