Animals

Animals

Explainer: What is a shark?

These fish have skeletons made of cartilage, not bone — and aren’t nearly as scary as portrayed in the media.

Animals

A shark encounter inspired this researcher’s career in marine biology

Heidy Martinez never wanted to study sharks as a kid. That changed after encountering a white shark in South Africa.

Animals

Let’s learn about tardigrades

These tiny animals can survive drying out, freezing, harsh radiation and other hazards.

Animals

Quashing the spotted lanternfly may require help from other species

This invasive pest has spread to 17 U.S. states and may threaten vineyards. But bats, fungi, dogs and even trees may help halt the lanternfly's spread.

Animals

What dogs see on TV depends on their temperament

Breed, age or sex didn’t seem to matter in how dogs reacted to TV, but personality did. That’s according to a survey of more than 400 dog owners.

Animals

Here’s a spider whose barf is worse than its bite

These critters, which often make their homes on houseplants, don’t bother injecting venom. The spiders just vomit it all over their tied-up prey.

Humans

A real-life vampire probably couldn’t survive on blood alone

Vampires often have human bodies. To survive on blood, they’d need to shed millions of years of evolution. 

Animals

Birds of paradise have a newly discovered glow

Many male birds of paradise have bellies, bills and other parts that glow under certain types of light. This special gleam may help them woo mates.

Life

Fungi have been ‘zombifying’ insects for 99 million years

Two bits of ancient amber sitting in a lab basement hold evidence of a fungus that’s become famous for controlling the minds of its victims.

Animals

Frogs evolved a wide variety of vocal sacs to amplify their ribbits

Maybe you've seen frogs with ballooning throats, but what about pop-out poofs and fat ear bumps?

Animals

Scientists Say: Kleptopredation

It’s a hunter-eat-hunter world out there, and this feeding strategy gives some double-dipping predators a competitive edge.

Animals

Young capuchins are kidnapping baby howler monkeys

The disturbing habit has emerged among capuchin monkeys on a remote island off Panama. Scientists are baffled — and concerned.