Life

Animals

Here’s what narwhals sound like underwater

Scientists eavesdropped while narwhals clicked and buzzed. The work could help pinpoint how the whales may react to more human noise in the Arctic.

Health & Medicine

Dogs carry a grab bag of flu viruses

Dogs carry a mix of flu viruses, including some that came from pigs. But there’s no reason to worry just yet.

Animals

Scientists Say: Krill

Krill are small crustaceans in the ocean. They are an important food source for other larger animals, and their tiny swimming motions can mix nutrients in the sea.

Animals

These caterpillars are scaring the city of London

The fluffy-haired larvae of the oak processionary moth have a curious behavior, moving in neat, little lines. But the caterpillars pose threats to trees and human health.

Animals

This extinct bird boasted dinosaur-like teeth

Fossil skulls from an ancient bird shows this flyer had a beak — but dino-like chompers to chew through its prey.

Genetics

Scientists Say: Intron

These are sections of DNA that are trimmed out before the DNA is copied RNA and translated into protein. But they still have important jobs to do.

Animals

Uh oh! New approach to saving this species imperiled it

After years separated from predators, these endangered quoll lost their fear of them. This jeopardizes the safety of any quoll released back to their home range.

Animals

Hefty dinosaurs had a trick for sitting on eggs safely

To keep their eggs warm without squashing them, some heavy dinosaurs laid eggs in a ring and sat in a space at the middle.

Physics

The plant world has some true speed demons

Some plants can fling, snap and hop at dizzying speeds. Such botanical gymnastics gives lie to the idea that all plants are slow, boring stick-in-the-muds.

Chemistry

Nom, nom! These bacteria eat antibiotics for lunch

Some soil microbes don’t just break down antibiotics, they can eat them too. Scientists have found one way they do it.

Chemistry

Ouch! Lemons and other plants can cause a special sunburn

These are among a host of plants (many found in the refrigerator vegetable drawer) that produce chemicals that will kill skin cells when activated by sunlight. The result can be a serious, localized sunburn — sometimes with blistering.

Earth

Surprise! Fire can help some forests keep more of their water

In California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, a century of fire suppression has led to forests with too many trees. But areas thinned by fire now show one benefit: more water.