Denver Zoo’s poop-powered tuk-tuk.
One thing a zoo has plenty of is poop. And the Denver Zoo is no exception. They decided the best way to deal with it was to convert a little three-wheeled truck to use zoo poop as fuel. (Video)
Man-made noise disrupts plant growth
The Pinon pine could suffer from high levels of artificial noise.
Noise from cars, machines and other forms of human activity could affect the growth of wild flowers, trees and animals nearby, say scientists.
New frog species discovered in NYC
New species of frog in the jungle — New York’s concrete jungle.
Biologists are amazed at having uncovered a new species of frog in the jungle — New York‘s concrete jungle.
‘Smart Fur’ allows robo-pets to gauge owners’ emotions
A piece of smart fur can tell the difference between pets, scratches or even the breath of a human owner.
If pets can have positive effects on their owners’ emotions would a robot pet be able to do the same? At the University of British Columbia a robo-bunny has been developed that can mediate its users’ emotions, calming them down or cheering them up by leading them through deep-breathing exercises, for example. The robo-bunny also has a pulse and can stiffen or relax its ears.
Continue reading… “‘Smart Fur’ allows robo-pets to gauge owners’ emotions”
World’s tiniest lizards discovered in Madagascar
Miniature chameleon
This little chameleon is one of four miniature lizards identified in Madagascar, adding to our growing list of amazingly teeny animals. The one on the match in this picture is a juvenile, but even the adults max out at 30 millimeters. They’re the smallest lizards in the world, and some of the smallest vertebrates found to date. (Pics)
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Extreme grooming for animals
Punk Bird
Absolutely no photoshoppery involved here, no siree. I refuse to believe that punk bird is anything less than real, so I can’t tell you how Mladen Penev got animals to sit still long enough for impressive haircuts and mustache trims for ad agency Staudinger Franke and their client, the shavers and grooming equipment maker Braun.
(more photos after the jump…)
Climate change causing plants and insects to shrink
Incredible shrinking ants.
Warmer temperatures and lack of water are causing plants and animals to shrink, researchers said on Monday, warning it could have profound implications for food production in years ahead.
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Spending on pets in the U.S. increases during recession
Americans will spend more than $50 billion on their animals this year.
Mary Louise Mills has a says her three dogs are spoiled rotten 9-year-old shih tzu named Annie Lulu after Mills’ grandmother, and two Pekingese — 7-year-old Miss Daisy May and 4-year-old Elmer, whom she sometimes calls Fudd. And she says her all three of her dogs are spoiled rotten.
Continue reading… “Spending on pets in the U.S. increases during recession”
Top 10 Photos of the Week
When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat
“I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw that my bath toys were a toaster and a radio.” – – Joan Rivers
Dognappings for money rises 49% in 2011
Reports of stolen dogs rose 49% in the first seven months of 2011.
The economy has really gone to the dogs when money-seeking thieves are pilfering dogs and selling them for profit.
PooPrints uses dog DNA to catch pet owners who don’t clean up
PooPrints uses dog DNA to catch pet owners who don’t clean up.
Some pet owner is the U.S. who failed to clean up after their dogs got a nasty surprise from apartment complex manager Deb Logan. Logan started fining the irresponsible dog owners $100 per offense using DNA evidence.
Continue reading… “PooPrints uses dog DNA to catch pet owners who don’t clean up”
Glass of milk can contain a cocktail of up to 20 chemicals
Scientists found a host of chemicals used to treat illnesses in animals and people in samples of cow, goat and human breast milk.
A cocktail of up to 20 painkillers, antibiotics and growth hormones, can be found in a glass of milk, scientists have shown.
Continue reading… “Glass of milk can contain a cocktail of up to 20 chemicals”