Wild Songbirds Can Pick Up New Tunes
Researchers taught two dozen wild sparrows new songs, by playing them the recordings of sparrows that live thousands of miles away. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Stories by Jason G. Goldman
Highway Crossings Protect Migrating Pronghorns—and Motorists
Twice a year, thousands of pronghorn antelope and mule deer migrate through Wyoming, and newly built highway crossings are sparing the lives of animals—and motorists. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Birds of a Feather Fight Germs Together
Tropical African birds have greater immunity to certain pathogens than northern or migratory ones
Hurricane Is a Natural Selection Experiment
When Hurricane Irma blew through the Turks and Caicos, lizards with shorter hindlimbs lucked out. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Crickets Carve Tools to Amplify Their Chirps
The insects fashion and use "baffles"—sound controllers—made of leaves to produce sound more efficiently. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Living on the Edge: Wildfires Pose a Growing Risk to Homes Built Near Wilderness Areas
Building houses at the edge of the wilderness increases the danger of catastrophic blazes
Some Crows Hit On Dead Companions
About 5 percent of crows will attempt to copulate with other crows that have joined the choir invisible.
Mammals Moonlight around Human Settlements
A study of human–mammal interaction across the globe found animals are more prone to take to the night around humans. Jason G. Goldman reports.
City Life Favors Downsized Invertebrates
Most invertebrates get smaller on average in cities, although a few very mobile species respond to urbanization by growing.
Hippo Dung Fouls Up Freshwater Fisheries
Hippo poop is piling up in Tanzania’s freshwater fisheries—which is bad news for biodiversity, and deleterious for the dinner plate. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Pinnipeds Don't Appreciate Biped Disturbance
Sea lions and fur seals in Uruguay have become a tourist attraction—but the animals have become less, not more, accepting of humans. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Hunting Rules Have Changed Mama Bear Care
Hunting regulations in Sweden prohibit killing brown bear mothers in company of cubs—causing mama bears to care for their young longer. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Culture Shapes Kids' Views of Nature
In a study of children interacting with toy animals Native American kids and non-Native kids imagined the animals very differently.
Bees Have a Goldilocks Lawn Mow Schedule
Lawns mowed every two weeks hosted more bees than lawns mowed every three weeks. Jason G. Goldman reports.
In 200 Years Cows May Be the Biggest Land Mammals on the Planet
Humans may be driving large mammals to extinction
Planting Milkweed for Monarchs? Make Sure It's Native
Non-native milkweed species planted in the southern U.S. could harm monarch butterflies as temperatures rise. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Right Whales Seem to Think before They Speak
Rather than always making the same call in response to the same stimuli, North Atlantic right whales are capable of changing their vocalizations.
Culture Shapes How Children View the Natural World
Native American kids and non-Native kids conceptualize wild animals differently
Ravens Crow with Individual Flair
Ravens produce different types of calls depending on their age and sex—which might help ravens size up other individuals. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Why Lemurs Have Such Strange Diets
Lemurs consume far less fruit than other primates