When birds look for mates, sweet birdsong and wildly coloured plumage have long been understood to play significant roles in courtship. But according to new research on song sparrows, bird body odour is also quite important.

Today in The Conversation Canada, McMaster University’s Leanne Grieves writes about her research on the common North American song sparrow. By gathering preen oil — which birds use to clean their feathers — Grieves found that male birds were more attracted to preen oil from females and vice versa. And more interestingly, she found that female birds were more interested in male birds that were genetically distinct from them. These findings echo the findings of the “sweaty t-shirt” experiments in humans, where women were found to prefer the smelly garments of men who weren’t related to them.

 

Also today:

 

Nehal El-Hadi

Science + Technology Editor

Scent plays an important role in how birds choose their mates. (Shutterstock)

Birds sniff out potential mates who are genetically different

Leanne Grieves, McMaster University

Birds use body odour to smell out potential mates, and partners who are genetically unrelated to them smell more attractive.

Anti-scaling fencing is seen in front of the United States Supreme Court, which is across the street from the U.S. Capitol, on Jan. 10, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alan Fram)

The U.S. Capitol riot shows civil unrest is today’s major national security threat

Sadia Mariam Malik, York University, Canada

National security must be redefined to reflect new sources of security threats of the type that occurred at the U.S. Capitol.

Scientists have found widespread evidence of microplastics in the Arctic Ocean. This could further stress the fragile Arctic ecosystem and the food it provides to people living there. (Shutterstock)

They’re everywhere: New study finds polyester fibres throughout the Arctic Ocean

Peter S. Ross, University of British Columbia

Microplastic pollution is a global issue, but where do they come from and how are they transported across the ocean? A new study finds polyester microfibres are common throughout the Arctic Ocean.

This is not a wok: Japanese musician Natsuki Tamura explores sounds at an online global festival of improvisation, IF 2020. (Ajay Heble/IF 2020)

3 lessons from musical improvisation to help navigate 2021

Ajay Heble, University of Guelph

Improvisation asks us to trust that surprise will teach us something. As we enter a new year and a post-pandemic landscape, musical improvisation offers inspiration.

La Conversation Canada

Le premier ministre du Québec, Francois Legault, annonce son Plan pour une économie verte à Montréal, le 16 novembre. Mais comment s’assurer que le PEV et les mesures de relance économique aient une plus grande sensibilité régionale? La Presse Canadienne/Paul Chiasson

Relance économique : il faut tenir compte des différentes réalités régionales

Juste Rajaonson, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

Le plan vert aura une implication différente pour les 1131 municipalités du Québec. Elles n’ont ni le même point de départ, ni les mêmes défis, ni les mêmes moyens pour contribuer à cette transition.

Les entreprises se tournent de plus en plus vers les méthodes d’embauche virtuelles, parfois avec des entretiens sans interaction humaine. (Pixabay)

Comment embaucher – et se faire embaucher – avec le recrutement en ligne

Joshua Bourdage, University of Calgary; Eden-Raye Lukacik, University of Calgary; Nicolas Roulin, Saint Mary’s University

Les entretiens vidéo asynchrones sont une tendance d’embauche virtuelle qui gagne beaucoup de terrain. Voici comment les candidats à un emploi et les organisations peuvent les utiliser au mieux.

Science + Technology

COVID-19

  • COVID-19 immunity: how long does it last?

    Sheena Cruickshank, University of Manchester

    Long-term protection will depend on the 'memory response' developed by our immune systems – and the initial signs are promising.

Business + Economy