T Snyder

305-Million-Year-Old "Almost Spider" Unlocks Arachnid History

A new fossil found in France is almost a spider, but not quite.<p>The arachnid, locked in iron carbonate for 305 million years, reveals the stepwise …

Land bridges linking ancient India and Eurasia were 'freeways' for biodiversity exchange

For about 60 million years during the Eocene epoch, the Indian subcontinent was a huge island. Having broken off from the ancient continent of …

Monarch butterflies released by Toledo Zoo found in Mexico

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Nine monarch butterflies released by the Toledo Zoo have been found in central Mexico, supporting the zoo’s belief that its …

Is Alaska's first new butterfly species in decades an ancient hybrid?

Some might say it takes a rare breed to survive the Alaska wilderness. The discovery of a possible new species of hybrid butterfly from the state's …

Pregnant T. rex Found, May Contain DNA

Fragments of DNA may be preserved in the fossil of the pregnant T. rex.

Researchers turn carbon dioxide into sustainable concrete

Imagine a world with little or no concrete. Would that even be possible? After all, concrete is everywhere—on our roads, our driveways, in our homes, …

China Is Building The Largest Waste-to-Energy Plant in The World

It will turn a third of Shenzhen's trash into energy every single day.<p>The Chinese city of Shenzhen plans to tackle its serious waste problem by …

Bees, Butterflies Closer to Extinction

Why the world's largest rhino farmer is cutting off their horns

South African farmer John Hume says he would be "happy" to supply the criminal poaching networks driving the animals to extinction with a legal alternative and the money raised would help him protect his own herd<p>In the half-light of a South African dawn, the team works quickly, pinning the stricken …

Republican senator's convoy chased away by group of elephants

Arizona Senator Jeff Flake got more than he bargained for during a recent trip to learn about wildlife in Africa.<p>The Republican senator shared video …

Critically endangered giant salamander found in Chinese sewage plant

A rare giant salamander was discovered injured at a sewage treatment plant in Zhengzhou, China.<p>Reports say that the amphibian measures 70 cm long and …

Researchers discover a royal flush in powering fuel cells with wastewater

As renewable energy sources goes, solar rays have historically hogged the limelight.

Urban farming in a freight container

Boston agritech startup FreightFarms buys old shipping containers and turns them into hydroponic farms. It's a nifty way to grow fresh greens right …

16 Massive Scientific Facilities at the Cutting Edge of Research

To detect some of the biggest mysteries, you need some of most colossal facilities on Earth.<p>To do big research, sometimes you need some massive machines. Here are 16 facilities that have done out-there work in the last decade, whether hunting for mysterious particles, looking for distant stellar …

Introducing Ringo the Rhino -- With Peace and Love From Ringo Starr

The ongoing slaughter of rhinos and elephants for the illegal trade in rhino horn and ivory is such frequent and terrible news that when good news arises, it is worth celebrating. That makes us happy to announce the naming of a baby Southern White Rhino at Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy in honor of …

Global Water Shortage Risk Is Worse Than Scientists Thought

The growing risk of worldwide water shortages is worse than scientists previously thought, according to a new study.<p>About 66 percent, which is 4 billion people, of the world's population lives without sufficient access to fresh water for at least one month of the year, according to a new paper …

Nine charged over Tanzania murder of British conservationist

Roger Gower, 37, died when his helicopter was shot down during a patrol of the Maswa game reserve last month<p>Nine Tanzanians have been charged in connection with the murder of a British conservationist whose helicopter was shot down while he chased suspected poachers, a senior prosecutor has …

Petition Seeks Ban on Trade in Fake Rhino Horn

Exclusive: NGOs express concerns that cultured rhino horn undercuts existing law and imperils wild rhinos.<p>Trade in bioengineered rhino horn shouldn’t be allowed. That's the contention behind a petition filed today with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by the Center for Biological Diversity, a …

A Mammal’s Brain Has Been Cryonically Preserved and Recovered

A team lead by a researcher at MIT says it has thawed a cryonically-frozen rabbit brain without causing structural damage.<p>A big thing just happened in the world of cryonics, and it has nothing to do with Ted Williams' permafrozen remains.<p>Officials from the Brain Preservation Foundation, a nonprofit …

Scientists warn of last chance to rid Madagascar of invasive toxic toad

New report says there is a ‘diminishing window of opportunity’ to completely eradicate the Asian toad, which poses a threat to biodiversity, human health and the economy<p>Madagascar must wipe out an invasive, toxic toad immediately to save the country’s unique wildlife from disaster, scientists have …