Scientists have found that New Caledonian crows, like humans, can reason about hidden mechanisms, or “causal agents”. Published this week in PNAS, this study represents the first time that this cognitive ability has been experimentally demonstrated in a species other than humans, and the method may help scientists understand how this type of reasoning evolved, the researchers say. SEFS‘ John Marzluff is quoted; read more in this Wired.com 

A new study led by a biologist at Scotland’s University of St. Andrews used UW-designed electronic tags to see whether crows might learn to use tools from one another. The findings supported the theory by showing an unexpected amount of social mobility: during one week, the technology recorded more than 28,000 interactions among 34 crows! Read more about this study here. 

As sea ice in the Arctic continues to shrink during this century, more than two thirds of the area with sufficient snow cover for ringed seals to reproduce also will disappear, challenging their survival, scientists report in a new study. Read about this study here; ATMOS‘ Cecilia Bitz and Paul Hezel, co-authors, are quoted. 

An array of volcano-monitoring equipment on Mount Rainier is all serviced and ready for the big one, after maintenance work at high altitude. Learn more about these sensors here; Also check out this interview and photo collection by Jon Connolly, of the PNW Seismic Network, who got to work on the equipment last week.