Animals

Animals

Analyze This: Puppies naturally mimic human actions

Unlike cats, whose ancestors hunted alone, dogs evolved from a species that hunted in packs. Being social might explain why pups copy humans.

Animals

This biologist uses microwave radiation to save endangered species

Pei-Chih Lee works to preserve genetic material that can help researchers learn more about endangered animals, such as pandas and clouded leopards.

Animals

Let’s learn about frogs

Frogs are a fascinating bunch of amphibians. Unfortunately, they’re also dying off in huge numbers.

Animals

Random hops always bring jumping beans to shade — eventually

It’s not fast, but jumping beans use randomness to maximize their chances of getting out of the sun’s heat.

Climate

Here’s how to increase clean energy without harming wildlife

Wind farms, solar panels and more take up land and may harm wildlife. Researchers are working to resolve this conflict.

Animals

When it’s hot, echidnas blow snot bubbles to cool off

These spiky Australian mammals have a trick to moisten their noses, allowing them to survive hot temperatures that should kill them.

Animals

How can Baby Yoda be 50 years old?

Animals with wings, big bodies or other protections from predators are more likely to evolve long lifespans.

Animals

A love of small mammals drives this scientist

Alexis Mychajliw’s science is driven by her love of animals. She now looks to tar pits and fossilized poop to understand ancient ecosystems.

Animals

Prairie voles can couple up even without the ‘love hormone’

Scientists thought the chemical oxytocin was required to make prairie voles mate. They were wrong.

Environment

Protecting forests may help head off future pandemics

Hungry bats are more likely to shed harmful viruses to people or livestock when they spread out to hunt food. Conserving forests may limit this risk.

Animals

Bumblebees go out of their way to play

Young bumblebees roll wooden balls and go out of their way to do so. This suggests they play like other animals do.

Fossils

An ancient ichthyosaur graveyard may have been a breeding ground

Some 230 million years ago, huge dolphin-like reptiles appear to have gathered to breed in safe waters, just as many whales do today.