How many species really inhabit our Earth? Estimates soar as high as 8.7 million – and if that number rings true, then we’ve only identified and described 15 percent of our world’s species! At Drexel […]
Tag: Academy of Natural Sciences
Q+A: New Electric Eel Species Is a Real Shocking Discovery
Scientists have discovered a new species of eel that can discharge up to 860 volts of electricity – significantly more than the 650 volts previously recorded by what had been believed to be the only […]
How Does a Rainforest Catch Fire? Drexel Scientists Break Down Brazil’s Fires
Characterized by high levels of rainfall – it seems peculiar that a massive fire could take root in a rainforest region. That is why understanding exactly how and why Brazil’s Amazonian rainforest was set ablaze […]
This New Species of Shipworm Has an Appetite for Stone
As alluded to by its name, most shipworms bore into and digest wood – making them a natural nemesis to docks, pier infrastructure, wooden vessels and sailors alike. The mollusks digest the wood with the […]
New Species Announced at the Academy: 445 Days in Rewind
The continued discovery and documentation of new species shows life on Earth can still surprise us – and it’s clear that conservation and proper cohabitation of this world is increasingly important. Scientists at the Academy […]
Modern Taxonomy Benefits From A Closer Look at Specimens’ Genes
The “Tree of Life” is synonymous with evolution theory – the concept can be traced back to ancient Egyptian mythology, the Bible’s Genesis and is even harnessed by Charles Darwin in support of natural selection. […]
Media Watch: Academy Scientist Explains Fish Urban Legends on Netflix
In a new Netflix series, an Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University ichthyologist upacks the stories of several fish that have transcended from the water to our mythos. Mark Sabaj, PhD, interim curator of […]
What Goes Into a Controlled Burn?
The fires now ravaging North California have been particularly bad this year because years of drought have left the area much like a tinderbox. Without sufficient rain for years, many plants have been left dry […]
Hurricane Harvey: Even After Floodwaters Recede, They Hold Danger
Since Friday, Houston and its surrounding area has been hammered by more than 40 inches of rain, with more set to come. Flooding related to Hurricane Harvey has water cresting dams and forcing people to […]
Q&A: Extraordinary Four-Foot-Long Clams Finally Found Alive
Hiding inside a hard shell that’s up to four feet long and resembles an elephant tusk, there’s a dark-colored earthworm-like creature. At one end, the creature’s body forms a slight bulb. At the other, claw-like […]
