If you've read Mrs.Frisby and the Rats of NIMH well, this is the exactly like how the rats of NIMH could live so long. Scientists have injected muscle-derived stem cells into the mice, which allows them to live three times longer. Scientists think this could also work on humans. To test it, they put a disease (progeria) which makes its life shorter. That disease works like some human diseases. After that, they put the stem cells in. Amazingly it worked. This could be used on humans to allow us to live longer. 
Spider silk is stronger than you think. If you have enough of it, you can make a super-strong material, but still be lightweight. As we get more technologically advanced, we get closer to making spider silk. But until then, scientists have found a way to make spider silk from silkworms. They have grown genetically modified silkworms that produce stronger silk, or in other words, spider silk. What they did was extract the spider silk gene from spiders and put it in the silkworm. The silk was still 96-98% silkworm though. But the silk is stronger and more durable. this is good enough until we can be able to produce it ourselves. 
A new species of Yeti Crabs were found near hot, mineral-rich hydrothermal vents in an ocean off the coast of Antarctica. Researchers had a submersible, camera-equipped robot, which allowed them to film barnacles, anemones, octopus, and crabs. The camera had found big groups of Yeti Crabs. Male Yeti Crabs live nearest to vents to feed on swarms of bacteria. The females are farther, because they have to protect their embryos. If you know what a Yeti is, it's not that hard to tell what the crab looks like. | Banana Sam after he was rescued |
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| Banana Sam before he got stolen |
In a remote Tanzanian forest a new horned viper was discovered. It was called Matilda's Horned Viper. Matilda's horned Viper is 2.1 feet long and black and yellow zigzag markings and yellow hornlike scales above its green eyes. The snake eats frogs at night. Matilda's Horned Viper are venemous like all vipers. Males have darker scales and bigger heads than the female. These snakes usually stay in the trees, but bigger ones will live in ground burrows. Unfortunately, these snakes are critically endangered. Its habitat is growing smaller each day.The exact location of these snakes will be hidden just so pet collecters won't take them.
Pigeons are thought to be dull. We think that they don't know much. Well, our opinions are completely wrong. A new study shows that pigeons can count to nine. The study also shows that they have equivalent skills to primates besides us. Researchers think that this ability is in many birds. To see their ability, they first taught them 1,2,and 3. They gave the pigeons pictures 1,2, or 3 objects. If they completed the task correctly, they would be given a snack. Later they tested them on 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, or 9. They would give 2 numbers and the Pigeon would have to choose the smaller number. Again, the Pigeon succeeds. Scientists thought primates and birds have this ability because of a distant relative. If that was true, many other animals would share the ability. The other way is that these animals learnt it independently. Animals are always getting smarter. |
| African Dwarf Sawshark |
In Papua New Guinea, the Paedophryne dekot, which is 8.5-9 mm. long, and the Paedophryne verrucosa, which is 8.8-9.3 mm. were found, each smaller than an M&M. The smallest frog use to be 10mm. They are the smallest frog and tetrapod (vertabrates with 4 legs). These frogs eat mites, which other frogs won't eat because of their size. This shows they have an important role in the ecosystem. Just because they're small, doesn't mean they're easy to catch. Researchers tried catching them with bare hands with no luck. Right before you touch them, the hop away. The researchers say there are still other tiny frogs out there. 
On April 26, 1986, in a place called Chernobyl, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded. Chernobyl is a place in what is now Ukraine. Some people said that it was the worst nuclear disaster in the world. Not only did the people get wiped out, but so did the animals. Foxes, lynxes, raccoons, pigs, and not to mention, wolves. But a couple of years ago, animals started popping up in Chernobyl, especially wolf packs. Chernobyl has been closed to people because of the radiation levels, but there are still small villages there. But animals haven't just disappeared in Chernobyl. The same thing happened in Yellowstone National park. In the 1980's, people disliked wolves, so they killed them off. Soon, these wolves became critically endangered. Also, as the wolves died, the beavers, trees, and even crows, died. But rescue groups have helped these wolves return, and somehow all the animals returned. But why? Well, when the wolves died, There were too many Elk. The Elk ate too much of the trees which meant the trees would die. With less trees, the beavers didn't have enough building supplies for their dam. One animal, can make a big difference. This shows that life finds a way. Humans do it quickly, meaning that it doesn't last long, but Earth does it slowly, making it last longer.
Thousands of birds, horses, and humans have been hit by West Nile Virus across North America since 1999, when it was first discoverd. In case you don't know, West Nile Virus is a virus found in 48 species of mosquitos, 250 species of birds, and 18 species of mammals. The USGS is trying to learn more about West Nile Virus. They are also joining with other agencies for help. People aren't sure of the ways West Nile virus is affecting wildlife, but the NWHC (National Wildlife Health Center) is working on studies to research West Nile Virus. So, to be safe, wash your hands, and stay clean because one of those 18 species of mammals affected by West Nile Virus are humans.
The hawk with the nail in its head has been found and had later been brought to the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley and has been healing for the past few days. During its transport after it had been capured, the nail had fallen out with no trauma or bleeding. WildRescue had been notified after several attempts to capture it had failed. The rescuers that tried to save it had used a trap called the bal-chatri. The bal-chatri is a trap made of a wire mesh. A reward of 10,000 dollars has been offered for information on the arrest and conviction of whoever harmed the bird. Next time you see an animal in crisis, take the initiative, and call the nearest animal rescue or wildlife center.
On October 25, 2011, the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and the IRF (International Rhino Foundation) concluded that one of the subspecies of the Javan Rhino is extinct in Vietnam. There are two subspecies, the Indonesian and the Vietnamese. The WWF also says that the last rhino was shot in the leg by a poacher. Poachers hunt rhinos for the ivory in their horn. Many other animals are endangered because of poaching like the tiger, the elephant, the seal, and lots more. But there are still 40 Javan Rhinos in a National Park in Indonesia. The WWF is working to save these rhinos by protecting them from poachers. Remember to buy no endangered animal by-products because they could be last of their kind.
