Animals

Oceans

Widespread coral bleaching threatens world’s reefs

The world’s corals are experiencing their third major bleaching event in 17 years.

Animals

Fish have had telescoping jaws for 100 million years

Around 100 million years ago, fish developed a knack for extending their jaws to snare prey, and they’ve been perfecting this hunting technique ever since.

Animals

How the giraffe got its long neck

A new study of fossils suggests that the giraffe’s defining feature may have started evolving long before modern giraffes came on the scene.

Animals

Oldest pregnant horselike fossil found

A 48-million-year-old fossil of an early horse and fetus is the oldest and best-preserved specimen of its kind.

Animals

No eyes, no problem for color-sensing coral larvae

Switching colors of underwater light can switch preferences for where staghorn corals choose their forever homes.

Humans

Chimpanzees show surprising flexibility on two feet

Chimpanzees’ upper-body flexibility while walking upright suggests ancient hominids walked effectively.

Animals

What really changes when a male vole settles down

Bachelor prairie voles can’t tell one female from another, but saying “I do” means more than just settling down.

Plants

Raindrops help pitcher plants trap dinner

Pitcher plants use the force of falling raindrops to fling prey into their traps.

Plants

Stinky seeds dupe dung beetles

Seeds that look and smell like animal poop can trick dung beetles into spreading and burying the seeds.

Animals

What happens to animals in a hurricane?

Hurricanes can be devastating to animals on land and in the sea, but they can also provide opportunities.

Animals

This may be the world’s tiniest snail

Tiny snail unearthed in China could be the world's smallest, researchers report.

Animals

Some seabirds will be hit hard by sea level rise

Seabird species that nest on low-lying islands in stormy winter months could see huge losses as sea levels rise, a new study finds.