June 2009 Archives

Photograph courtesy Colorado Division of Wildlife/AP
See photos of domestic cats on National Geographic Kids.

Roller coasters have gone through a lot of twists and turns over the past 125 years. In 1884, Coney Island's roller coaster, the Switchback Railway, cost only a nickel to ride, but it was a huge attraction that made its designer, LaMarcus A. Thompson a very wealthy man. Thompson received the patent for his design in 1885 and inspired a coaster race that continues today.

The Corkscrew (pictured) was the first roller coaster with two loops and opened at California's Knott's Berry Farm in 1975, but has since been moved to Silverwood Theme Park in Athol, Idaho.

See pictures of roller coasters on National Geographic News.

Piece together Fair Rides puzzles.

An ocelot at the Tallahassee Museum of History and Natural Science enjoys the breeze created by a box fan placed in the habitat. Temperatures have been nearly 100 degrees F in Tallahassee, Florida for several days and animal curators brought in fans to keep the animals cool.


























Photograph by Phil Coale/AP


Learn about the ocelot at the Tallahassee Museum.

Read an ocelot profile on NationalGeographic.com.

 

 

Photograph by Jessica Deichmann, courtesy Conservation International


Tadpole-toting frogs (seen above), lungless salamanders, and spiny katydids are some of the new species found on a recent conservation expedition to the mountainous Nangaritza region of Ecuador. Scientists hope that the discoveries will result in protection of their habitat by the Ecuadorian government, according to Conservation International.

See pictures of the new discoveries on National Geographic News.

See rainforest pictures on National Geographic Kids.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photograph courtesy Wildlife Conservation Society


Conservationists have been trapping snow leopards in Afghanistan--but don't worry, they're using cameras, not cages! To set the camera traps in remote snow leopard territory, the conservationists and park rangers had to travel for a week on horses (or yaks). After setting the traps, they left and waited.

Four out of five camera traps ended up capturing images of the elusive big cats. This is great news for the snow leopards. Due to poaching and humans hunting their prey, there aren't many snow leopards left in Afghanistan. In fact, conservationists have estimated there are only about 100 of the cats living in the country This estimate is largely an educated guess, but conservationists say that the photos mean that there is a chance for the population to recover.

Learn more about the snow leopard photos on National Geographic News.

Watch a video about clouded leopards on National Geographic Kids.

On June 10 and 11, National Geographic Explorers will be at National Geographic headquarters talking about their fieldwork as part of an annual symposium. Meet some of the people who talked about their projects today!

Photograph by Miriam Wessels/University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany


Marina Davila Ross of the U.K.'s University of Portsmouth led a team that tickled the necks, feet, palms, and armpits of chimp, orangutan, bonobo, gorilla, and human babies. All of the babies responded to the tickling with laughter. The study says that the ability to laugh like this comes from an ancestor that humans and great apes have in common.

Watch a video and hear chimp, gorilla, and orangutan laughter on National Geographic News.

Get the facts on orangutans in the Creature Feature.

Get the facts on chimpanzees in the Creature Feature.

Photograph by Polka Dot Images via Photolibrary


Gross but true: Maggots help wounds to heal faster. Some hospitals use maggots to help difficult wounds like ulcers and burns to heal. The maggots eat dead tissue around the wound that can prevent healing and cause infection. Doctors know it works, but how? A new study suggests that maggots secrete a special fluid that helps them to eat the dead tissue. What does this mean? In the future, doctors may be able to harness the bacteria-busting power of maggots without having to put the creepy-crawlies on people. David Pritchard, a researcher working on the project at the University of Nottingham School of Pharmacy in the U.K., says that putting the liquid in a gel or ointment is the most likely way the liquid will be used. Such a treatment would probably be just as effective as using the maggots.

Read more about the study on National Geographic News.

Read about plants that eat flies on National Geographic Kids.

This story isn't about thieves smuggling whales, but whales who are thieves! New footage catches sperm whales in the act of snatching fish from fishing lines. Scientists got the incredible shots from underwater cameras attached to fishing equipment. These smart whales were able to shake the fish from the line without injuring themselves. Watch a video of the fish heist below.



Learn more about the thieving whales on National Geographic News.

See pictures of different kinds of whales on National Geographic Kids.

How much do you know about blue whales? Quiz Your Noodle and find out.