frogs

A photography prompt inviting black-and-white images of empty streets is circulating among hobby photographers. One contributor shared a monochrome shot of a deserted street in Cannobio, Italy, noting the only occupants were frogs. Participants are tagging their work with black-and-white, street photography and travel labels, sharing quiet scenes from towns and cities.

Scientists have used preserved museum frog specimens to identify the pathogen behind decades of unexplained amphibian disappearances. By analyzing specimens collected over many years, researchers traced the decline of frog populations to a disease-causing agent, confirming what conservationists had long suspected. The findings highlight the value of natural history collections and could help protect threatened amphibian species worldwide.

The European Policy Centre has published an analysis ahead of the October European Council, arguing that Europe is like a frog in slowly boiling water, gradually losing ground on strategic and economic challenges without decisive response. It sets out five conclusions urging EU leaders to act more urgently on competitiveness, security and geopolitical pressures when they meet in Brussels.

Birdwatchers are sharing an observation of a heron hunting salamanders, a less common prey choice for the wading bird, which typically feeds on fish, frogs and small aquatic animals. The sighting is drawing attention from birding and nature enthusiasts, who use it to discuss heron feeding behaviour and swap notes on what they have seen in the field.

A Popular Science article explores whether carnivorous plants such as Venus flytraps and pitcher plants could consume a human. The short answer is no: these plants capture insects and, at most, small frogs or rodents, lacking the size and digestive capacity to threaten people. The piece examines the biggest known carnivorous plants and why human-eating plants remain pure folklore.

Popular Science tackles a question that resurfaces every time giant carnivorous plants make headlines: whether plants like pitcher plants or the Venus flytrap could consume a human. The short answer is no. These plants are built to trap and digest insects and, at most, small vertebrates like frogs or rodents. A human is far too large, and the digestive enzymes involved are far too weak to pose any real danger to people.