Life

  1. Paleontology

    Out of the Shadows

    An ongoing flurry of fossil finds is triggering a reevaluation of how early mammals and their close kin eked out an existence during the Age of Dinosaurs.

    By Sid Perkins
  2. Ecosystems

    Light All Night

    New digital images demonstrate that artificial light from urban areas penetrates deep into some of America's most remote wild places, where it may disrupt ecosystems that have evolved with a nightly quota of darkness.

    By Ben Harder
  3. Ecosystems

    Caviar Caveats

    Caviar may become harder to find as a new trade ban goes into effect that's aimed at giving the most prized sturgeon a much-needed break from overfishing for their roe.

    By Janet Raloff
  4. Animals

    Cannibal Power: Mormon crickets swarm to eat and not be eaten

    What keeps the great swarms of Mormon crickets rolling across the landscape may be a combination of nutritional deficits and the risk of getting cannibalized.

    By Susan Milius
  5. Ecosystems

    Corals don’t spread far from their birthplaces

    Creating a marine protected area might offer only limited benefits to vulnerable corals, because viable coral larvae don't appear to spread far from their points of origin.

    By Ben Harder
  6. Ecosystems

    Saving Sturgeon

    Sturgeon species around the world are in trouble, which is why humans will increasingly be stepping in to give them a big assist.

    By Janet Raloff
  7. Animals

    Killer Flatworm: New species hunts with puffer fish toxin

    A newly described marine flatworm from Guam hunts with the same toxin that a puffer fish uses. With video.

    By Susan Milius
  8. Ecosystems

    Forest Field Trip

    Take a hike in the woods of Kentucky in this electronic field trip. The site offers an overview of forest ecology and management for grades 4 to 8. It includes video clips, an interactive game, a slideshow about the American chestnut, information about forest careers and tree products, activity pages, and a teacher’s guide. Go […]

    By Science News
  9. Animals

    Males as Nannies? First test for wasps’ hidden baby-care skills

    Young male wasps, in the absence of females, can care for larvae.

    By Susan Milius
  10. Paleontology

    Ancestor of Kings: Early progenitor of T. rex had a crest

    Paleontologists have unearthed remains of the oldest known dinosaur of the tyrannosaur clan.

    By Sid Perkins
  11. Animals

    Hawk skin sends UV signal

    The patch of skin above a hawk's beak looks orange-yellow to us, but to another hawk, it may broadcast ultraviolet sex appeal.

    By Susan Milius
  12. Animals

    Cyber Salmon

    To learn about chum, chinook, and coho salmon, try this Web site from the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Learn about the people of Alaska, several salmon species, and salmon habitat. The site includes salmon-related activities and lesson plans for various grade levels. Go to: http://cybersalmon.fws.gov/index.html

    By Science News