Latest news with #EncyclopaediaBritannica
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
5 animals that mate for life
Survival instincts often outweigh sentimental bonds in the animal kingdom yet a few species stand out for forming long-term, even lifelong, pair bonds. These animals defy the norms of short-term reproduction by choosing to stay with one mate for life. While the idea of lifelong animal love may be romanticised, scientists say monogamy in the animal world is primarily a strategy for survival. However, it's important to note that lifelong pair bonding is rare. According to a comprehensive BBC Earth study, only about 3-5% of mammal species are monogamous. Still, for those that are, it's not about love as humans understand it, it's about increasing the odds of genetic success and ensuring the survival of their young. Let's know more about some of these animals: Wolves are perhaps one of the most well-known monogamous species. A wolf pack typically consists of a dominant breeding pair, the alpha male and female, and their offspring. According to the Smithsonian Institute, these lifelong bonds ensure stability in the pack hierarchy and more successful rearing of pups. By remaining with a single mate, wolves maintain a strong, cooperative social unit that benefits the survival of the entire group. Swans have become romantic icons precisely because of their tendency to mate for life. These elegant birds form strong pair bonds and cooperate in building nests and raising cygnets. Research from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology reveals that while some swan pairs do 'divorce' due to infertility or failed nesting, the majority stay loyal. Their partnerships allow them to defend territories and raise offspring with a greater chance of survival. Gibbons, small apes native to Southeast Asia, live in family groups typically consisting of a monogamous male and female and their young. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, gibbons are unique among primates for this social structure. Monogamy helps reduce intra-group conflict and ensures cooperation in defending their territory and caring for offspring. Among the various penguin species, Emperor and Gentoo penguins are known for forming long-term pair bonds. While not all penguins are strictly monogamous for life, many species reunite with the same partner each breeding season. In the brutal conditions of Antarctica, Emperor penguins share the burden of incubation and chick-rearing. A study from National Geographic explains that such cooperation increases the odds of survival in extreme environments. Beavers are highly social rodents who build intricate lodges and dams. They live in family units led by a monogamous pair. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, beaver mates share the labour of building homes, gathering food, and raising kits. Their cooperative lifestyle is key to their ecological success and is a textbook example of monogamy benefitting survival.
Indian Express
21-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Meet the largest living wild dogs in the world
If you've ever stayed in a cabin in the forest, you'd know there's nothing more haunting than a wolf's howl echoing through you in the middle of the night. And if it were a grey wolf you were up against, your chances would be slimmer than your dream body. Grey wolves (aka Canis lupus) are the largest wild dogs in the world, and have roamed the northern hemisphere for thousands of years. But behind the folklore and fear lies a surprisingly misunderstood species, one whose intelligence, loyalty, and endurance deserve a second look. Grey wolves are the biggest living members of the dog family. As Encyclopaedia Britannica notes, they're the 'largest nondomestic member of the dog family.' Adult males can weigh anywhere from 30 to 80 kilograms (66–175 pounds) and stretch over 6 feet in length, including their thick, bushy tail. Their large paws and double coat of fur allow them to survive everything from arctic chills to mountain winds. But wolves aren't just built for the cold. They're also made for motion. According to Smithsonian Magazine, wolves can travel more than 20 miles a day looking for food, often working in tight-knit packs that operate with remarkable strategy and discipline. Grey wolves are the wild ancestors of every dog we know and love today, from a pampered pug to a fearless German shepherd. As Britannica points out, domestication began in northern Eurasia over 15,000 years ago, with early humans and wolves forming a bond that changed the course of both species. But unlike the dogs lying under our desks or curled up on couches, wolves still live by the rules of the wild. They are territorial, cautious of humans, and intensely loyal to their packs. Their howls are a form of long-distance communication, rallying cries, and territorial warnings. In the 20th century, wolves were nearly wiped out in many regions. Seen as a threat to livestock and safety, they were hunted relentlessly. But in 1995, something remarkable happened: wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park. These wolves then began to reshape the entire ecosystem, helping control overgrown elk populations. The ripple effect, known as a trophic cascade, even changed the flow of rivers. Yes, wolves can do that. Even now, grey wolves walk a fine line between protection and persecution. Their population status and legal rights often change, depending on political climates and public opinion. While Britannica notes that about 65,000–78,000 wolves live in North America, their future remains uncertain in many regions. Still, wildlife experts continue to remind us: wolves aren't villains. They're keystone species, vital to the balance of nature, and not just the survivors but also the engineers of our ecosystems, and the very root of our bond with dogs.
Telegraph
17-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Telegraph style book: Ee
E Earls Court: The former exhibition hall had no possessive, but the Tube station and neighbourhood is Earl's Court earth: Takes a capital only when used as the proper name of the planet (a mountain on Earth); in this sense, it does not need the definite article. Do not capitalise if used in a figurative sense (what on earth does that mean) EastEnders eBay, iPhone, easyJet: company names starting with a lower-case letter are capped up only at beginning of a sentence) e-book, e-cigarette E. coli ecstasy. No need to give the drug the cap E educationist: Not educationalist Edwardian: Edward VII reigned from 1901 to 1910. (The term is often extended to include the years up to the start of World War I in 1914) E E Cummings Eisteddfod: Plural is eisteddfodau eke out: Means to make something last longer elder of two, eldest of three or more electoral colleges: No cap needed electrocute: If someone is electrocuted they are dead. If they are alive they have received an electric shock embassy: The British embassy, the Russian embassy, etc lower case Emin, Tracey Emwazi, Mohamed. 'Jihadi John' of the 'IS Beatles', nicknames given to Emwazi and his terrorist cell by their hostages. Do not call him an executioner Encyclopaedia Britannica: Otherwise encyclopedia enquire, enquiry: Do not use. Inquire and inquiry are preferred ensure (make certain), insure (reduce monetary risk) Equator escaper or escaped man: Not escapee Eskimo: Use Inuit esports euro: The currency, plural euros. Use the symbol alongside a figure ie €2,000 and give a GBP equivalent in brackets afterwards eurozone (lower case): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden European Convention on Human Rights: Can call it ECHR at second mention or 'the convention' European Court of Human Rights: Technically known as the ECtHR, but do not use that acronym. Call it 'the court', 'the European court', 'the Strasbourg court' at subsequent mentions Europol: This is a European agency and should not be described as 'a European police force' Eurostar: An international passenger train service between Britain, France and Belgium. It is not to be confused with Eurotunnel, which owns the tunnel through which it passes even: This word is mostly unnecessary EVs: Spell out as electric vehicles first ex: As in ex-president Biden is hyphenated and not capped examination: Is preferred to exam in text executions: they are carried out in accordance with military or judicial orders; terrorists and gangsters kill, murder or assassinate people expel: One L, but expelled expert: Be careful how you use this word. It tends to be applied to almost anyone who claims a passing knowledge of the subject eyewitness: You can usually just write 'witness', although sometimes precision is needed
Scotsman
08-07-2025
- General
- Scotsman
9 essential items every household had during the 80s
1 . An encyclopaedia - the bigger, the better If you wanted to settle an argument before the days of the internet and mobile phones, you reached for the encyclopaedia. It was a case of the heftier the better, with a full set of the Encyclopaedia Britannica taking up an entire bookcase being the ultimate status symbol, even if it was often left to gather dust on the shelves. The paper encyclopedia was briefly replaced by Encarta in many households, as more people got computers, before Wikipedia came along. | Getty Images Photo: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive
Scotsman
08-07-2025
- General
- Scotsman
9 essential items every household had during the 80s
1 . An encyclopaedia - the bigger, the better If you wanted to settle an argument before the days of the internet and mobile phones, you reached for the encyclopaedia. It was a case of the heftier the better, with a full set of the Encyclopaedia Britannica taking up an entire bookcase being the ultimate status symbol, even if it was often left to gather dust on the shelves. The paper encyclopedia was briefly replaced by Encarta in many households, as more people got computers, before Wikipedia came along. | Getty Images Photo: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive
