All posts tagged: Bird

If a bird flu pandemic starts, we may have an mRNA vaccine ready

If a bird flu pandemic starts, we may have an mRNA vaccine ready

Published by skeptic

A vaccine now in development could help in the event of a bird flu pandemic Weyo / Alamy It was roughly a year after the earliest cases of covid-19 before the first vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus were ready for roll-out. By then millions had died worldwide and economies were devastated. In the advent of a bird flu pandemic, we will be able to react more rapidly, because we should have an mRNA vaccine already approved and ready to go. A phase III trial of a such a vaccine is now getting under way in the UK and the US. “A flu pandemic is the most likely future pandemic. And it’s really critical that we ensure we’re properly prepared,” says Richard Pebody at the UK Health Security Agency. The main threat is a strain of H5N1 bird flu called clade 2.3.4.4b. It has spread globally in wild birds since evolving around a decade ago, even reaching the Antarctic. Many wild mammals have been infected by wild birds and it has often spread to poultry farms. …

People Who Put Up Bird & Squirrel Feeders In Their Yards Usually Share 11 Rare Personality Traits

People Who Put Up Bird & Squirrel Feeders In Their Yards Usually Share 11 Rare Personality Traits

Published by Jenni Sidey

People who put up bird and squirrel feeders in their yards usually aren’t doing it just for decoration or entertainment. Taking the time to feed backyard wildlife tends to reflect rare personality traits such as empathy, patience, and genuine concern for small animals that many others overlook. It’s an unassuming, often overlooked habit, but it says a lot about how someone feels responsible for the living things sharing their space. More than anything, keeping feeders stocked shows a deep love for animals and a natural instinct to nurture. People who do this regularly tend to notice their surroundings more closely, appreciate quieter moments, and stay committed to caring for something outside themselves. Here are the rare personality traits many of these bird and squirrel feeders share. People who put up bird and squirrel feeders in their yards usually share 11 rare personality traits: 1. They’re open-minded and curious about the world around them Rido | Shutterstock People who put up bird and squirrel feeders tend to stay curious about what’s happening outside their window. They …

Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird announce split after a decade together

Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird announce split after a decade together

Published by Daniella Wilson

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe have separated after nearly 10 years together. Bird, a former basketball standout, and Rapinoe, a retired soccer star, announced their breakup in a joint Instagram post shared Friday. “This hasn’t been an easy decision, but it’s one we’ve made together with so much love, respect, and care for each other,” they wrote. “We’ve shared a whole life over the last decade, through big moments and in quiet ones, and that is something we’ll always carry with us.” They continued: “We are so grateful to this incredible community that has held us up, welcomed us in, and supported us exactly how we are.” “So many of you have reminded us, again and again, why loving out loud matters,” they said, …

It’s a bird! It’s a head! No, it’s a mummified foot.

It’s a bird! It’s a head! No, it’s a mummified foot.

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Not every mummy is treated equally. While the traditional image conjures a well-preserved, carefully wrapped ancient Egyptian body inside an elaborately decorated tomb, there are many more examples of partial and poorly prepared remains. These especially delicate specimens are difficult for scientists to even document, much less analyze in sufficient detail. Take a collection of mummy fragments housed at the MNMKK Semmelweis Museum of Medical History in Budapest, Hungary. Curators have housed the archaeological discoveries since the institution opened in 1965, and at least some of the mummies are over 2,300 years old. But apart from the radiocarbon dating, they lacked the technological capabilities to safely study them. However, researchers can finally see the remains with impressive clarity thanks to the recent installation of a high-resolution CT scanner. The oldest mummy specimen is over 2,300 years old. Credit: Medical Imaging Center / Semmelweis University “Based on the results so far, it is evident that modern imaging technology opens up …

Early bird or night owl: Should you sync your exercise with your chronotype?

Early bird or night owl: Should you sync your exercise with your chronotype?

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore A new study suggests that exercising at times that match whether someone is naturally a morning or evening person could reduce their risk of heart problems. Researchers in the UK and Pakistan determined the chronotypes of 150 people aged between 40 to 60 through questionnaires and 48-hour core body temperature measurements. Chronotype refers to the tendency to be naturally more active or wakeful at a particular period of the day, according to Dictionary.com. All participants in the study – which was published in the journal Open Heart – had at least one cardiovascular risk factor, such as high blood pressure, obesity, or physical inactivity, and were randomly assigned to exercise at times that either aligned with their chronotype or did not. Workouts were scheduled either in the morning (8am–11am) or evening (6pm–9pm). Out of the group, 134 participants completed all 60 …

Bird Feeding Can Harm Some Species: 6 Ways To Do It Safely

Bird Feeding Can Harm Some Species: 6 Ways To Do It Safely

Published by Sam Flores

Birdfeeding feels like a pretty noble thing. The UK’s bird population has, after all, declined by almost a fifth since the ’70s, and it’s true that many sadly starve in the barren, colder months. But the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said that birdfeeding isn’t as straightforwardly good for all species as you might hope. Following the results from this year’s The Big Garden Birdwatch, the charity saw that greenfinch populations seem to have declined by 67% since the programme began in 1979. They are now on the UK Red List in the Birds of Conservation Concern. One of the reasons could be partly influenced by your birdfeeders, they said. Why might bird feeders hurt some bird species? Greenfinch populations are shrinking for many reasons, but one of the biggest ones is trichomonosis, a disease that spreads easily from bird to bird at feeders. Speaking to HuffPost UK, an RSPB spokesperson said: “Our research shows that large numbers of birds congregating around feeders can increase the chances of disease transmission.” This is …

10 wild photos of bird eggs

10 wild photos of bird eggs

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Colorful dyed eggs typically grab the spotlight on Easter, but the world of bird eggs is so much bigger than chickens. There are as many colors and sizes as there are bird species. According to conservation writer Paul Baicich, the co-author of Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds, there is a reason some eggs are white and some are colored.  White eggs in the wild mostly belong to the birds that nest in deep holes in trees or terrain. These birds are called cavity nesters and the contrast between the white egg and dark spaces help them see their eggs. Some cavity nesters include woodpeckers, owls, and kestrels. Wild colored eggs—not the ones the Easter Bunny hides—generally belong to birds that nest in more open areas on the ground. This color makes them more difficult to find.  Because eggs in ground nests have color, they are harder for predators to find. Plovers, gulls, and most ducks are …