Knowledge from This Wild Life

This Wild Life strives to bring you new and insightful information regarding pets, nature, science and more.  Explore the categories on the right to learn more.

News Around the Web 8/22/10 - 8/28/10

Image: Karen Shaw

Is Your Shrimp Glowing?
Shrimp purchased in Oregon have been reported to be glow-in-the-dark.  Apparently, this phenomenon is due to marine bacteria that can grow in cold temperatures and especially on seafood that was processed with salt.  Read the story in The Oregonian.

In Pictures:  Nature’s Ugliest Animals
Forget regal lions or majestic eagles- these are the not-so-cute and cuddly wild things.  Turns out, even scientists are more inclined to study aesthetically pleasing animals.  Learn about why, and how, we form these prejudices, and see some of the least adorable critters on the planet here.

Frog Skin vs. Germs
Scientists have been developing a weapon to combat antibiotic-resistant germs for years now, but a recent breakthrough shows that the key might lay in an unusual natural source:  secretions from frog skins.  Get the full story here.

News Around the Web 8/15/10 - 8/21/10

Image: Luigi Diamanti

Breeding Changes Canine Brains
Human-controlled breeding of dogs is slowly impacting the position of the canine brain. Dogs’ sense of smell can be completely different from another’s simply due to brain position. Researchers wonder now, how new brain positions will affect dog behavior.  Get the full scoop at Science Daily.

After the Spill:  Habitat Restoration
While there aren’t as many reports and images of the toll of the recent oil spill disaster in comparison to the Exxon-Valdez disaster, birds are still suffering. Despite the clean-up efforts, birds were still largely affected regarding the recent oil spill disaster. The Audubon society’s annual Christmas bird count will hopefully provide a more accurate account of the damage. Read about it here.

Calculate Your Water Footprint
Check out this quick quiz to determine your water usage- and get tips on how to cut it down another 20%.

News Around the Web 8/8/10 - 8/14/10

Rehab for Oiled Birds
What happens to birds caught up in the Guf oil spill- and is it enough to simply clean and release them?  Delve into the issue here.

Insects Sense Danger on Mammals’ Breath
Some plant-dwelling insects can sense and escape from danger (in the form of a hungry herbivore) by detecting the changes in temperature and humidity that a mammal’s breath produces.  More than any other indicator such as branch or leaf shaking or shadows, these insects overwhelmingly responded to mammalian breath.  Read the story here.

Video: Cheetah Cologne?
Apparently the big cats at the Bronx Zoo have a new, er, obsession- they’re strongly drawn to the scent of Calvin Klein’s Obsession for Men.  Check out the short video below on the phenomenon.