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The Salt
Maxing Out The Mini Season For Maine Shrimp
January 24, 2013 Mainers say the shrimp have a sweet and delicate flavor. But there won't be many of them to go around this year. The fishing season is short, the allowable catch is small and the number of shrimp in the Gulf of Maine has been dwindling for a while now.
The Salt
In Order To Live With People, Canines Evolved To Love Carbs
January 24, 2013 Most dogs will eat just about anything. But, that wasn't always the case. The domestic dog's ancestor, the gray wolf, only ate meat. And a new report suggests hanging out with humans — and our garbage — may have helped them evolve to digest a wide range of foods.
Shots - Health News
Rules Would Retire Most Research Chimps
January 23, 2013 An NIH working group recommends that most of the agency's 360 research chimpanzees be sent to a sanctuary — a non-laboratory setting where chimps can live more natural lives. But even if the NIH accepts the recommendations, putting them into effect won't be easy.
To Catch A Marten: Seeking Clues In Olympic National Forest
January 21, 2013 KUOWScientists are worried about the elusive members of the weasel family that live in parts of Olympic National Forest in Washington state. To see whether martens are endangered, volunteers are installing remote camera traps to take photos of the animals.
Krulwich Wonders...
No Fists, Gentlemen, Just Necks. The Ali & Frazier Of The Giraffe World
January 18, 2013 A big boxing match usually features two guys, thick with muscle, who know how to bob, weave and use their fists. This bout has two fighters who can't make fists because they don't have hands. What they have are necks. Long necks.
Figuring How To Pay For (Chimp) Retirement
January 18, 2013 The National Institutes of Health owns or supports almost 700 chimps. But the question of where they go when no longer needed for research is a thorny one: NIH money to support retired chimps in sanctuaries has been limited by Congress.
The Salt
Yes, Virginia, Crabs Likely Feel Pain, But They're Still Delicious
January 17, 2013 Prawns will rub themselves when dabbed with acid. And hermit crabs show stress-related behavior after getting shocked out of their shells. Now scientists find that British shore crabs can learn to avoid an electric shock — a key sign that crustaceans really do experience pain.
The Kraken Is Real: Scientist Films First Footage Of A Giant Squid
January 13, 2013 For thousands of years, sailors have told stories of giant squids. In myth and cinema, the kraken was the most terrible of sea monsters. Now, it's been captured — on a soon-to-be-seen video.
The Two-Way
Agreed, Baby Pandas Are Cute. But Why?
January 10, 2013 Xiao Liwu made his public debut Thursday at the San Diego Zoo. As fans crowded around the exhibit, hoping to catch a glimpse of the 5-month-old giant panda cub, we asked the question that perhaps needs no asking. Scientists offer some clues.
The Salt
Artist's State-Shaped Steaks Explore Beef's Origins
January 10, 2013 Hoping people will think more about where their meat comes from, art graduate student Sarah Hallacher has visualized the U.S. beef industry with a series of steaks (actually, clay) sculpted into the shape of states and packaged in Styrofoam and shrink wrap.