By Marlene Cimons Kristina Stinson never had an allergic reaction to ragweed until after she started working with it. “I think the repeated exposure to the pollen is what did it,” she said. It also didn’t help that her community is chock-full of it. “There is plenty of ragweed in my neighborhood,” she said. “In…
Here’s one mystery that has come full circle: Scientists have figured out the meaning behind ocean “fairy rings.” In 2008 a tourist photographed some bizarre circles on the seafloor in shallow waters of the Baltic Ocean off the chalky cliffs of Møn, Denmark. The images piqued public interest, with people offering intriguing guesses that included World War…
With chilly weather on the way, most of us are pulling our fuzzy coats out of the back of the closet. A new species of daisy already has itself covered—and what a cool-looking coat. Researchers found Coespeletia palustris during an expedition high in the páramo ecosystem of the Venezuelan Andes—at elevations above 12,450 feet (3,800 meters)—where most species of…
By Ker Than- A species of tiny bat seems to be using rolled-up leaves like trumpets to amplify calls, a new study says. A few years ago, biologists Gloriana Chaverri and Erin Gillam were in Costa Rica studying Spix’s disk-winged bat, a species that is known to escape predators and harsh weather by roosting inside the folded leaves of…
By Ker Than- A species of tiny bat seems to be using rolled-up leaves like trumpets to amplify calls, a new study says. A few years ago, biologists Gloriana Chaverri and Erin Gillam were in Costa Rica studying Spix’s disk-winged bat, a species that is known to escape predators and harsh weather by roosting inside the folded leaves of…
By Kate Horowitz At the first whiff of a mountain lion, a mouse might scamper away, a rabbit might freeze, and a stray dog might prepare for a fight. These instinctive responses, so crucial to survival, are surprisingly common: New research shows that even plants can benefit from “eavesdropping” on chemical cues from their attackers….
Every week, embark with host Boyd Matson on an exploration of the latest discoveries and interviews with some of the most fascinating people on the planet, on National Geographic Weekend. Please check listings near you to find the best way to listen to National Geographic Weekend on radio, or listen below! HOUR 1 Television personalty and director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo &…