Animals
Some seagulls will steal your food unless you stare them in the eyes
It's like a game of chicken where the winner gets to eat your chips.
Twig-mimicking caterpillars perceive color through their skin to match their background
Chameleons are cool but have you heard about this master of disguise?
Dolphin mother adopts a whale calf — first time this is seen in the wild
A mother was incredibly invested considering she adopted an orphan from a different species and genus.
Genome study reveals why the Komodo dragon is such a formidable predator
The Komodo dragon is an awesome predator -- and now scientists have discovered its genetic secrets.
It’s so hot in Finland’s Lapland the reindeer have hit the beach
They didn't seem to care about anything other than cooling down.
Sharks severely threatened by fishing fleets
Sharks are in great peril, and it's because of us.
Pufferfish spines and the hair on your head are governed by the same set of genes
"It just blows me away that regardless of how evolutionarily-different skin structures in animals are, they still use the same collection of genes during development."
Unhatched birds communicate with each other by vibrating shells
It's a remarkable communication and adaptation mechanism.
What’s the difference between birds and mammals
The differences are too many to say all at once.
Scientists describe new pocket shark species that glows in the dark
It's adorable and quite harmless.
Decline of iconic London sparrow might be caused by malaria
Habitat destruction and urbanization certainly played a role, but malaria might have dealt the final blow.
Analysis of 19 million cats shows how our pets’ weight evolves throughout their lifetimes
"As humans, we know we need to strive to maintain a healthy weight, but for cats, there has not been a clear definition of what that is. We simply didn't...
Grasshoppers, silkworms, giant cicadas are a good source of antioxidants — if you eat them
"In the future, we might also adapt dietary regimens for insect rearing in order to increase their antioxidant content for animal or human consumption," say the authors.
Decline in African forest elephants can raise atmospheric carbon dioxide
Everything is connected in nature -- and negative effects cascade.
Fossil Friday: bird encased in amber has an unique, “extreme” toe
The bird's hyper-elongated third toe is longer than its whole lower leg, the authors report.
8 bird species have disappeared this decade or are on the brink of extinction
This includes the Spix’s Macaw, the lovely birds which inspired the main characters in Rio.
Some extinct species of crocs were plant-eaters, fossil study reveals
Between three and six such species have existed in the past.
Researchers are one step closer to saving the northern white rhino from complete extinction
With only two females surviving in captivity, the species is functionally extinct.
