Animals, features and articles | Educational Science

Oct 31, 2012

Mystery Molelike Mammal Survived Dino Extinction

A molelike mammal nicknamed the grave robber survived the event that killed the dinosaurs, new research finds. Necrolestes patagonensis, whose name translates in part to grave robber, was among the mammals that lived through the dinosaur mass extinction. The new study finds that the creature lived 45 million years longer...

Sep 30, 2012

It Pays to Be a Nice Baboon

Like humans, baboons with good friends often enjoy better health and longer lives. Now research suggests the strength of a baboon's social circle depends less on its rank than its personality — and being nice pays off. These results have allowed us to, for the first time in a wild...

Sep 30, 2012

Snail Sacrifices Foot to Survive Snake Attacks

Better to lose your foot than your life, at least if you're a snail. In a move reminiscent of certain lizards that can voluntarily detach their tails, young Satsuma caliginosa snails self-amputate their foot when attacked by their nemesis, the Pareas iwasakii snake, a new study finds. As they age,...

Sep 30, 2012

'Supermice' Invade Europe with Mighty Sperm

The male chromosome of an Eastern European house mouse has infiltrated Western Europe, creating a hybrid strain of supermice with extra-high sperm counts. Normally, hybridization, when two subspecies mate to produce offspring, results in decreased sperm strength in the offspring. But when the western mouse Mus musculus domesticus picks up...

Aug 31, 2012

Panda Plays Peak-a-Boo During Checkup

The San Diego Zoo's panda cub is starting to open his eyes, to adorable effect. During an exam on Wednesday morning, animal care staff could see the cub's eyes beginning to open, the zoo said in a release. The development is right on track for the 45-day old male cub....

Aug 31, 2012

'Mama's Boys' May Explain Killer Whale Menopause

Menopause is a rare phenomenon in the animal world. Besides humans, killer whales are among the few species whose females lose their ability to reproduce well before the end of their natural life span. But to what advantage? Researchers have speculated that for humans, menopause evolved to reduce competition between...

Aug 31, 2012

Retrovirus Has Long Plagued Koalas, Study Finds

Many koalas get a retrovirus, known as KoRV, that brings on an AIDS-like immune deficiency, making them susceptible to diseases, such as leukemia. New research shows that this virus has been a problem for koalas for longer than previously thought. Scientists looked at DNA from 28 koala skins from European...

Jul 31, 2012

Deep-Sea Squid Ditches Wriggling Arms to Escape Predators

Much like lizards that ditch their tails in a tussle, some deep-sea squid can sacrifice their glowing arms to distract enemies and swim to safety. Scientists observed this defense mechanism first-hand in the foot-long octopus squid (Octopoteuthis deletron) off the coast of California. If a predator is trying to attack...

Jul 31, 2012

Secret to Squid's Iridescent Rainbow Skin Discovered

For squid looking to sparkle, extra bling is only seconds away, thanks to a nerve network in the skin that allows these cephalopods to alter their iridescence — the first invertebrate creatures found to have this ability. A new study finds that electrical stimulation of the nerves in squid skin...

Jul 31, 2012

200-Year-Old 'Monster Larva' Mystery Solved

For nearly two centuries, scientists have pulled so-called monster larva from the guts of fish and wondered what these thick-bodied creatures looked like as grown-ups. Now one biologist believes he has finally matched the larva with its adult counterpart. It's very exciting to have solved a nearly 200-year-old conundrum, Keith...

Jul 31, 2012

Pigeons Vanish in 'Birdmuda Triangle'

Hundreds of racing pigeons have been disappearing over a sleepy pocket of North East England, earning the region a reputation as the Birdmuda Triangle. On Saturday (Aug. 25), the Telegraph reported, one club of pigeon fanciers released a flock of 230 birds from North Yorkshire. Only 13 birds arrived at...

Jun 30, 2012

Pesticides Lurk in Fruits & Veggies (Infographic)

Recent government pesticide tests reveal the widespread presence of pesticide residues on conventionally grown, non-organic fruits and vegetables and in tap water. Results analyzed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) show that 68 percent of food samples had detectable pesticide residues after they had been washed or peeled. As a...

Jun 30, 2012

Young Flamingos Banded in Bahamas for Study

Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo flew south in June to the Bahamas' Inagua National Park, where they banded nearly 200 juvenile Caribbean flamingos to study their migration and movement patterns. The bands will help them identify the animals in the future. They also measured their size and...

Jun 30, 2012

3-Hour Sex Sessions Exhaust Squid

If you've ever felt sleepy after sex, you're not alone. New research finds that after a long bout of mating, squid are too tired to do much swimming. The findings highlight the cost of getting busy, according to the study published today (July 17) in the journal Biology Letters. Being...

May 31, 2012

Baby Manta Rays 'Breathe' In Utero

A rare ultrasound glimpse at a fetal manta ray reveals that that these graceful fish can breathe in the womb. Unlike most animals that give birth to live young, manta rays don't have placentas or umbilical cords. That means their fetuses must get nutrients in some other way. Despite the...