New Scientist - Life https://www.newscientist.com/ https://www.newscientist.com/build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png https://www.newscientist.com daily 1 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2406661-locusts-spun-in-a-centrifuge-develop-extra-strong-exoskeletons/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 06 Dec 2023 00:01:24 +0000 Spinning locusts in a centrifuge to mimic hypergravity seems to cause their exoskeletons to adapt, giving them stiffer legs – but too much gravity and they simply died 2406661-locusts-spun-in-a-centrifuge-develop-extra-strong-exoskeletons|2406661 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23631571-800-inside-the-secret-chocolate-garden-built-to-avert-a-cocoa-crisis/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 19 Dec 2017 18:00:00 +0000 Pests and disease threaten our supply of cocoa beans, but in a field outside London biologists are working to prevent a chocolate meltdown. We paid a visit mg23631571-800-inside-the-secret-chocolate-garden-built-to-avert-a-cocoa-crisis|2156571 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2406351-pregnant-megamouth-shark-washed-up-on-beach-is-first-ever-seen/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 04 Dec 2023 17:06:49 +0000 A female megamouth shark was found in the Philippines with one pup alongside her and six fetuses inside her body 2406351-pregnant-megamouth-shark-washed-up-on-beach-is-first-ever-seen|2406351 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2406216-shipwrecks-are-havens-for-wildlife-in-areas-threatened-by-fishing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 05 Dec 2023 08:00:27 +0000 In areas of the sea affected by bottom trawling, marine life is more abundant in and around shipwrecks, suggesting they should be considered important conservation sites 2406216-shipwrecks-are-havens-for-wildlife-in-areas-threatened-by-fishing|2406216 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24432610-700-reindeers-real-superpowers-could-help-us-beat-depression-and-cancer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 18 Dec 2019 18:00:00 +0000 So what if Rudolph can’t really fly? He and the herd have some truly amazing evolutionary adaptations that could inspire new treatments for human diseases mg24432610-700-reindeers-real-superpowers-could-help-us-beat-depression-and-cancer|2227519 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2405114-marmosets-swap-brain-cells-with-their-siblings/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 01 Dec 2023 08:00:02 +0000 Most marmosets have non-identical twins or triplets, which exchange blood cells while in the uterus - and now it seems they also swap certain brain cells 2405114-marmosets-swap-brain-cells-with-their-siblings|2405114 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2405730-bottlenose-dolphins-can-sense-electric-fields-with-their-snouts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 30 Nov 2023 23:00:29 +0000 Like platypuses and some sharks, bottlenose dolphins have an electric sense which they may use to navigate and search for food 2405730-bottlenose-dolphins-can-sense-electric-fields-with-their-snouts|2405730 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2405721-chinstrap-penguins-take-thousands-of-very-short-naps-every-day/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 30 Nov 2023 19:00:53 +0000 While incubating their eggs, chinstrap penguins need to stay vigilant for predators – so they only sleep for a few seconds at a time 2405721-chinstrap-penguins-take-thousands-of-very-short-naps-every-day|2405721 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2405108-the-battle-to-bring-beavers-back-to-scotland/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 30 Nov 2023 10:00:16 +0000 The reintroduction of beavers has already transformed parts of the Scottish landscape and provided much-needed habitats for many animals, delighting conservationists but alarming some landowners 2405108-the-battle-to-bring-beavers-back-to-scotland|2405108 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2405496-unknown-animals-left-birdlike-footprints-long-before-birds-existed/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 29 Nov 2023 19:00:23 +0000 Ancient footprints found in Lesotho resemble those left by birds, but they were made around 60 million years before the ancestors of birds split from other dinosaurs 2405496-unknown-animals-left-birdlike-footprints-long-before-birds-existed|2405496 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2405369-ancient-life-thrived-after-supercontinents-trapped-nutrient-rich-soil/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 29 Nov 2023 16:00:45 +0000 There is a surprisingly close link between the flow of nutrient-rich soil around the ancient world and growing biodiversity - which could be a problem now, as human activity is disrupting and degrading soil 2405369-ancient-life-thrived-after-supercontinents-trapped-nutrient-rich-soil|2405369 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2404726-striated-caracaras-puzzle-solving-matches-that-of-clever-cockatoos/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 24 Nov 2023 13:28:44 +0000 Researchers tested the puzzle-solving ability of striated caracaras in the Falkland Islands, discovering their abilities match that of Goffin’s cockatoos 2404726-striated-caracaras-puzzle-solving-matches-that-of-clever-cockatoos|2404726 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034660-200-see-a-very-special-spruce-the-tree-of-life-in-washington-state/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:00:00 +0000 Anna Beeke's shot of this huge spruce, which has become a landmark on the Pacific shoreline, is part of a stunning new book of photographs highlighting trees and woodlands around the world mg26034660-200-see-a-very-special-spruce-the-tree-of-life-in-washington-state|2403692 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2404134-african-penguins-recognise-their-partners-by-the-spots-on-their-chest/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 22 Nov 2023 10:53:39 +0000 The unique patterns of dots on the front of African penguins seem to be key to their ability to pick out their partners in a crowded colony 2404134-african-penguins-recognise-their-partners-by-the-spots-on-their-chest|2404134 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2403949-endangered-vultures-saved-from-deadly-poisoning-and-electrocution/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 21 Nov 2023 10:41:12 +0000 A decade-long conservation effort spanning 14 countries has halted the decline of a key population of Egyptian vultures by preventing poisoning and insulating electrical infrastructure 2403949-endangered-vultures-saved-from-deadly-poisoning-and-electrocution|2403949 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2403802-hairy-legs-make-you-swim-better-if-youre-a-shrimp/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 21 Nov 2023 05:00:18 +0000 Normally, hair increases drag while swimming – but for shrimp, hair seems to make it easier to move through water 2403802-hairy-legs-make-you-swim-better-if-youre-a-shrimp|2403802 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2403856-plants-are-more-productive-on-weekends-thanks-to-cleaner-air/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 20 Nov 2023 20:00:28 +0000 Satellite data from Europe shows that rates of photosynthesis are higher when aerosol levels in the atmosphere are lower, and there is a regular weekly cycle 2403856-plants-are-more-productive-on-weekends-thanks-to-cleaner-air|2403856 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2403830-bat-uses-its-huge-penis-like-an-arm-during-sex/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 20 Nov 2023 16:00:46 +0000 Video recordings reveal that penetration does not occur when serotine bats mate; instead males use their penis to push a protective membrane out of the way 2403830-bat-uses-its-huge-penis-like-an-arm-during-sex|2403830 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2402957-dancing-monkey-hormones-shed-light-on-harmful-street-shows-in-pakistan/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 17 Nov 2023 09:00:27 +0000 Stress hormone measurements highlight the poor welfare of monkeys trained to perform for the public in street shows, but social conditions make it challenging to end the practice 2402957-dancing-monkey-hormones-shed-light-on-harmful-street-shows-in-pakistan|2402957 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034650-300-artists-tulip-photos-capture-transience-of-life/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:00:00 +0000 Kathrin Linkersdorff’s images, part of her Fairies series, are heavily influenced by the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi mg26034650-300-artists-tulip-photos-capture-transience-of-life|2402584 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2403476-bonobos-are-friendly-with-those-outside-their-group-unlike-chimps/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 16 Nov 2023 19:00:07 +0000 The convivial nature of bonobos is in stark contrast to chimpanzees and may shed light on the evolutionary origins of cooperation in humans 2403476-bonobos-are-friendly-with-those-outside-their-group-unlike-chimps|2403476 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2403224-fossil-footprints-are-the-oldest-traces-of-birds-in-australia/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 15 Nov 2023 19:00:06 +0000 A set of tracks made over 120 million years ago push back the earliest known appearance of birds in the southern continents 2403224-fossil-footprints-are-the-oldest-traces-of-birds-in-australia|2403224 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2402845-ants-treat-their-own-fungal-infections-by-eating-aphids/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 15 Nov 2023 00:01:18 +0000 Silky ants with a fungal infection favour food containing aphids, which are a source of hydrogen peroxide, and this increases their chances of survival 2402845-ants-treat-their-own-fungal-infections-by-eating-aphids|2402845 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2402990-anemones-are-first-known-animals-to-follow-the-sun-like-plants-do/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 14 Nov 2023 21:01:38 +0000 Snakelocks anemones are the first known “heliotropic” animals – their tentacles point towards the sun, tracking its movements like plants do 2402990-anemones-are-first-known-animals-to-follow-the-sun-like-plants-do|2402990 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2402481-metal-pollution-may-be-skewing-the-sex-ratio-of-sea-turtles/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 13 Nov 2023 05:00:30 +0000 Some sea turtle populations have become skewed towards females because of climate change, and now it appears that chemical pollution might be adding to the problem 2402481-metal-pollution-may-be-skewing-the-sex-ratio-of-sea-turtles|2402481 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2402296-endangered-echidna-not-seen-in-60-years-caught-on-camera/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 10 Nov 2023 13:26:51 +0000 An echidna named after David Attenborough that hadn't been seen by scientists in more than 60 years has been caught on camera for the first time 2402296-endangered-echidna-not-seen-in-60-years-caught-on-camera|2402296 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2402215-stunning-photo-of-rare-malayan-tiger-snapped-by-camera-trap/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 10 Nov 2023 11:29:57 +0000 With fewer than 150 left in the wild, the Malayan tiger is rarely seen – but images from camera traps provide hope that conservation efforts are paying off 2402215-stunning-photo-of-rare-malayan-tiger-snapped-by-camera-trap|2402215 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401413-chiles-atacama-salt-flats-captured-in-spectacular-drone-shot/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 08 Nov 2023 18:00:00 +0000 Photographer Olivier Grunewald is documenting the work of researchers studying the origins of life in the inhospitable waters of the Salar de Atacama 2401413-chiles-atacama-salt-flats-captured-in-spectacular-drone-shot|2401413 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2397168-sea-cucumbers-surprise-scientists-with-spectacular-light-show/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 10 Nov 2023 00:01:22 +0000 Ten sea cucumber species have been found to emit light for the first time, and researchers predict 200 more deep-sea species in this group could be bioluminescent 2397168-sea-cucumbers-surprise-scientists-with-spectacular-light-show|2397168 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401528-hummingbirds-have-two-amazing-ways-to-fly-through-tiny-gaps/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 09 Nov 2023 23:00:00 +0000 High-speed cameras reveal that hummingbirds fly sideways to fit through narrow openings, or fold back their wings to shoot through like an arrow 2401528-hummingbirds-have-two-amazing-ways-to-fly-through-tiny-gaps|2401528 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2400841-the-cannabis-of-the-future-might-not-come-from-plants/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 08 Nov 2023 17:00:34 +0000 We can now synthesise THC, CBD and other cannabinoids in bioreactors – these could be used to make new therapeutic compounds with a lower environmental cost 2400841-the-cannabis-of-the-future-might-not-come-from-plants|2400841 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401760-yeast-has-half-its-dna-rewritten-in-quest-for-synthetic-complex-cells/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 08 Nov 2023 16:00:42 +0000 A team aiming to produce the first complex cell with an entirely synthetic genome has created a strain of yeast with half of its chromosomes designed from scratch 2401760-yeast-has-half-its-dna-rewritten-in-quest-for-synthetic-complex-cells|2401760 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401695-orcas-sink-another-sailboat-as-a-bewildering-wave-of-attacks-continues/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 07 Nov 2023 20:35:47 +0000 Orcas have been damaging or sinking boats in the Strait of Gibraltar for the past few years and we don’t know why 2401695-orcas-sink-another-sailboat-as-a-bewildering-wave-of-attacks-continues|2401695 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401348-rats-squeak-with-happiness-when-they-are-with-another-rat/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 07 Nov 2023 16:00:00 +0000 Rats emit a high-pitched squeak when around another rat, seemingly just to express a positive emotion 2401348-rats-squeak-with-happiness-when-they-are-with-another-rat|2401348 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2401475-crabs-evolved-to-live-away-from-the-ocean-up-to-17-different-times/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 06 Nov 2023 19:31:27 +0000 Unlike most other animal groups that left the sea behind, crabs have done it many times throughout their evolutionary history – and some crab lineages have even reversed course back to the ocean 2401475-crabs-evolved-to-live-away-from-the-ocean-up-to-17-different-times|2401475 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034631-400-debunking-gardening-myths-does-misting-your-houseplants-really-work/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 01 Nov 2023 18:00:00 +0000 We are all told to mist our houseplants if we want them to thrive. But botanist James Wong failed to find a single study backing this up, so he did his own home-grown experiment mg26034631-400-debunking-gardening-myths-does-misting-your-houseplants-really-work|2400131 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034631-300-how-we-will-discover-the-mysterious-origins-of-life-once-and-for-all/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 30 Oct 2023 16:00:00 +0000 Seventy years ago, three discoveries propelled our understanding of how life on Earth began. But has the biggest clue to life's origins been staring biologists in the face all along? mg26034631-300-how-we-will-discover-the-mysterious-origins-of-life-once-and-for-all|2400130 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2400865-chimpanzees-use-high-ground-to-scope-out-rival-groups/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 02 Nov 2023 18:00:31 +0000 Groups of chimpanzees patrol the edges of their territory and pause on hilltops to listen out for rivals, judging whether it is safe to venture further 2400865-chimpanzees-use-high-ground-to-scope-out-rival-groups|2400865 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2400776-planet-earth-iii-david-attenboroughs-hold-your-breath-moments/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 01 Nov 2023 16:56:00 +0000 David Attenborough discusses key scenes from the BBC's new Planet Earth III series and how the filming of unique animal behaviour is contributing to science 2400776-planet-earth-iii-david-attenboroughs-hold-your-breath-moments|2400776 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2400256-starfish-dont-have-a-body-theyre-just-a-big-squished-head/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 01 Nov 2023 16:00:23 +0000 Gene expression patterns in starfish reveal a surprising answer to the question of how they evolved their unusual body shape 2400256-starfish-dont-have-a-body-theyre-just-a-big-squished-head|2400256 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2400325-flatworms-can-either-regrow-lost-heads-or-reproduce-sexually-not-both/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 31 Oct 2023 11:00:28 +0000 When flatworms have the ability to regenerate, they lose the option to lay eggs – instead, they produce offspring by splitting themselves apart 2400325-flatworms-can-either-regrow-lost-heads-or-reproduce-sexually-not-both|2400325 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2400273-desert-plant-collects-water-from-air-by-excreting-salt-on-its-leaves/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 30 Oct 2023 19:00:25 +0000 An evergreen desert shrub common in the Middle East excretes salt crystals onto its leaves that may help it draw moisture from nighttime air 2400273-desert-plant-collects-water-from-air-by-excreting-salt-on-its-leaves|2400273 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2399982-plant-presumed-extinct-sprouts-in-a-road-after-more-than-40-years/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 27 Oct 2023 12:52:40 +0100 The mini galaxy plant was found flowering on a gravel road after no official sightings had been made since 1981 2399982-plant-presumed-extinct-sprouts-in-a-road-after-more-than-40-years|2399982 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2400032-some-insects-disguise-themselves-as-spiders-to-avoid-getting-eaten/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 30 Oct 2023 09:14:45 +0000 Several species of flies, moths and planthoppers look so much like their jumping spider enemies that they fool an image-recognition AI 2400032-some-insects-disguise-themselves-as-spiders-to-avoid-getting-eaten|2400032 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034620-900-see-a-mob-of-seals-save-their-pups-from-a-shark-in-planet-earth-iii/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 25 Oct 2023 19:00:00 +0100 This shot, showing an unexpected victor in the clash between a great white shark and some Cape fur seals, is taken from Planet Earth III: Our world at the dawn of a new age, a new book accompanying the BBC series mg26034620-900-see-a-mob-of-seals-save-their-pups-from-a-shark-in-planet-earth-iii|2399107 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2399825-flatworm-caught-hunting-and-killing-spider-on-its-own-web/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 26 Oct 2023 22:00:25 +0100 Flatworms are slow-moving predators with poor vision, but one of them managed to attack a spider as it guarded its egg sac 2399825-flatworm-caught-hunting-and-killing-spider-on-its-own-web|2399825 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2399813-most-mammals-go-through-the-menopause-if-they-live-long-enough/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 26 Oct 2023 17:00:17 +0100 The majority of female mammals stop producing eggs long before the end of their potential lifespans, but in the wild few reach this point, other than humans and some whales 2399813-most-mammals-go-through-the-menopause-if-they-live-long-enough|2399813 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2399445-roosters-may-be-able-to-recognise-themselves-in-a-mirror/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 25 Oct 2023 20:00:07 +0100 Very few non-human animals have passed the mirror self-recognition test, but roosters have now succeeded at a modified version, which may mean they can understand that a reflection represents their own body 2399445-roosters-may-be-able-to-recognise-themselves-in-a-mirror|2399445 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2399252-bird-flu-has-reached-antarctica-and-could-have-a-devastating-effect/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 24 Oct 2023 17:56:52 +0100 A lethal form of bird flu has been discovered in the Antarctic region for the first time and it could kill many seals and whales as well as millions of birds 2399252-bird-flu-has-reached-antarctica-and-could-have-a-devastating-effect|2399252 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2398691-vegan-cheese-made-from-fermented-peas-could-taste-more-like-dairy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 24 Oct 2023 15:00:08 +0100 When a mixture of pea protein and sunflower oil is fermented with lactic acid-producing bacteria, it develops a firm texture and produces flavour compounds found in dairy cheese 2398691-vegan-cheese-made-from-fermented-peas-could-taste-more-like-dairy|2398691 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2396033-on-the-hunt-for-thousands-of-salmon-that-escaped-icelandic-fish-farm/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 23 Oct 2023 13:00:54 +0100 Some 3500 salmon have escaped from a fish farm pen in Iceland and now the hunt is on to catch them before they hybridise with the local wild, genetically distinct salmon in the fjords 2396033-on-the-hunt-for-thousands-of-salmon-that-escaped-icelandic-fish-farm|2396033 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2398428-why-birds-eyes-can-be-blue-green-pink-or-orange/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 20 Oct 2023 10:00:15 +0100 Among birds, eyes come in all sorts of colours – and it seems that this helps them compete for mating opportunities and intimidate rivals 2398428-why-birds-eyes-can-be-blue-green-pink-or-orange|2398428 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2397429-do-animals-know-that-sex-leads-to-babies/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 20 Oct 2023 08:00:38 +0100 The time delay between sex and offspring makes identifying the cause and effect a little complicated. Humans have language to explain how reproduction works, but for other animals it may be far less clear 2397429-do-animals-know-that-sex-leads-to-babies|2397429 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2398469-emergence-of-huge-cicada-generation-in-2021-led-to-a-caterpillar-boom/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 19 Oct 2023 20:00:41 +0100 The emergence of 'Brood X' periodical cicadas in the US in 2021 gave birds a new food source, leading to knock-on effects throughout forest ecosystems 2398469-emergence-of-huge-cicada-generation-in-2021-led-to-a-caterpillar-boom|2398469 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2398168-pepper-x-the-world-has-a-new-hottest-chilli/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 17 Oct 2023 21:16:41 +0100 Pepper X scorches the previous record holder, the Carolina Reaper, by a million Scoville heat units 2398168-pepper-x-the-world-has-a-new-hottest-chilli|2398168 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2397495-edible-and-delicious-chinese-mitten-crabs-are-invading-the-uk/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 18 Oct 2023 15:10:46 +0100 Numbers of invasive Chinese mitten crabs are believed to be growing in the UK, causing damage to river beds and competing with native wildlife 2397495-edible-and-delicious-chinese-mitten-crabs-are-invading-the-uk|2397495 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2397894-mega-penguins-these-are-the-largest-penguins-to-have-ever-lived/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 18 Oct 2023 10:00:57 +0100 No penguin alive today can compare with some of the extinct giants that once roamed the planet, including Kumimanu fordycei, Petradyptes stonehousei and Palaeeudyptes klekowskii 2397894-mega-penguins-these-are-the-largest-penguins-to-have-ever-lived|2397894 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2397622-dung-beetles-feeding-habits-can-be-used-to-track-endangered-lemurs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 17 Oct 2023 11:00:09 +0100 Biologists identified DNA from six species of lemurs in the guts of dung beetles collected in Madagascar, demonstrating a possible way to monitor endangered wildlife 2397622-dung-beetles-feeding-habits-can-be-used-to-track-endangered-lemurs|2397622 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2397725-pariss-bedbug-problem-is-probably-no-worse-than-other-major-cities/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 16 Oct 2023 16:21:08 +0100 An apparent resurgence of bedbugs has incited panic in France, but there is no scientific evidence of any increase in infestation rates this year 2397725-pariss-bedbug-problem-is-probably-no-worse-than-other-major-cities|2397725 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2397525-winning-images-from-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2023/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 13 Oct 2023 17:00:24 +0100 Meet the award-winning photographers from this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition as they discuss their stunning shots 2397525-winning-images-from-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2023|2397525 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2397263-inventions-based-on-threatened-animals-like-rhinos-are-on-the-rise/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 12 Oct 2023 12:17:50 +0100 An analysis of patent records suggests there is growing commercial interest in products derived from rhinos and other threatened wildlife 2397263-inventions-based-on-threatened-animals-like-rhinos-are-on-the-rise|2397263 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2396917-female-frogs-sometimes-play-dead-to-avoid-mating-with-males/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Oct 2023 01:01:10 +0100 Frog mating can be a competitive and sometimes deadly affair as many males compete for females – but females have some tricks to avoid unwanted attention 2396917-female-frogs-sometimes-play-dead-to-avoid-mating-with-males|2396917 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2396750-winning-images-from-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2023/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 11 Oct 2023 00:30:50 +0100 Orcas hunting a seal, duelling Nubian ibexes and a stunning horseshoe crab appear in winning images from this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition 2396750-winning-images-from-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2023|2396750 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2396830-chickens-made-resistant-to-bird-flu-with-crispr-gene-editing/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:00:46 +0100 Modifying a protein in chicken cells can help the birds resist infection by influenza viruses, but further testing is needed before this approach can be rolled out 2396830-chickens-made-resistant-to-bird-flu-with-crispr-gene-editing|2396830 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2396825-ocean-life-surged-500-million-years-ago-due-to-cooler-sea-temperatures/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:00:17 +0100 A fall in sea surface temperatures around 500 million years ago led to the evolution of aquatic life that could survive in newly hospitable environments 2396825-ocean-life-surged-500-million-years-ago-due-to-cooler-sea-temperatures|2396825 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2396347-pickled-snake-in-museum-is-a-new-species-but-may-already-be-extinct/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 09 Oct 2023 13:00:52 +0100 A snake kept in a museum in Zimbabwe since 1982 has been assigned to a new species, the Nyanga rinkhals, but biologists fear it may no longer exist in the wild 2396347-pickled-snake-in-museum-is-a-new-species-but-may-already-be-extinct|2396347 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2396045-some-of-our-cells-move-and-they-do-it-by-emitting-lots-of-chemicals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 09 Oct 2023 09:00:34 +0100 A mammalian cell cannot crawl just anywhere – computer simulations based on experiments suggest that the chemicals the cells leach control the process 2396045-some-of-our-cells-move-and-they-do-it-by-emitting-lots-of-chemicals|2396045 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2396449-hybrid-puffins-may-have-emerged-in-the-20th-century-due-to-warming/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 06 Oct 2023 20:00:53 +0100 Genetic analysis suggests that two subspecies of Atlantic puffin began interbreeding in Norway in the 20th century, perhaps as a result of warming in the Arctic 2396449-hybrid-puffins-may-have-emerged-in-the-20th-century-due-to-warming|2396449 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2396184-human-voices-are-scarier-than-a-lions-growl-for-savannah-animals/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 05 Oct 2023 17:00:16 +0100 Animals at watering holes in South Africa were twice as likely to flee in response to recordings of humans talking compared with sounds of lions 2396184-human-voices-are-scarier-than-a-lions-growl-for-savannah-animals|2396184 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394786-egg-sex-screening-aims-to-stop-slaughter-of-billions-of-male-chicks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 05 Oct 2023 12:00:48 +0100 Male chicks have no value to farmers who raise egg-laying chicken breeds, meaning that billions are slaughtered straight after hatching. Now, techniques to sex embryos inside eggs aim to end this practice 2394786-egg-sex-screening-aims-to-stop-slaughter-of-billions-of-male-chicks|2394786 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2395911-hippos-are-really-bad-at-chewing-their-food/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 04 Oct 2023 20:00:00 +0100 Common hippos can't move their mouths side to side to grind their food, while pgymy hippos can only partly do this motion 2395911-hippos-are-really-bad-at-chewing-their-food|2395911 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2395709-scientists-have-only-just-figured-out-how-cats-purr/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 03 Oct 2023 17:00:26 +0100 The low-pitched sound of purring is unusual for an animal with short vocal folds, but cats have other structures in their larynx that enable their contented rumbling 2395709-scientists-have-only-just-figured-out-how-cats-purr|2395709 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2395767-fat-bear-week-how-alaskas-brown-bears-nearly-double-in-size/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 03 Oct 2023 22:00:12 +0100 Brown bears in Katmai National Park can eat up to 160,000 calories a day to prepare for winter, but how do they know it's feasting time? 2395767-fat-bear-week-how-alaskas-brown-bears-nearly-double-in-size|2395767 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394993-beetles-raise-their-young-in-trash-dumps-left-behind-by-army-ants/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 02 Oct 2023 15:00:13 +0100 Breeding beetles belonging to dozens of species are attracted to the piles of food waste left behind by raiding army ants 2394993-beetles-raise-their-young-in-trash-dumps-left-behind-by-army-ants|2394993 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394829-weve-just-realised-that-a-tiny-west-african-crocodile-can-moo/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:28:17 +0100 Audio recordings reveal that the African dwarf crocodile moos like a cow – and listening out for its calls could help biologists track the species in the wild 2394829-weve-just-realised-that-a-tiny-west-african-crocodile-can-moo|2394829 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394099-male-butterflies-plug-attractive-females-genitals-to-stop-them-mating/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 29 Sep 2023 11:00:41 +0100 Some male butterflies insert a stopper into their mate’s reproductive tract – and they use bigger, more effective plugs to stop rivals from mating with females that have a better chance of survival 2394099-male-butterflies-plug-attractive-females-genitals-to-stop-them-mating|2394099 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25934580-400-remarkable-images-show-the-intricacy-and-beauty-of-common-plants/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 27 Sep 2023 19:00:00 +0100 Familiar plants are revealed in exquisite, microscopic detail in these shots from biologist Jan Martinek mg25934580-400-remarkable-images-show-the-intricacy-and-beauty-of-common-plants|2394163 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2393551-alan-turing-mathematically-predicted-the-colour-of-lizard-scales/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 28 Sep 2023 21:00:22 +0100 Alan Turing, the father of modern computer science, once put his mind to the subject of predicting colourful lizard scales – and we now know he was successful 2393551-alan-turing-mathematically-predicted-the-colour-of-lizard-scales|2393551 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2394878-neuron-time-lapse-wins-2023-nikon-small-world-video-competition/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 28 Sep 2023 17:18:50 +0100 A 48-hour time-lapse of neurons in the central nervous system of a chick embryo has won the Nikon Small World in Motion video competition 2394878-neuron-time-lapse-wins-2023-nikon-small-world-video-competition|2394878 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394820-we-finally-know-what-makes-orange-carrots-orange/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 28 Sep 2023 17:00:47 +0100 Three genes are turned off to make carrots produce high levels of alpha and beta-carotene, which make them a rich source of vitamin A and give them their orange hue 2394820-we-finally-know-what-makes-orange-carrots-orange|2394820 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2393356-elusive-australian-bat-sometimes-snacks-on-other-bats/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 28 Sep 2023 07:00:58 +0100 Australia’s greater broad-nosed bat was believed to mostly eat beetles and other insects, but hairs found in its droppings suggest it also feasts on other bats 2393356-elusive-australian-bat-sometimes-snacks-on-other-bats|2393356 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2394244-ancient-trilobite-stuffed-itself-with-food-almost-to-bursting-point/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 27 Sep 2023 17:00:00 +0100 A trilobite with gut contents still preserved is the first of its kind ever to be found, and shows the woodlouse-like animal had a voracious appetite 2394244-ancient-trilobite-stuffed-itself-with-food-almost-to-bursting-point|2394244 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2392994-jellyfish-can-learn-from-experience-even-though-they-lack-a-brain/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 22 Sep 2023 17:00:21 +0100 As one of the biologically simplest kinds of animal, we might have thought jellyfish can’t learn, but it turns out they can 2392994-jellyfish-can-learn-from-experience-even-though-they-lack-a-brain|2392994 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2393532-armour-plated-mollusc-fluoresces-brilliant-red-pink/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:00:31 +0100 Chitons are unusual molluscs with a shell made up of plates, and they fluoresce a red-pink colour – perhaps to help the animals blend in against a background of red algae 2393532-armour-plated-mollusc-fluoresces-brilliant-red-pink|2393532 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2393362-exquisite-spider-fossils-from-australia-offer-clues-to-their-evolution/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 21 Sep 2023 14:00:00 +0100 A large brush-footed trapdoor spider and a small jumping spider from the Miocene Epoch between 11 and 16 million years ago show how different arachnids responded to rapidly changing climate 2393362-exquisite-spider-fossils-from-australia-offer-clues-to-their-evolution|2393362 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2393525-turtles-that-move-in-herds-reveal-the-complex-social-lives-of-reptiles/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 22 Sep 2023 11:00:03 +0100 The hicatee turtles of Belize appear to move around in groups even when they aren't feeding, providing evidence of social complexity in reptiles 2393525-turtles-that-move-in-herds-reveal-the-complex-social-lives-of-reptiles|2393525 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2393170-fish-adapted-to-the-deep-sea-80-million-years-earlier-than-we-thought/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 21 Sep 2023 17:00:48 +0100 A set of unusual “trace” fossils in Italy reveal that fish were swimming in the deep ocean about 130 million years ago – much earlier than we had thought 2393170-fish-adapted-to-the-deep-sea-80-million-years-earlier-than-we-thought|2393170 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2392946-the-strange-plant-that-just-might-be-the-worst-smell-on-the-planet/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 21 Sep 2023 15:00:13 +0100 Corpse flowers rarely bloom but if one does when you’re nearby you’ll know about it. Though many botanical gardens have their own corpse flowers, the plant's mysteries still abound 2392946-the-strange-plant-that-just-might-be-the-worst-smell-on-the-planet|2392946 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25934570-100-when-nature-gives-people-the-ick/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 20 Sep 2023 19:00:00 +0100 People living in urban environments are often alienated from the great outdoors and therefore find it scary and disgusting. This "biophobia" is on the rise, says Graham Lawton mg25934570-100-when-nature-gives-people-the-ick|2392528 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2392792-young-seabird-couples-get-divorced-with-little-immediate-benefit/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 21 Sep 2023 09:00:52 +0100 Thick-billed murres normally mate for life, but young couples are more likely to break up, despite seeing no benefit to mating success the next year 2392792-young-seabird-couples-get-divorced-with-little-immediate-benefit|2392792 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2393331-human-noise-pollution-drives-monkeys-to-rely-on-communication-by-scent/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 21 Sep 2023 00:00:14 +0100 Tamarins living near cities in the Amazon Rainforest use odour to communicate nearly twice as often as usual when noise pollution spikes from nearby freeways or town centres 2393331-human-noise-pollution-drives-monkeys-to-rely-on-communication-by-scent|2393331 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2393021-holly-tree-species-not-seen-by-scientists-in-200-years-reappears/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 20 Sep 2023 18:07:23 +0100 No sightings of the Pernambuco holly tree had been confirmed since the species was first identified in 1838. Scientists have now found four of the trees in the city Igarassu in north-east Brazil 2393021-holly-tree-species-not-seen-by-scientists-in-200-years-reappears|2393021 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2392777-stick-insects-that-are-normally-asexual-may-occasionally-have-sex/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 20 Sep 2023 01:01:49 +0100 Some animals reproduce asexually by creating embryos from unfertilised eggs, but this can lead to a lack of genetic diversity. To keep their gene pool healthy, two species of asexual stick insect appear to occasionally mate 2392777-stick-insects-that-are-normally-asexual-may-occasionally-have-sex|2392777 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2392879-extinct-tasmanian-tiger-yields-rna-secrets-that-could-aid-resurrection/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Tue, 19 Sep 2023 20:00:07 +0100 RNA, which regulates the activity of DNA, is a crucial part of building an organism - and now researchers have extracted some from an extinct animal for the first time 2392879-extinct-tasmanian-tiger-yields-rna-secrets-that-could-aid-resurrection|2392879 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2392398-tadpoles-can-change-colour-to-blend-in-with-their-environment/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Fri, 15 Sep 2023 15:00:11 +0100 When tadpoles are raised in white, black or grey trays, they adapt their colour to match their background, which may help them avoid being eaten by birds and fish 2392398-tadpoles-can-change-colour-to-blend-in-with-their-environment|2392398 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25934561-100-fascinating-photos-of-fungi-show-their-diversity/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Sep 2023 19:00:00 +0100 Mycologists Danny Newman and Roo Vandegrift spent more than a decade scouting for fungi in the threatened Los Cedros reserve in Ecuador. See some of their finds here mg25934561-100-fascinating-photos-of-fungi-show-their-diversity|2391512 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2392033-mosquitoes-dodge-efforts-to-swat-them-by-surfing-a-wave-of-air/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Thu, 14 Sep 2023 09:00:19 +0100 A combination of keen senses and quick reflexes may help mosquitoes avoid a sticky end by riding the pressure wave generated as a swatter sweeps through the air 2392033-mosquitoes-dodge-efforts-to-swat-them-by-surfing-a-wave-of-air|2392033 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2392098-frogs-have-been-trying-to-mate-with-odd-things-for-220-million-years/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Sep 2023 22:00:24 +0100 Male frogs will sometimes try to mate with turtles or inanimate objects, and now there is evidence that the behaviour began deep in prehistory with the first frogs 2392098-frogs-have-been-trying-to-mate-with-odd-things-for-220-million-years|2392098 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2391666-male-cockatoos-make-customised-drumsticks-for-their-mating-displays/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Wed, 13 Sep 2023 01:01:13 +0100 Palm cockatoos fashion sticks for drumming on trees by snapping off branches and whittling them with their beaks, and the males design their tools with their own personal style 2391666-male-cockatoos-make-customised-drumsticks-for-their-mating-displays|2391666 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2391471-red-imported-fire-ants-with-painful-bites-have-taken-hold-in-europe/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=life Mon, 11 Sep 2023 17:00:04 +0100 Already a serious invasive species in the US and Australia, red imported fire ant nests have now been found in Sicily, Italy, and they could spread to other parts of Europe 2391471-red-imported-fire-ants-with-painful-bites-have-taken-hold-in-europe|2391471