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Emperor Penguins Counted From Space

HairyNevus writes "An international team of scientists used satellite technology to conduct a census of emperor penguin populations from outer space. Honing in on their colonies by looking for the brown patches of penguin guano that stand out in the snowy antarctic, high resolution images were taken and used to count the total number of emperor penguin species on the continent. The result was a census of 595,000 penguins, almost double the previous estimates of 270,000-350,000 emperors. This includes seven new colonies which had not been previously identified. Although this is uplifting data, computer modeling still shows that loss of ice flows in the northern reaches could result in problems for the penguins."

7 of 102 comments (clear)

  1. But the real question remains unanswered... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Are they super-intelligent Hive-Mind Killer Penguins planning to take over the world?

    They are headed North...straight towards humanity.

  2. In other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The most expensive alternative to counting sheep has been developed.

  3. I couldn't help it by Grayhand · · Score: 5, Funny

    I got this picture of a Google Earth car driving through a group of penguins.

  4. emperor penguins from outer space by cayce · · Score: 3, Funny

    And I, for one, welcome our new penguin alien overlords.

  5. Count Them From Orbit by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's the only way to be sure.

  6. How do they know? by loftwyr · · Score: 5, Funny

    An international team of scientists used satellite technology to conduct a census of emperor penguin populations from outer space

    How do you tell which ones are from outer space?

  7. I used to work with that U of MN group by AragornSonOfArathorn · · Score: 3, Funny

    They know their shit. Solid scientists.

    --
    sudo eat my shorts