Life

Animals

Radioactive animals don’t glow — but do show the power of radiation

Wild species exposed to nuclear contamination help show how radiation affects living things — including its risks to people.

Fossils

Here’s why ammolite gems have a rainbow shimmer

The fossils’ fabulous colors arise from delicate assemblies of crystal plates.

Life

Scientists Say: Taxonomy

This field of study does more than just organize living things. It also reflects the history of life's evolution.

Life

Let’s learn about life forms that have survived in space

Moss spores, bacteria and tardigrades have all proved their hardiness outside the International Space Station.

Animals

Some Antarctic fish arrange their nests into odd shapes

Scientists found nests organized into curves, clusters and ovals on the Antarctic seabed. Such groupings may protect the fish eggs from predators.

Fossils

Newfound fossil is not a teen T. rex but a whole new species

Now known as Nanotyrannus, this mini dino could have roamed the late Cretaceous alongside T. rex.

Brain

Hypnosis isn’t magic. It’s the brain at work

While we still don’t know much about how hypnosis works, it appears to help some people conquer pain, anxiety and other problems.

Animals

Woodpeckers grunt like tennis players when they peck

The birds grunt like tennis pros when making their rat-a-tat, a strategy that may help steady their movements.

Earth

Scientists Say: River Piracy

This happens when one river captures another’s water.

Artificial Intelligence

AI can now write working genetic instruction books from scratch

Two AI models designed these genomes for viruses that kill E. coli bacteria. They’re the first functioning full sets of DNA ever designed by machines.

Brain

Brain scans reveal where taste and smell combine to become flavor

Flavor isn’t just on your tongue. Scans show that a part deep in the brain fuses taste and smell into something that’s more than a sum of its parts.

Humans

Scientists Say: Chronohygiene

Artificial lights and other aspects of modern life can confuse our body’s internal sleep clock. But a few minor changes may grant us much-needed control.