Animals

  1. Animals

    Urchin mobs can literally dis-arm a predator

    Urchins are important herbivores — but not strict vegetarians. When hungry enough, they may even rip apart their predators for lunch.

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  2. Animals

    Engineers surprised by the power of an elephant’s trunk

    An elephant's trunk can suck air through it fast — at more than 335 miles per hour (150 meters per second)!

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  3. Animals

    Let’s learn about whales and dolphins

    Whales, dolphins and porpoises are all cetaceans — mammals that live in water and have a streamlined body similar to a fish.

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  4. Animals

    Common parasite may help mussels survive heat waves

    By whitening shells, the organism helps the shellfish stay cool on sunny days, a new study suggests.

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  5. Tech

    Mantis shrimp inspires somersaults of new soft robot

    Its rolling acrobatics allow this robot to move especially swiftly — much as a fictional new Disney character can.

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  6. Animals

    Most species of beetles pee differently than other insects

    Scientists uncover their unique system for balancing ions and water. The findings may hint at why beetles are the most diverse animals on Earth.

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  7. Animals

    A common antibiotic might save some sick corals

    The antibiotic amoxicillin stopped tissue death in corals for at least 11 months after treatment.

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  8. Animals

    The secret to T. rex‘s incredible biting force is at last revealed

    The force of a T. rex bite was roughly 6 metric tons. A new study points to what’s behind that mighty force.

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  9. Earth

    Only 3 percent of Earth’s land is unchanged by people

    A sweeping survey of land-based ecosystems finds that very few still support all the animals they used to. Reintroducing lost species could help.

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  10. Ecosystems

    Analyze This: Invasive species cost the world billions each year

    A new study estimates that invasive species have cost the world more than $1 trillion since 1970. That’s almost certainly an underestimate.

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  11. Fossils

    Rhinos, camels and bone-crushing dogs once roamed Nebraska

    Scientists digging into the remnants of an ancient watering hole in Nebraska discovered evidence of an Africa-like savanna, complete with rhinos.

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  12. Life

    These rabbits can’t hop. A gene defect makes them do handstands

    Mutations in a gene that helps nerve cells work properly rob rabbits of their ability to hop. Instead, the animals use their front paws to move.

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