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Bird flu reaches Antarctic region

Bird flu puts isolated bird populations in the Antarctic region at risk. Also, mummified mice on Andes volcanoes and chimpanzees undergoing a rare human experience.

Fear that the highly infectious variant of avian influenza, H5N1, would reach the Antarctic region and put isolated bird populations at risk has finally come to fruition as the first birds on Bird Island in the Atlantic Ocean have come down with the devastating illness. Science manager of the island, Ashley Bennison, explains the situation.

Then, from one extreme climate to another - mummified mice have been found on the summit of volcanoes across the Andes, raising questions as to the capacity for vertebrates to survive in extreme conditions.

Kevin Langergraber has been studying the Ngogo chimpanzee community in Uganda for over 20 years. Now, Kevin and colleague Brian Wood tell us how this group are experiencing something thought to be unique amongst humans (and some whales): menopause.

And, how geophysicist Amir Kahn used seismic activity on Mars to understand what the core of our neighbouring planet is made of.

Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Ella Hubber
Editor: Martin Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

(Image: Wandering Albatross, Diomeda exulans, displaying at Cape Alexandra above Bird Sound and Bird Island in background South Georgia. Credit: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

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28 minutes

Last on

Sat 28 Oct 2023 16:32GMT

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  • Thu 26 Oct 2023 19:32GMT
  • Fri 27 Oct 2023 04:32GMT
  • Fri 27 Oct 2023 08:32GMT
  • Fri 27 Oct 2023 12:32GMT
  • Fri 27 Oct 2023 19:32GMT
  • Sat 28 Oct 2023 16:32GMT

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