Seabird poop does whaaat? And more…

Several recent studies are shedding new light on the surprising role that seabird poop plays in bringing life to barren islands and creating wealth in a burgeoning kingdom. PLUS: The precursors of written language go back a lot earlier than we thoughtDolphins exposed to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill also more likely to be hit by boatsFrom the archives: Canadian astronomer spots a supernova visible to the naked eyeQuirks Question: How do beavers choose their trees?Mapping the universe in three dimensions