Page 12 - News

Young boy lying on the floor reading a book and petting a golden retriever in a bright living room.

Pet Dogs Could Improve Children’s Health Through Household Microbes

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

Dogs have been considered ‘part of the family’ for millennia, and families are known to share their microbes. What, then,...

Two dolphins swimming underwater near fish and holding a seashell with sunlight filtering through water surface.

Dolphins Filmed Using Shells to Hunt Fish Off Queensland

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

Dolphins off Queensland, Australia, have been filmed using an infrequently observed hunting method called ‘shelling’ to catch prey. Indo-Pacific bottlenose...

Scientist in white lab coat examining a sample under a microscope in a laboratory with computer screen.

Scientists Used Light to Wiggle a Fish’s Ear Stones, And You’ll Never Guess Why

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

If you are trying to make someone’s heart race, shining a torch into their ear is probably not the best...

Young person sitting on a sofa viewing a close-up photo of a tabby cat on a laptop with a cat on the windowsill behind.

Cat Distress in Online Videos Is Too Often Dismissed, Study Finds

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

Cats are all over the internet: it is easy to find them swatting at things, racing across the floor, interacting...

A crocodile with its mouth open catches a turtle in a muddy river surrounded by lush green trees.

Ancient Purussaurus Was South America's Ultimate Crocodilian Predator

Gareth Whitfield • October 5, 2026

Modern crocodiles rank among the most feared predators alive, yet their ancient kin make living crocs look about as menacing...

Hummingbird chick in a nest on a branch being examined closely with a magnifying glass and notebook.

Newborn Hummingbird Chick May Mimic a Hairy Caterpillar

Gareth Whitfield • October 4, 2026

At first glance, the small creature in the nest could easily be mistaken for a hairy caterpillar. Yet researchers in...

Hummingbird feeding on red tubular flowers in a lush garden with various blooming plants and a wooden bench nearby.

5 Best Shade Plants to Attract Hummingbirds

Gareth Whitfield • October 4, 2026

A forgotten corner of the garden, permanently shaded – yet it could become the place where the most life gathers....

Young wild boar splashing through a shallow stream in a lush green forest at sunrise.

Babirusa: The Wild Pig With Teeth That Pierce Its Snout

Gareth Whitfield • October 4, 2026

Among the world’s most unusual wild pigs, the babirusa stands out even before it opens its mouth. In males, two...

Person covering a blossoming tree with a protective fleece in a garden during golden hour sunlight.

How to protect fruit trees from spring frost

Gareth Whitfield • October 4, 2026

A very brief overnight temperature drop can wipe out an entire crop, just when the trees appear to be growing...

Person planting Sambucus nigra elderberry in garden bed with watering can and basket of berries nearby

Black elder: the native shrub for insects, birds and the kitchen

Gareth Whitfield • October 4, 2026

For months, it is easy to overlook this bare shrub; then, all at once in spring, it becomes a bright...

A tiger and three antelopes drinking from a waterhole in a dry forest with a lion resting on rocks in the background.

India's Forest Predators and Herbivores in Extreme Drought

Gareth Whitfield • October 4, 2026

India's forests contain remarkable ecological diversity, where dominant predators and large herbivores compete for every patch of ground. During periods...

Person planting green shoots in dry, cracked soil with gardening tools and a coiled hose nearby in a garden.

Zoysia: the lawn alternative for drought-weary gardens

Gareth Whitfield • October 4, 2026

By late August, the garden often looks more worn out than we do. Between yellow patches, seedlings emerging unevenly and...

Person pruning a young olive tree with gardening shears beside a bag of fertiliser and garden tools.

Olive Trees: The Late-Winter Mistake That Ruins Flowering

Gareth Whitfield • October 4, 2026

The sun is returning, the olive tree is quietly putting out new growth – and this is precisely when amateur...

Colourful birds around a stone birdbath with a fountain, person holding a tablet observing bird data in a garden.

Smart bird bath: technology for observing wildlife in the garden

Gareth Whitfield • October 4, 2026

Turning residential green spaces into welcoming spots for wild animals has become straightforward in recent years. The arrival of innovative...

A close-up of a wombat on a rock with food cubes, calipers, and an open notebook with a sketch.

Why Wombat Poo Is Almost Cube-Shaped

Gareth Whitfield • October 4, 2026

In Australia, one mammal stands out for an ability that appears to defy logic: the wombat produces poo that is...

Person pruning colourful lantana flowers in a terracotta pot on a sunny patio with a watering can nearby.

Lantana: the easy-care flowering perennial that keeps blooming

Gareth Whitfield • October 4, 2026

Many amateur gardeners spend months looking for it without realising it has been sitting in the garden centre all along:...

Person wearing gloves watering a young tomato plant in a raised wooden garden bed outdoors.

How to Reuse Potato Cooking Water in the Garden

Gareth Whitfield • October 4, 2026

On a busy weeknight, steam may still be rising from the saucepan by the sink, and it is easy to...

Man harvesting ripe jujube fruits from a tree in a sunlit orchard during autumn.

Jujube tree: the Asian fruit tree that can fruit by next autumn

Gareth Whitfield • October 4, 2026

On a September morning, in a small garden still wet with dew, a neighbour proudly pointed out a tree laden...

Person planting spring flower bulbs among snowdrops with a watering can nearby in a garden.

Snowdrops after flowering: the right care for a sea of blooms next year

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

The white bells have faded, winter is behind us – so what happens next? Those who take the right steps...

Woman in a straw hat tending a hanging basket of pink, purple, and white flowers in a garden setting.

Create a Lush Flower Ball with the 3-in-1 Planting Method for Hanging Baskets

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

A lush cloud of flowers at eye level, with no bare patches or visible pots – many people dream of...

Hands sprinkling brown sugar from a wooden bowl onto a blue hydrangea plant on a wooden table.

Orange Peel for Healthier Hydrangeas

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

If you care about your hydrangeas, it is easy to reach automatically for specialist fertiliser or blame the weather. Yet...