Last week was ...
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An extraordinary week for birds.
In Colombia it was the drug-carrier pigeon which crashed into a prison wall in the city of Buga, weighed down by two 4g packets of marijuana that had been attached to its legs.
In Wakefield, it was a crow that provided a most unwanted birdie on a golf course. After hitting a 180-yard shot to within 10ft of the hole, Jonathan Marsden was amazed to see a crow land on the green, walk over to his ball and fly off with it.
Quail was on the menu in San Diego, where scientists found a way to implant the natural behaviour of one species into another. Evan Balaban, a neurobiologist, has found parts of a quail's brain that can be implanted into a chicken to make the chicken bob its head like a quail, and even sing quail songs.
Finally, in Oxford and Ontario, scientists believe they have discovered why most male birds have no penis. It's all to do with efficient reproductive behaviour and sperm choice by females. Apparently absence of a penis gives the female greater control to choose the best sperm with which to fertilise her eggs.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments