Category: Animals

Animals inspire scientists to solve problems that humans face

, 09/09/2025

Comment on this story Comments There are a lot of reasons to go out in nature to look around. It makes us feel calmer and happier. It can help us care more about the plants and animals around us. It shows us how our world is put together. For some scientists, looking at the natural world gives them ideas that can improve our environment, our health, the way we grow food and much more. They study bees to figure out how tiny robots might “talk” to one another as they monitor our air. They look at the sticky gecko feet…

Why giant prehistoric animals got smaller

Kiki, 01/09/2024

This is because the proportion of the power of a muscle is relative to its cross-sectional area – or the area of the muscle when sliced in half. No matter how big a flea could grow, there would be a limit to their jumping ability. While there are some fundamental reasons that animals are the size they are, there is still some flexibility. One animal might end up growing much larger or smaller than another animal of the same species just a few kilometers away. This is sometimes described as the “island rule”, where large animals become smaller on islands…

Bees in January | Adventuresinbeeland’s Blog

Kiki, 31/08/2024

And so we’re in 2022… another year for us… but the first and only winter for my bees. Huddled in their nest, resting their wings, winter bees tend to live longer than summer bees. But still their life-span is measured in months, not years. On any dry day this winter, my colony has continued to be active, flying and finding yellow and orange pollens. In the photo below (taken a week or so ago) I’ve found one returning with bright orange pollen. I’m not seeing much in flower, so am not sure what this might be. Possibly willow or mahonia?…

How to Add Animals to The Somniel – Fire Emblem Engage Wiki Guide

Kiki, 15/08/2024

The cute animals in the post-battle maps aren’t just for show; you can bring them home. This page of IGN’s Fire Emblem: Engage wiki guide focuses on how you can adopt animals and have them roam around Sonmiel. Learn about all the other things you can do at the Somniel, by checking out our Complete Somniel Guide. Animal adoption isn’t the only new thing in this game. Check out our guide explaining all the New Features in Fire Emblem: Engage. Don’t miss out on learning all the best Tips and Tricks, or you can view the video below to see…

What’s flowering now – Cornwall, April 2022

Kiki, 14/08/2024

Some photos of the flowers I’ve seen out and about in Cornwall and in my garden over the last couple of weeks. I like to see what’s in flower and available for the bees. Below is my miniature apple tree. I mainly see hoverflies and bumbles visiting this. Honey bees tend to favor large collections of one type of flower, so this wee tree is probably not worth it for them. One of the first bees of the year I saw in my garden was the enchantingly named female Hairy-footed flower bee. I always see them on the deep blue…

Abandoned micropigs were rescued after being tied to a lamp post by roadside

Kiki, 13/08/2024

Two micropigs have been rescued after a motorist found them tied by their necks to a lamp post by the side of the road. The distressed animals had been tied up using a baling twine in New Romney in Kent, England. Their rescuer, who was on his way home from work, noticed the animals needed saving and took them home. The man brought the two pigs back to his house, where he kept them overnight, before handing them over to The Lord Whiskey Sanctuary in Stelling Minnis, near Canterbury, where staff believed the pair were micropigs. It is the first…

The arrival of the bees

Kiki, 12/08/2024

A couple of months ago, I put a bait hive out in my garden. An empty National brood box, apart from a dark old brood comb pushed to one side and some lemongrass oil smeared on the walls. Then I waited. At first… nothing. But then… I saw some bees coming in and out, inspecting the empty premises. The next day, it was clear something was afoot. More and more bees could be seen around the entrance, until the water in my garden was filled with masses of humming bees. I went and stood outside, looking at the sheer number…