| Science Weekly podcast: No programme this week, but we're back next week There will be no podcast this week: apologies to all our loyal listeners. Today is a bank holiday in the UK, so no one is here ... We will be back, refreshed and better than ever, next week. If you're desperate for some kind of auditory fix, why not try the Guardian's excellent Tech Weekly? Or listen back through the Science Weekly archive.Follow the podcast on our Science Weekly Twitter feed and receive updates on all breaking science news stories from Guardian Science. Email scienceweeklypodcast@gmail.com. Join our Facebook group. Subscribe free via iTunes to ensure every episode gets delivered. (Here is the non-iTunes URL feed).Andy Duckworth guardian.co.uk |
Study: Flamboyant male dancing attracts women best By MARIA CHENG 2010-09-09T15:52:15ZLONDON (AP) -- John Travolta was onto something. Women are most attracted to male dancers who have big, flamboyant moves similar to the actor's trademark style, British scientists say in a new study.... hosted.ap.org |
Soyuz capsule lands in Kazakh steppe with 3 aboard By PETER LEONARD 2010-09-25T19:26:25ZALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) -- A Russian Soyuz capsule carrying three astronauts who lived six months on the International Space Station touched down safely, but one day late, Saturday morning in the cloudy, central steppes of Kazakhstan.... hosted.ap.org |
Mystery Bird: Reddish egret, Egretta rufescens | GrrlScientist In my opinion, this fascinating and amusing little bird should instead be given the common name, "the dancing egret" – includes video that shows why I think this (do you agree?)Reddish Egret, Egretta rufescens, photographed at Quintana Neotropical Bird Sanctuary, close to the towns of Freeport and Lake Jackson on the upper Texas coast, USA. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]Image: Joseph Kennedy, 29 September 2010 (would you like to see this bird using a 'scope?).Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/400s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400Question: At first glance, this elegant species might appear to be impossible to ID from this particular photograph, but this pose is part of the typical behaviours shown by just one of the several closely related species found in this location. What is that behaviour and what species is this?Response: This is a reddish egret, Egretta rufescens, in the process of spearing its lunch. Most herons and egrets are sit-and-wait hunters, but not this species. Reddish egrets (which I think should be known as "dancing egrets"), are often seen stalking or running after their prey in shallow water. After it locates a fish, it spreads its wings to create a shadow on the surface of the water to reduce glare (or it might be spreading its wings to recover its balance?). This is a lovely dance to watch, one that delights plenty of people who see it. Below is an amateur video that captures the "dancing" fishing behaviour of the reddish egret:If you have bird images, video or mp3 files that you'd like to share with a large and appreciate audience, feel free to email them to me for consideration.GrrlScientistguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Green: For Sustainable Wood, a New and Unloved Standard Members of the U.S. Green Building Council vote next week on new rules for awarding sustainability credits to wood products. For some, the proposed standards are too weak, and to others, too burdensome. feeds.nytimes.com |