The BBC is reporting new research on why certain species of wild cat have the color patterns in the fur of their coat that they do. Its long been claimed that the patterns (spots, stripes, etc.) help the animals blend into their surroundings, but the new study goes into more specific detail about how these new patterns actually help the cats blend in.

The research was published in Royal Society Journal, and conducted by a team from the University of Bristol. The BBC article by Katia Moskvitch is, “On how the leopard got its spots.”

Island Scrub Jay. Source: Flickr

Researchers are working to save the island scrub jay, a bird native to Santa Cruz Island (part of California). By luring the birds with peanuts, and then trapping them under a wire basket the researchers are able to vaccinate the birds against the West Nile Virus. The virus has been deemed a serious threat to the birds, because they all live on a single island so an outbreak would spread quickly.

The LA Times article: Taking a rare jay under their wing, tries to get an interesting hook in by describing the simple way (like a Wile E. Coyote prank) the researchers are undertaking such a complex conservation effort. I think it draws you in enough, although the article is a little long, and I did find myself skimming toward the end. I was able to skim it though- which means that the writer did a good job of explaining the science in a clear way.

Smallpox Virus. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Scientists are reporting that the rinderpest virus has been wiped out. This marks the second virus to be eradicated by humans, the first was smallpox. Although, its not really eradicated because scientists, governments, and god knows who else have samples of small pox, and I’m sure will keep samples of rinderpest too. The BBC Article: Rinderpest virus has been wiped out, scientists say.

Corn Field. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota have released a study showing that genetically modified (GM) corn crops have a notable economic benefit for farmers. GM corn is designed to kill the european corn borer, a bug that eats the corn plants. By killing the insect, the GM plants actually help non-modified corn crops. The combined affect on both types of corn adds up to a decrease in losses for farmer’s whether they plant the more expensive GM seeds or not.

The BBC article: GM crops bring cash harvest to non-GM varieties

The New York Times also recently ran an interesting article (After Growth, Fortunes Turn for Monsanto) about a down turn in profits for Monsanto, the most well known of the GM companies. Monsanto has been losing money on their newest type of GM corn, in addition to other products because farmer’s just aren’t buying them as the company had predicted.