Animals

  1. Animals

    Built for Blurs: Jellyfish have great eyes that can’t focus

    Eight of a box jellyfish's eyes have superb lenses, but their structure prevents them from focusing sharply.

    By
  2. Animals

    Alive and Knocking: Glimpses of an ivory-billed legend

    New observations confirm that the famed ivory-billed woodpecker has not gone extinct after all.

    By
  3. Animals

    Funny Walks: Cranes bob, bob, bob along when hunting

    The jerky neck motions of a whooping crane may help it spot food by keeping its head motionless about half the time.

    By
  4. Animals

    Fish Din: Reef clamor attracts young fish settlers

    When looking for a home, young fish seem to prefer a reef that's alive with the sounds of shrimp and fish rather than a quieter environment.

    By
  5. Animals

    DNA tells pigs’ tale of diverse ancestry

    A genetic study indicates that pigs were domesticated in at least seven different parts of Asia and Europe, not in just two regions, as many researchers had assumed.

    By
  6. Animals

    Why a turkey helps a pal find a mate

    A new study shows how the classic idea of kin selection could explain why male turkeys cruise in pairs, even though only one of them will win a mate.

    By
  7. Animals

    Big Mimics: African elephants can learn to copy sounds

    Two captive African elephants—one rumbling like a truck and the other chirping like a different elephant species—show they may be the first land mammals other than primates to learn vocal imitations.

    By
  8. Animals

    Ant larvae sway to say, ‘Feed me!’

    The most detailed study yet of body language of ant larvae translates a swaying motion as begging for food and a chance at a better future.

    By
  9. Animals

    Cops with Six Legs

    Insects commit crimes against their colonies, and researchers are taking a closer look at how these six-legged criminals get punished.

    By
  10. Animals

    Vampires Run: Bats on treadmills show high-speed gait

    The first test of vampire bats on a treadmill shows that they've evolved their own style of running.

    By
  11. Animals

    Picky-eater termites choose good vibes

    Good vibrations may have a lot to do with which pieces of wood a termite attacks.

    By
  12. Animals

    Shortcut to Big Heart: Pythons build cardiac muscle in record time

    A Burmese python can boost its cardiac fitness—by bulking up its heart muscle 40 percent in two days—just by eating.

    By