1,308 results
- Animals
The giraffes that sailed to medieval China
Chinese exploration of the world is often left out of Western textbooks (at least it was left out of mine), but for a brief period, from 1405 to 1433, the Chinese under Ming emperor Yongle sent out numerous trade missions that reached as far as present-day Kenya. During the fourth expedition, which left China in 1413, part of the fleet led by commander Zheng He sailed to Bengal in India, where in 1414 they met envoys from the African coastal state of Malindi (now part of Kenya). The men from Malindi had brought with them as tribute giraffes, and they gave one of those giraffes to the Chinese, who took it home.
- Life
In the real world, cheetahs rarely go all out
Famous for speed, the big cats actually rely on acceleration and maneuverability to capture prey.
- Humans
Human ancestors had taste for meat, brains
A mix of hunting and scavenging fed carnivorous cravings of early Homo species.
- Climate
Grape expectations
Global warming has delivered long, warm growing seasons and blockbuster vintages to the world’s great wine regions. But by mid-century, excessive heat will push premium wine-making into new territory.
- Humans
Stone Age art gets animated
Cave paintings and decorated disks provided moving experiences in ancient Europe.
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Avant-garde cave art
Paintings and animation date way back.
- Life
The lion eats tonight …
Attacks on humans peak after a full moon, when feline bellies tend to rumble.
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- Life
Killer whale mama’s boys live longer
Survival benefits may explain females’ extended life span following menopause.
- Life
Scent Into Action
Rodent responses to a whiff of predator may offer clues to instinct in the brain.
- Earth
Icelandic volcanoes slumber today, but not forever
Eruptions pepper the North Atlantic island.
- Life
Carnivores can lose sweet genes
A gene involved in taste detection has glitches in some, but not all, highly carnivorous mammals.
