Life

  1. Animals

    Let’s learn about tardigrades

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

    By Maria Temming
  2. Health & Medicine

    Seeing sick faces revs up our immune system, new data show

    It activates parts of the brain that detect threats and boosts the activity of at least one type of immune cell.

    By Simon Makin
  3. Plants

    Physics explains how rose petals get their iconic shape

    Scientists thought they knew what was behind rose petals’ geometry. They were wrong.

    By Sarah Wells
  4. 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.

    By Erin Garcia de Jesús
  5. 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.

    By Bethany Brookshire
  6. Earth

    Let’s learn about rivers

    Rivers vary a lot in size and terrain, but all share a few basic features.

    By Maria Temming
  7. Life

    Scientists Say: Biodiversity

    The coral reefs at Komodo, one of the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia, are among the most diverse ecosystems on Earth.

    By Katie Grace Carpenter
  8. 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.

    By Susan Milius
  9. Health & Medicine

    Sleeping in — but not too much — may ease anxiety

    Getting up to two hours of weekend catch-up sleep lowers anxiety in teens, new research shows.

    By Alison Pearce Stevens
  10. Chemistry

    Uncover leaves’ hidden colors in this science activity

    Let’s use a technique called paper chromatography to separate the pigments lurking in tree leaves.

    By Science Buddies
  11. 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. 

    By Aaron Tremper
  12. 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.

    By Carolyn Wilke