Animals

Animals

Explainer: The age of dinosaurs

Take a trip back to the Mesozoic Era to explore how geologic events, ecosystems and evolution were connected during the so-called age of dinosaurs.

Humans

The ultimate genealogical search hunts for our earliest ancestors

The complex search to identify humans’ most distant cousins is long, complex and far from straightforward. It’s also far from over.

Animals

Baleen whales eat — and poop — a lot more than we thought

The amount of food that some whales eat and then poop out suggests these animals have a powerful influence over ocean ecosystems.

Physics

Here’s why ducklings swim in a row behind mom

Baby ducks save energy by surfing their mother’s waves, but only if they do it in an orderly line.

Animals

Bloodthirsty vampire bats prefer drinking with friends

Vampire bats were known to bond with others in their roost. Now, research suggests bonded bats often drink blood from animals together.

Materials Science

Bacteria make ‘spider silk’ that’s stronger than steel

Part spider silk, the material is better than what some spiders make. Researchers think it might make the basis for surgical threads or unusually strong fabrics.

Animals

Cockatoos learn from each other how to open garbage bins

The bin-opening behavior is an example of social learning. It’s also the basis of a foraging culture. Learn more in this web comic.

Animals

Let’s learn about the creatures of Halloween

Check out the real-life vampires and zombies of the animal kingdom, and learn why people think ghosts and mummy curses are real.

Animals

Scientists Say: Marsupial

These mammals are known for riding around in a pouch on their mother’s belly, where they continue developing after they’re born.

Science & Society

Racism lurks in many plant and animal names. That’s now changing

Racist legacies linger in everyday lingo for birds, plants and other organisms. Some scientists now see the chance to change that.

Agriculture

Potty-trained cows could help reduce pollution

About a dozen calves have been trained to pee in a stall. Toilet training cows on a large scale could cut down on pollution, scientists say.

Animals

What biologists call a species is becoming more than just a name

The tree of life — evolution — has been reshaping how scientists name and classify organisms. Some want naming to reflect evolutionary groups even more.