Animals

  1. Genetics

    Year in review: Genes linked to tameness

    A look at the genes of domesticated animals offers possible insights into why taming has altered animals’ appearances.

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  2. Animals

    Year in review: Insect, bird evolution revisited

    Insects got an entirely new family tree after an extensive genetic analysis rearranged the creatures' relations.

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  3. Archaeology

    Year in review: Roster of dinosaurs expands

    With the discovery of several new species and a few dogma-shaking revelations, dinosaurs got a total rethink in 2014.

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  4. Animals

    Year in review: The post-pigeon century

    Birds' troubles received an eerie emphasis in the news when biologists marked the 100th anniversary of the death of the last known passenger pigeon.

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  5. Animals

    Australia’s unexpectedly dangerous creatures

    Australia is home to an array of deadly things — from crocodiles to venomous snakes — but dangers can also be found among seemingly safe critters.

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  6. Ecosystems

    Bee losses followed World Wars

    British historical records show a century-long decline of important pollinators: bees and some wasps.

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  7. Life

    New tree of life confirms strange history of birds

    A genetic analysis supports some odd groupings in the bird tree of life, showing a lot of convergent evolution in avian history.

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  8. Animals

    Male monkeys’ social bonds may ease everyday stress

    When male primates live in groups with other males, they tend to fight over females. But male-male bonding can reduce stress, a study finds.

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  9. Animals

    Finch sperm go long to fertilize more eggs

    For finches, longer sperm mean a faster route to storage and a higher likelihood of being a dad at the end of the day.

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  10. Animals

    ‘Tis the season for white-nose syndrome in bats

    While bats are active, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome stays put in the caves the bats call home in winter. New findings show how the fungus varies through the seasons.

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  11. Animals

    That puffed-up pufferfish isn’t holding its breath

    Pufferfish can breathe just fine even when they puff themselves out with water, a new study finds.

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  12. Life

    Electric eels remote-control nervous systems of prey

    Electric eels’ high-voltage zaps turn a prey fish against itself, making it freeze in place or betray a hiding place.

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