1
POPSAsking ‘Why Do Species Go Extinct?’ 
A. In 1978, I went to Hawaii, supposedly a tropical paradise. I am an enthusiastic birder, and I looked forward to getting into the lush forest to view the abundant flora and fauna the islands were famous for. Here you had this rich island chain, out in the midst of the Pacific, full of wondrous birds and plants — a place supposedly richer in natural diversity than even the Galápagos. I had brought with me field guides to the fauna and flora, all published in the early 1970s. Yet once in the Hawaiian forest, I had a shock: my books were listing species that were extinct — or about to become so. I was in the forest six days a week and I kept thinking, “If I give it enough time, I’ll certainly see most of the species still left.” But I saw very little. In fact, in Hawaii today, I’d say there are only about 10 remaining native land bird species, with another 10 clinging to survival. So suddenly this extinction business seemed very real. Whenever you’d meet biologists over coffee, th
3
POPSBirds do it, Bees do it, but humans don't! Of course, we should teach our teenage children good judgement, if that is at all possible when it comes to the powerful instinctual urges belonging to all life, the drive to BEGET. Try telling a teeny bobber about love and responsibility. They'll look at you, the same way you look at a dog chasing its tail, bewilderment of such a stupidity lag. But, for most parents, the teen "eye roll" just slides off their back, down to the floor where it can be easily stepped on. But all sarcasm aside, teaching this program alone is not just block-headed, its outrageously dangerous. By not equipping our young with knowledge on self preservation, we neglect the most basic fact of life, the instinctive teachings of fundamental survival techniques. Go and watch some wild life with their young and you will see such training. Birds do it, Bees do it, even Monkeys in the trees do it. Also on http://thinkingblue.blogspot.com
0
POPSWhere bombs were born, birds now flock More than 4.7 million tons of low-level waste remain at Fernald in a fenced-off, 110-acre pile encased in thick liners and caps made of synthetic material, clay, rock and clean soil. The 65-foot-high, grass-covered mound snaking along an edge of the preserve is about the length of two Empire State Buildings laid end to end. The rest of the radioactive waste - more than a million tons - was shipped to storage and disposal sites in Nevada, Utah and Texas. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I can express a naughty thought, that I hope the toxic waste sent to Texas goes near Bush's home, and far away from Wiccan Texan.
12
POPSHummingbird Photos and Some Surprising Facts This incredible flying ability makes hummingbirds one of the most fascinating birds to watch. You'll catch sight of a wild hummingbird in the Americas -- anywhere from Alaska to Brazil. Some Mexican hummingbirds will migrate north for spring, flying up to 500 miles in 20 hours without a break . Hummingbirds almost never stop moving, and they spend nearly all of their time in the air. Their legs are so small and weak, they typically can't walk at all. But in the air, they're masters. Hummingbirds beat their wings up to 80 times a second, which creates the soft humming sound that earns them their name . Their heart can beat up to 1,300 times per minute while in flight . All of this lightning-fast beating takes its toll: Hummingbirds have to eat every couple of minutes. They consume enormous amounts of pollen, using a string-thin, long tongue to draw pollen out of deep flowers.
1
POPSAnimal Communication Dr. Marler has contributed a wealth of information about animal communication, cognition and social biology. He has lead a very interesting life.
19
POPSWildlife in the DMZ: Vanishing rainforest of the Congo basin 1, The demilitarised zone (DMZ) separating South and North Korea is home to over 1,000 plant species and rare animals. The DMZ Forum is a lobby group promoting the idea of turning the area into a nature reserve. 2. The forest is the world's biggest after the Amazon. Now Britain and Norway have created a £108m fund to help protect it from logging and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The Congo basin forest is home to around 50 million people in six countries including Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Congo-Brazzaville. The Congo basin forest is twice the size of France and exceeded in size only by the Amazon. It is estimated that logging - much of it illegal - destroys an area the size of 25,000 football pitches every week. The UN estimates that at present rates two-thirds of the forest will have vanished by the year 2040.
6
POPSGender-bending chemicals are putting the high notes in birdsong "They discovered that the region of the brain that controls songs in starlings - the "high vocal centre" - was much bigger in contaminated birds. Their study, reported in the journal Public Library of Science One, did not look at the effect of the oestrogen on the birds' fertility. Past studies have shown that oestrogen in sewage outlets is changing the sex of fish and causing males to produce eggs. "
4
Pops
Newest Clips
Latest Comments
Most Pops
Print
Save
Turn on live update