Animals, features and articles | Educational Science

Nov 30, 2023

10 times animals did weird things in 2023

Animals can often be unpredictable and surprise us with their unusual behavior, but some newsworthy critters take this even further, leaving scientists and the public completely baffled. While the weird behaviors on this list are a testament to the complex brains of our furry, finned and fork-tongued friends, there's also...

Nov 30, 2023

Living fossils: 12 creatures that look the same now as they did millions of years ago

A living fossil is a species that hasn’t evolved significantly for millions of years and closely resembles ancestors found in the fossil record. Charles Darwin coined the term living fossil in 1859 to describe living species that still looked like their ancestors from millions of years ago and were often...

Oct 31, 2023

'[He] attempted to study fertilization in frogs by fitting the males with tiny trousers': The science of sperm in the 1700s

In the excerpt below taken from Beautiful Experiments: An Illustrated History of Experimental Science (The University of Chicago Press, 2023), Philip Ball dives into the 17th and 18th century experiments that sought to figure out the answer to a fundamental question: What induces eggs to develop? From microscopic observations of...

Aug 31, 2023

Watch bear and wolf attack moose mom and calf at same time in rare, remarkable footage

A moose cow and its calf were recently attacked by a bear and a wolf at the same time in what looks almost like a coordinated strike, remarkable Alaskan footage shows. The footage lasts just a few seconds but showcases some of the dramatic behaviors and interactions that occur in...

May 31, 2023

Do all animals go through adolescence?

Looking back on our teenage years often elicits a grimace — it's an awkward time, full of social faux pas, uncertainty and acne — but it's one that we all must pass through on our way to adulthood. But do other animals also experience adolescence? This period of life comprises...

Jan 31, 2023

Do mice really like cheese?

From Tom and Jerry to The Farmer in the Dell, pop culture is full of mice that love cheese. In fact, there's even a mouse mascot with the food in his name: Chuck E. Cheese. But do real mice actually crave a nutty, odorous Gruyere? Not exactly. To start, not...

Dec 31, 2022

Alaskan sea otters were brought back from the brink of extinction. Now wolves are hunting them.

After eradicating their deer prey, wolves on a remote Alaskan island have turned to voraciously hunting and consuming sea otters as their main food source, a new study has revealed. The discovery, made on the 20 square mile (52 square kilometers) Pleasant Island located roughly 40 miles (65 kilometers) west...

Dec 31, 2023

How 10 animals evolved their iconic features

Animals come in all shapes and sizes, and many have iconic features that make them memorable. From the long necks of giraffes to the oddly shaped heads of hammerhead sharks, here's how 10 remarkable animals evolved their signature features. Related: How long do new species take to evolve? 1. Turtle...

Dec 31, 2023

5 stories making science news this week: A T. rex saga and massive solar flare

It's the first week of 2024, and this week in science news has uncovered some glorious ancient artifacts, reignited a T. rex controversy and answered an age-old question — why is pee yellow? 1,500-year-old gold buckles discovered in Kazakhstan Archaeologists in Kazakhstan have discovered two gold belt buckles in a...

Jan 22, 2024

Camouflaged animals are hiding in every one of these photos — can you spot them all?

Discover the fascinating world of camouflage and masterful mimicry in this gallery of hidden animals. From elusive snow leopards to tiny mantises, these animals of all shapes and sizes can blend seamlessly into their environments. Walking leaves Just a photo of leaves? Take a closer look … Found across Asia,...

Jan 23, 2024

Can dogs and cats be allergic to humans?

Allergies are common in people, and they can often accompany animal contact, triggering symptoms such as itchy eyes and sneezing. But do allergies work the other way around? Can dogs and cats be allergic to us? According to Dr. Heather Edginton, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Cornell...

Jan 23, 2024

Pangolin courtship ritual and birth of a 'pangopup' captured in incredible, rare footage

Rare footage has captured the slow nighttime courtship ritual of pangolins — which ultimately led to the birth of a pangopup filmed clinging to its mother's back. For the new PBS series Big Little Journeys, videographers followed a pair of Taiwanese pangolins (Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla) in a forest in Taiwan....

Jan 23, 2024

Free radicals don't kill tardigrades — they're the secret to the tiny critters' invincibility

Scientists have finally discovered the molecular trick tardigrades use to enter a near-invincible state that protects them from extreme environments — including the cold vacuum of outer space. The tiny eight-legged creatures — known as water bears or moss piglets — thrive across our planet. Their abundance is partly due...

Jan 25, 2024

Tiny male marsupials sacrifice sleep for a chance at sex — then all die at once and get eaten

Male antechinuses live through just a single, extremely intense mating season. So to maximize their chances at sex, these little carnivorous marsupials waste as little time on sleep as possible, new research has found. During a three-week breeding period, males belonging to two species — dusky (Antechinus swainsonii) and agile...

Jan 27, 2024

Indian giant squirrel: The 'rainbow' rodent that is also the world's largest squirrel

Name: Indian giant squirrel or Malabar giant squirrel (Ratufa indica), nicknamed the rainbow squirrel Where it lives: Forests and woodlands in pockets across central and southern India What it eats: Fruits, leaves, bark, seeds, occasionally bird eggs and insects Why it's awesome: Although the stomach and arms of Indian giant...