Welcome to The Porthole
Short sharp looks at science.
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Feather Forensics Could Help Nab Poachers
Chemical analysis of a bird’s feathers offers a reliable way to tell whether it was captive-born or wild-caught
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The Most Charming Villain in the Sky
Author Mike Stark on the 3 greatest revelations he had while writing his new book about starlings -
Smells Like Friend Spirit
How everyday scents can influence friendships -
The Genetics of Putrid-Smelling Flowers
Some plants lure pollinators with the stench of decay using a gene related to one that fights odor in human breath -
Thar Be Monsters
The art of unseen creatures and the dawn of science -
The Case of the Curious Butterfly
How a newly named species has survived in tiny numbers for 40,000 years
