http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/index.aspx This feed contains the 10 newest additions to Planet Earth online en-gb Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:00:36 GMT http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=698 http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=698 Small honey bee males are officially in trouble: when it comes to competitive high-speed mating swarms, normal-sized males do have better chances to get to the queen and mate successfully. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:11:10 GMT http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=697 http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=697 Meet Nasunaris flata, the 425 million year old ostracod from Herefordshire. Ostracods are microscopic crustaceans that resemble tiny shrimps covered by a mussel-like hinged shell. Nasunaris is only the third ostracod fossil found with a complete set of soft parts preserved inside the shell. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:23:15 GMT http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=695 http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=695 Scientists confirm what kids have always feared: you're better off if you listen to your parents. A new study shows that little canary chicks have a lot to lose if they beg too much for food. This is because mums' patience has limits and chicks will only grow weaker if they spend energy asking for things they're not going to get. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:48:19 GMT http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/multimedia/story.aspx?id=696 http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/multimedia/story.aspx?id=696 Hear about the new threats facing our coral reefs and rainforests. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:00:00 GMT http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/features/story.aspx?id=646 http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/features/story.aspx?id=646 Finding gold deposits isn't easy in heavily forested tropical volcanic regions. Dan Smith, Gawen Jenkin and Jon Naden describe how precipitates from hot springs could lead us to a gold mine beneath. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:57:21 GMT http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=694 http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=694 Chemical analysis of teeth from decapitated bodies in an ancient burial pit in Dorset has revealed that the victims were Vikings. All of the victims had suffered wounds inflicted by a sharp weapon to their skulls, jaws and upper spines consistent with decapitation injuries. Some also had their limbs hacked off. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:00:00 GMT http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=693 http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=693 Bumblebees can now be spotted all year around, especially in Southern England where winter-flowering, non-native plants found in urban gardens provide the food they need to survive the cold months of our British winter. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:19:29 GMT http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=691 http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=691 Some crops like barley and wheat survive on poor soils, because they grow special long root hairs to extract nutrients like phosphate and iron. Now scientists have discovered which genes are behind this ability paving the way for plant breeders to develop crops that can grow in infertile soils. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:00:00 GMT http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=692 http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/news/story.aspx?id=692 Young guppies with an Oliver Twist lifestyle grow into intrepid adults, say a team of scientists who look at boldness in animals. The researchers found that fish fed at random hours are bolder and more inquisitive than those reared with a predictable supply of food. Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:43:02 GMT http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/features/story.aspx?id=669 http://planetearth.nerc.ac.uk/features/story.aspx?id=669 Placed end to end, the viruses in our oceans would stretch for 200 million light years. Yet we know surprisingly little about what they do. Mike Allen and Willie Wilson describe their work on one fascinating family, the coccolithoviruses. Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:29:40 GMT