Life

Animals

Here’s how a clam can hide within a rock

Old boring clam research has been upended after 82 years.

Animals

Toxic toads pose threat to Madagascar’s predators

The Asian common toad, an invasive species in Madagascar, produces a chemical in its skin that’s probably toxic to most of the island’s predators.

Animals

An Asian, self-cloning tick threatens U.S. livestock

The longhorned tick spreads human diseases in its East Asian homeland. Now it’s invaded the United States. There, it has threatened mostly livestock — so far, anyway.

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.