Animals

Environment

Spidey sense: Eight-legged pollution monitors

Spiders that prey on aquatic insects can serve as sentinels that naturally monitor banned chemicals that still pollute many rivers across the United States.

Microbes

Virus blamed in starfish die-off

A virus may explains the deaths of millions of starfish along the Pacific Coast of North America. The deaths affect 20 species. Some of the stricken animals appear to melt into puddles of slime.

Fossils

Tar pit clues provide ice age news

New analyses of insects and mammals trapped in the La Brea Tar Pits point to climate surprises during the last ice age.

Animals

Tiny — but mighty — food-cleanup crews

Discarded food wastes can turn city spaces into food courts for disease-carrying rats and pigeons. But a new study shows tiny cleanup crews — especially pavement ants — are doing their best to eliminate such wastes. This, in turn, makes cities less attractive to bigger pests.

Animals

Climate change brings new neighborhood birds

Climate change has made winters a little bit warmer. Many bird species are now wintering a lot farther north than they did a few decades ago, a new study finds.

Animals

Crabs play defense, save corals

In 2008, an outbreak of large starfish killed off much of a coral reef. But some patches were spared. New data point to why: Mini crabs had fended off the big attackers.

Animals

Bat signals jammed

Mexican free-tailed bats can jam each other’s signals while hunting at night. The interference makes snagging an insect supper even more competitive for the flying mammals.

Animals

Scientists seek bat detectives

Bats emit high-pitched calls in the night to find their way around. A citizen science project is eavesdropping on these calls to probe the health of ecosystems.

Animals

Ancient jellyfish died a strange death

Scientists have probed the fossilized remains of an ancient jellyfish. It reveals a bizarre sequence of events that led to its preservation 310 million years ago.

Earth

When life exploded

Life exploded in diversity during the Cambrian Period. Experts are exploring what could account for this sudden change 540 million years ago.

Animals

New frog discovered in New York City

This animal could almost be mistaken for the southern leopard frog — until it opens its mouth. The call the males issue has proven unique.

Animals

Fish just wanna have fun

Although biologists have observed fish playing before, scientists have now recorded hours of video showing a new type of antic in fish.