News at a glance: Debate over classifying research, giant water lilies, and new hummingbird feather colors

ECOLOGY Scientists find new hummingbird colors The plumage of hummingbirds has more color diversity than the feathers of all other birds combined, a recent study finds. Researchers from Yale University collected feathers from specimens of 114 hummingbird species and, using a spectrometer, documented the wavelengths of light they reflected. These wavelengths were then compared with those found in a previous study of 111 other bird species, including penguins and parrots. The researchers were surprised to find new colors in the hummers, which widened the known avian color gamut by 56% and included rarely seen saturated greens and blues, they report in Communications Biology . The newfound variation largely includes colors in the ultraviolet scale that are invisible to humans and probably only seen by hummingbirds themselves. Researchers note the variation is likely due to the reflective qualities of nanostructures present in the small barbs that protrude from the end of each hummingbird feather. The new colors were mostly found on the crowns and throats of the birds, suggesting a role in mating displays and communication. RESEARCH SECURITY New debate over secrecy Science has learned that the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has asked the National Academies to take a fresh look this fall at a Cold War-era presidential directive that regards openness in basic research as a boon to both ...
Source: ScienceNOW - Category: Science Source Type: news