Life

Brain

Ingredients in popular snack foods can make them addictive

Researchers find that highly processed foods rich in sugar and added fat may be as addictive as tobacco.

Plants

Mimosa plant ‘muscles’ fold tickled leaves fast

A mimosa plant uses special cells to close leaflets when bumped and then reopen them — again and again.

Animals

People and animals sometimes team up to hunt for food

Dolphins working with people to catch fish recently made a big splash. But humans have a long history of cooperating with other animals.

Animals

Pokémon ‘evolution’ looks more like metamorphosis

Pokémon “evolve” into larger, more powerful forms within seconds, but this evolution more closely resembles another biological process — metamorphosis. 

Animals

These beetles ‘drink’ water using their butts

Red flour beetles can survive in very dry environments. New research shows how the beetles can suck water from the air using their rear ends.

Animals

Sleeping glass frogs go into stealth mode by hiding red blood cells

Glass frogs snoozing among leaves blend in by hiding almost all their red blood cells in their liver.

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.

Genetics

Experiment: Are fingerprint patterns inherited?

Let’s investigate whether fingerprint patterns are created randomly or whether they are influenced by genetics.

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.