Animals

Fossils

Tube-dwelling sea creatures may be oldest known parasites

A fossil bed of clam-like animals from a half-billion years ago is covered in tube-dwelling organisms. These suggest the tube dwellers were parasites, scientists now report.

Animals

Bumblebees may bite leaves to spur plant blooming

In a pollen shortage, some bees nick holes in tomato leaves. This can speed up flowering and pollen production by weeks.

Animals

Let’s learn about bioluminescence

Some animals, bacteria and algae produce their own light. This bioluminescence can attract mates or protect from predators.

Oceans

Going bright may help corals recover from bleaching

When some corals bleach, they turn neon colors. Flashy hues may be part of a response that helps these corals recover and reunite with their algae.

Animals

Toxic germs on its skin make this newt deadly

Bacteria living on the skin of some rough-skinned newts make tetrodotoxin. This paralyzing poison is also found in pufferfish.

Life

Why you’re spotting more wildlife during COVID-19

People are seeing more animals than they did before the pandemic. There are many reasons why.

Chemistry

This tube worm’s glowing slime may help sustain its own shine

Snot oozed by a marine tube worm can glow for up to 3 full days. The secret of how this works might lead to long-lasting lights that glow on and on.

Science & Society

#BlackBirdersWeek seeks to open the outdoors for everyone

The social media campaign #BlackBirdersWeek hopes to show the world the many black birders and nature lovers of color.

Animals

Why elephants and armadillos might easily get drunk

Stories of drunken elephants may not be a myth. Differences in a gene for breaking down alcohol could explain how they get tipsy.

Animals

When prey get scarce, these jellies become cannibals

Invasive comb jellies may feast on their larvae if massive population booms in summer deplete their prey.

Animals

Traces from nuclear-weapons tests offer clues to whale sharks’ ages

Traces left by nuclear-bomb testing in the 1950s and ‘60s can help researchers learn how old a whale shark is.

Animals

Let’s learn about domestic cats

Cats rule the internet — and many of our homes. To get here was a journey of many thousands of years.