Animals

Animals

A million species could vanish, and people are to blame

Human activities are putting a million plant and animal species at risk of extinction, a new study finds. But it’s not too late to save many of them, scientists add.

Animals

Young aphids sacrifice themselves to make home repairs

Young aphids swollen with fatty substances save their colony by self-sacrifice. They use that goo to patch breaches in the wall of their tree home.

Animals

Tiger sharks feast when migratory birds fall out of the sky

Migrating land-based birds that fall from the sky as they cross the Gulf of Mexico can end up in the belly of a young tiger shark.

Animals

This tiny dinosaur is officially T. rex’s cousin

A newly identified dinosaur species fills a gap in the tyrannosaur family tree.

Animals

Slimy fish could aid the search for new drugs

Fish slime could teach scientists about bacteria that live on fish and aid in the hunt for new kinds of antibiotics.

Animals

Analyze This: Amphibian populations are on the decline

The chytrid fungus has been wiping out amphibians around the world. Scientists have tallied up the declines and found that the fungus is responsible for dozens of extinctions.

Animals

In a first, scientists keep cells alive in the brains of dead pigs

They’re not true zombies — but these pig brains showed signs of cellular life long after the animals had died.

Animals

Let’s turn a genie blue

Aladdin’s genie is very magical. He’s also blue. What might explain that? Nature has some tricks on offer.

Animals

Bats in the attic prompt boys to create a better bat detector

When a teen learned he had 700 bats in his attic, he decided to develop a better bat detector.

Animals

Geneticists get closer to knowing how mosquitoes sniff out our sweat

Scientists have found that a protein in the antennae of some mosquitoes detects a chemical in human sweat.

Animals

Bumpy edges could be key to record-breaking oars

Inspired by the bumpy edges of flippers on a humpback whale, an Australian teen has redesigned oars for use by competitive rowers.

Animals

Scientists Say: Guinea worm

Scientists and health care workers are working to eradicate this parasite, which causes a painful condition called Guinea worm disease.