Animals

Science

Scientists have quantified exactly how murderous your cat is

4:32pm December 12, 2023

Scientists have compiled an exhaustive list of all the species cats consume, and it includes more than 2000 birds, reptiles, mammals and insects — a sixth of which are of conservation concern.

An alligator in Florida was born with a rare mutation giving it white skin

6:56am December 11, 2023

Gatorland, an amusement park in Florida, announced the birth of an alligator with a rare genetic mutation.

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Ndileka Mandela, the eldest of Nelson Mandela's grandchildren, during her Zoom interview with NPR. A climate activist, she had spoken at COP28 earlier in the week, the climate summit, and returned home to Johannesburg to mark the 10th anniversary of her grandfather's passing.

Health & Safety

Ndelika Mandela on 'climate apartheid,' how to stay hopeful and her granddad's legacy

2:30pm December 08, 2023

by Ari Daniel

The eldest grandchild of Nelson Mandela had a busy week — speaking at the climate summit COP28 about the need to aid the Global South and throwing a party to mark the 10th anniversary of his passing.

A male Greater Honeyguide in Mozambique's Niassa Special Reserve.

This African bird will lead you to honey, if you call to it in just the right way

4:47pm December 07, 2023

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

The wild honeyguide responds to distinct calls from local honey foragers. Says one researcher: The bird basically seems to be saying, "Hey, I'm here and I know where there's some honey, so follow me."

Books
Arts

They're not cute and fuzzy — but this book makes the case for Florida's alligators

12:06pm December 07, 2023

by Gabino Iglesias

Rebecca Renner's Gator Country is an impeccably researched love letter to Florida's flora and fauna. She argues that alligators deserve the same respect and protection as any other animal in danger.

Dog with gingivitis terrorizes a village in southern Italy

6:58am December 07, 2023

There was a string of tire slashings in Vastogirardi. After setting up cameras, police found the culprit. A dog named Billy had gingivitis, and vets believe he was biting the tires to relieve pain.

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Dolphins seem to be able to sense electric fields in the water

5:58pm December 04, 2023

Dolly and Donna, two dolphins at the Nuremberg Zoo in Germany, appear to be able to sense electric fields — an ability that might help them detect prey buried in sand or enhance their navigation.

Science

The unsung heroes fighting against climate change? Fish in the 'twilight zone'

8:04am December 03, 2023

by Ayesha Rascoe

Fish are responsible for capturing billions of tons of carbon dioxide each year. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Ken Buesseler of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute about how they do it.

Tens of thousands of vehicles pass through the Colorado Rockies a day on busy thoroughfares like Interstate 70.

Wolves are returning to Colorado. But is it too crowded for them to thrive?

11:21am December 02, 2023

by Kirk Siegler

Colorado's booming urban population flipped the state from red to blue, allowing a referendum on reintroducing wolves to pass. But that growing population now may be too big for them to thrive.

Many dog owners are worried about reports of a mysterious respiratory illness affecting dogs.

Health & Safety

Veterinarians say fears about 'mystery' dog illness may be overblown. Here's why

8:23am December 01, 2023

by Will Stone

Reports of an "outbreak" of some as yet unidentified canine respiratory illness are scaring dog owners. But veterinarians and researchers aren't panicking.

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