Science News for Kids » Adaptation http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org Publication of the Society for Science & the Public Sat, 15 Jun 2013 13:07:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Killer-flu update http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/killer-flu-update/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/killer-flu-update/#comments Wed, 29 May 2013 17:22:45 +0000 Janet Raloff http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=17310 Map showing provinces in eastern China where early cases of the new bird flu emerged in February through April 15, 2013. Credit: World Health Organization/ Western Pacific Regional Office

Infection that recently developed in China shows signs of being easy to spread and hard to kill]]> Map showing provinces in eastern China where early cases of the new bird flu emerged in February through April 15, 2013. Credit: World Health Organization/ Western Pacific Regional Office

Infection that recently developed in China shows signs of being easy to spread and hard to kill]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/killer-flu-update/feed/ 0 Perfect pacifier http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/in-people-and-mice-carrying-a-baby-calms-it/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/in-people-and-mice-carrying-a-baby-calms-it/#comments Wed, 01 May 2013 16:01:40 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16863 A mother’s arms can calm a crying infant, say scientists. The tactic works for mice, too, only those mammals use their mouth to cradle their young. Credit: iStockphoto

In people and mice, carrying a baby calms it]]> A mother’s arms can calm a crying infant, say scientists. The tactic works for mice, too, only those mammals use their mouth to cradle their young. Credit: iStockphoto

In people and mice, carrying a baby calms it]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/05/in-people-and-mice-carrying-a-baby-calms-it/feed/ 0 No high notes for these blind fish http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/no-high-notes-for-these-blind-fish/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/no-high-notes-for-these-blind-fish/#comments Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:00:10 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16311 This southern cavefish is blind and, new research suggests, partially deaf. But don’t feel sorry for the little fish; it may just be adapting to a dark and noisy habitat. Credit: Matthew Niemiller

Cave dwellers that can't see are also partially deaf]]> This southern cavefish is blind and, new research suggests, partially deaf. But don’t feel sorry for the little fish; it may just be adapting to a dark and noisy habitat. Credit: Matthew Niemiller

Cave dwellers that can't see are also partially deaf]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/04/no-high-notes-for-these-blind-fish/feed/ 0 This shrimp packs a punch http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/mantis-shrimp-colorful-marine-creatures-possess-deadly-weapons-and-complex-vision/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/mantis-shrimp-colorful-marine-creatures-possess-deadly-weapons-and-complex-vision/#comments Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:52:57 +0000 Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=16122 Mantis shrimp are related to crabs and lobsters. They come in a gorgeous array of colors. Credit: Roy Caldwell

Researchers learn a lot from mantis shrimp, colorful marine creatures that possess deadly weapons and complex vision]]> Mantis shrimp are related to crabs and lobsters. They come in a gorgeous array of colors. Credit: Roy Caldwell

Researchers learn a lot from mantis shrimp, colorful marine creatures that possess deadly weapons and complex vision]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/03/mantis-shrimp-colorful-marine-creatures-possess-deadly-weapons-and-complex-vision/feed/ 0 Cool Jobs: Museum science http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/cool-jobs-museum-science/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/cool-jobs-museum-science/#comments Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:16:08 +0000 Sharon Oosthoek http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15827 Royal Ontario Museum scientist Oliver Haddrath must wear protective clothing when working with ancient DNA. This ensures his DNA doesn’t get mixed up with the genetic material he is analyzing. Credit: Royal Ontario Museum

Samples collected long ago may hold answers to important questions in science and medicine today]]> Royal Ontario Museum scientist Oliver Haddrath must wear protective clothing when working with ancient DNA. This ensures his DNA doesn’t get mixed up with the genetic material he is analyzing. Credit: Royal Ontario Museum

Samples collected long ago may hold answers to important questions in science and medicine today]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/02/cool-jobs-museum-science/feed/ 0 Getting a grip http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/getting-a-grip/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/getting-a-grip/#comments Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:00:30 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15380 Immerse your hands in water for a while, and wrinkles will form. Those wrinkles improve a person’s grip on wet, slippery objects, says a new study. Credit: Mitchio/Flickr

Wrinkled fingers seem to be an advantage in wet environments]]> Immerse your hands in water for a while, and wrinkles will form. Those wrinkles improve a person’s grip on wet, slippery objects, says a new study. Credit: Mitchio/Flickr

Wrinkled fingers seem to be an advantage in wet environments]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/getting-a-grip/feed/ 0 Secret signals http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/secret-signals/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/secret-signals/#comments Wed, 16 Jan 2013 01:40:20 +0000 Roberta Kwok http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15339 Chemicals called pheromones act as messengers between individuals. Many plants and animals — including squid — respond to such secret chemical signals. Credit: Roger T. Hanlon

Animals respond to chemical messages they may not even realize they’re swapping]]> Chemicals called pheromones act as messengers between individuals. Many plants and animals — including squid — respond to such secret chemical signals. Credit: Roger T. Hanlon

Animals respond to chemical messages they may not even realize they’re swapping]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2013/01/secret-signals/feed/ 0 Threatened coral get fishy rescue http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/12/threatened-coral-get-fishy-rescue/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/12/threatened-coral-get-fishy-rescue/#comments Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:00:08 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=15042 When toxic seaweed (green at right) gets too close to a type of coral (yellow structure), this fish, a broad-barred goby (Gobiodon histrio), responds to a distress signal sent by the coral and nibbles the seaweed away. Credit: Danielle Dixson

When toxic seaweed gets too close to this coral, gobies fight and bite back ]]> When toxic seaweed (green at right) gets too close to a type of coral (yellow structure), this fish, a broad-barred goby (Gobiodon histrio), responds to a distress signal sent by the coral and nibbles the seaweed away. Credit: Danielle Dixson

When toxic seaweed gets too close to this coral, gobies fight and bite back ]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/12/threatened-coral-get-fishy-rescue/feed/ 0 Four-winged dinosaur http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/four-winged-dinosaur/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/four-winged-dinosaur/#comments Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:01:46 +0000 Stephen Ornes http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=14837 dino_feature

Hind wings helped a small dino make tight turns in midair]]> dino_feature

Hind wings helped a small dino make tight turns in midair]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/four-winged-dinosaur/feed/ 0 Cool Jobs: The science of secrets http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/10/cool-jobs-the-science-of-secrets/ http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/10/cool-jobs-the-science-of-secrets/#comments Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:37:18 +0000 Susan Gaidos http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/?p=14594 Chick-a-dee-dee-dee. The chickadee gets its name from its distinctive call. The greater the danger, the more “dees” a chickadee adds to the call’s end. Credit: Christopher N. Templeton

Researchers harness science to encode — and decode — hidden messages]]> Chick-a-dee-dee-dee. The chickadee gets its name from its distinctive call. The greater the danger, the more “dees” a chickadee adds to the call’s end. Credit: Christopher N. Templeton

Researchers harness science to encode — and decode — hidden messages]]> http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/10/cool-jobs-the-science-of-secrets/feed/ 0