Month: May 2006
Pulse of the Planet Daily Audio
Redback Spiders-Sexual Cannibalism
For the female Redback spider, the key to successful mating is simple: find a male spider, mate, and then eat him!
May 30, 2006Song of the Dong
The Dong people, one of about 50 minority groups in China, have long used song as a means of recounting and preserving their history.
May 29, 2006Sounds of the Sun – Inside
Scientists are using sound to answer one of mankind’s oldest questions – what might be taking place inside the sun?
May 26, 2006Sounds of the Sun
The sun is in constant turbulent motion, like the contents of a fiery cauldron, causing it to ring like an enormous bell.
May 25, 2006Egg Hatchery: Mail Order Chickens
The biology of the chicken makes it possible for newly hatched chicks to be sent through the mail.
May 24, 2006Storks – Legend
The white stork is a revered creature in Hungary, a central figure in fable and folklore.
May 23, 2006Storks – Voices
Baby storks have a cry remarkably like human babies, but adult storks clatter their bills instead of calling.
May 22, 2006Storks – Homing
Pairs of white storks amaze Hungarians by returning year after year to nest in the exact same spot.
May 19, 2006Hummingbirds – Brain Structure
The brain structure of hummingbirds has given researchers something to think about.
May 18, 2006Hummingbirds – Brain Size Doesn’t Matter
Understanding the cerebral activity of hummingbirds may lead researchers to resolve human language disorders.
May 17, 2006Hummingbirds – Imitative Songs
Hummingbirds are tiny virtuosos of the animal kingdom.
May 16, 2006Dark Skies – Asteroid Defense
Astronomers are scouring the skies for rogue asteroids headed our way. They say the job is made more difficult by light pollution.
May 15, 2006Dark Skies – Turn Out the Lights
Astronomers battling light pollution are working with local governments to reduce the amount of stray light emitted from houses, parking lots, and street lights.
May 12, 2006Termites: It’s All in the DNA
Scientists are hoping to find a shortcut to hydrogen power- by studying the microbes found in a termite’s gut.
May 11, 2006Sibley – Warblers
The “Holy Grail” of bird watching is finding and identifying warblers, and the best month to go on this quest is May.
May 10, 2006Sibley – Drawing Birds
An accomplished avian artist continually refines his craft.
May 9, 2006Butter – Spreading the Word on Pollution
Scientists are turning to a new source of data for studying chemical pollution – butter.
May 8, 2006To Soar – It’s a UAV
Unmanned Air Vehicles are being used for everything from weather monitoring to reconnaissance in Iraq. The next stop may be Mars.
May 5, 2006Sibley – Like An Oasis
Like the inhabitants of New York City, migrating birds find Central Park an oasis amidst the metropolitan landscape.
May 4, 2006Sibley – Language of the Birds
Correctly identifying bird sounds is similar to learning a second language.
May 3, 2006Sibley – Birdwatching 101
As any expert would tell you, the first step to bird watching, is well, finding the birds. Here are some tips.
May 2, 2006Narwhal Tusks – Legends
With its long tusk-like tooth and mottled coloration, the Narwhal has intrigued sailors and royalty alike and may have been the inspiration for the Unicorn.
May 1, 2006Narwhal Tusks – Big Tooth
A fifteen-foot whale with an 8 foot-long tusk may sound like another fish story, but it’s not!