Some weeks are not the most productive for nature news; others are awash in great stories. This week is certainly one of the latter, especially for those interested in discoveries arising from either recently discovered species or the first examinations of species long known but only recently captured.
Flora
A US airline has completed the first test flight of a plane partly powered by biofuel derived from algae.
Researchers have discovered that grazing animals such as deer and rabbits actually help to spread plant diseases.
Chocolate lovers rejoice! The genetic roots of cacao, chocolate’s key ingredient, have now been traced.
Fauna
Rare footage of one of the world’s most strange and elusive mammals, the Hispaniolan solenodon, has been captured by scientists.
First ever live Brownsnout Spookfish caught; scientists discover that it uses mirrors as well as lenses to help it see in the murky ocean depths.
A spectacular pink type of Galapagos iguana promises to rewrite the family’s evolutionary history in the islands.
Natural Resources and Public Policy
The departing president tries to burnish his environmental halo by designating new marine reserves.
Harriman, Tennessee residents continue their coal ash fight.
Japanese whaling may be on its last legs as the Japanese people increasingly prefer tuna over whale meat.
Podcasts
BirdNote – Operation Migration, Trogons cohabitating with wasps, and much more.
(IMPORTANT NOTE: due to the present economic mess throughout the world, BirdNote, a non-profit, has lost the support of a major donor. If you enjoy BirdNote and want it to continue, please consider making a small donation to them through their website.)
Green Week in Review – the coal ash disaster in Tennessee.
Nature –meteorites, gravity, and photons.
Nature Stories –Red Knot migration.
Ray Brown’s Talkin’ Birds – Barnacle Geese, Barred Owls, and crows.
World on the Move (BBC) – World on the Move concluded with their final podcast on 16 December, 2008. However their site is still active and remains a great resource to use in order to locate older BBC stories pertaining to natural history topics.
