Scientific American: Recent Episodes
Scientific American
Odd cell divisions could help explain why even young, healthy couples might struggle to get pregnant
Snakes saw a burst of adaptation about 128 million years ago that led to them exploding in diversity and evolving up to three times faster than lizards
Paleontology is rife with fake fossils that are made to cash in on illegal trade but end up interfering with science
Chimpanzee “helicopter moms” often protect their offspring from bullies, but bonobo moms are more hands-off
Charlotte, a stingray in a small North Carolina aquarium, is taking a DIY approach to reproduction
Rod-shaped fragments of RNA called “obelisks” were discovered in gut and mouth bacteria for the first time
The engineered “firefly petunia” emits a continuous green glow thanks to genes from a light-up mushroom
The songbirds in your backyard hop around on such itty-bitty legs. Here’s why bird legs are so skinny and how they can support a bird’s weight
Most primate societies have long been assumed to be male-dominated, but a new study shows many have females in charge or feature power sharing
The controversy over a recent paper on human bisexual behavior emphasizes how important it is not to overinterpret genetic studies of sexuality—and how easy it is to do so
Is your dog’s tail-wagging a side effect of domestication, or did humans select for it?
The answer isn’t just about temperature. Our physiology, psychology and clothing choices also factor in
An ancient frog, bird and dinosaur wore elusive yellow and orange shades, a new lab technique reveals
As climate change makes the planet hotter, some animals might become more active at night to escape the midday heat
Tiny clumps of cells show basic cognitive abilities, and some animals can remember things after losing their head
A newly identified “chicken from hell” species suggests dinosaurs weren’t sliding toward extinction before the fateful asteroid hit
Scientists built a robotic dinosaur to terrify grasshoppers, all in hopes of understanding how truly pathetic wings could offer prehistoric animals an evolutionary advantage
A honeybee swarm has as much electric charge as a thundercloud, and the insects’ mass movements in the atmosphere might even have some influence on the weather.
A newly described fossil is as old as the “first bird,” Archaeopteryx, and represents a birdlike dinosaur that might have specialized in running or wading instead of flying
Often nicknamed “making biscuits,” kneading is a good sign that your cat is happy, experts say
A new technique for analyzing modern genetic data suggests that prehumans survived in a group of only 1,280 individuals
A “Darwinian paradox” is that homosexual activity occurs even though it does not lead to or aid in reproduction. But if you visit three capuchin monkeys in Los Angeles, they’ll show you how beneficial their liaisons are.
Understanding the ancient past is critical to responding to challenges we face in the future
Does the prevalence of same-sex encounters in a group of Puerto Rican monkeys enhance their ability to pass along their genes?
After avian influenza killed 21 endangered California Condors, government officials are testing a vaccine that could protect the massive scavengers from infection
An expedition has discovered a remote Fijian cave with thousands of microbats thought to be nearly extinct
Light is a very dangerous, if not so obvious, threat to birds who migrate at night. But researchers are using weather radar to track birds and provide “lights out” forecasts to help keep their paths clear of visual distraction.
Science is turning to machines to unlock the secrets of the vast, mysterious pulse-of-the-planet phenomenon that is nocturnal migration.
Thousands of usually solitary octopuses gather to brood eggs in a special spot off California
If you really want to challenging your bird identification skills, try using them at night, when bird calls are less than 100 milliseconds long.
A hogfish may provide the first example of a vertebrate with light-detecting receptor molecules that reside outside the central nervous system
For thousands of years, no one trulyknew how birds migrated—that is until a few unlikely pioneers sat, with hundreds of pounds of kludged together recording gear, in an empty field waiting to hear sounds that no one had ever captured
From the moment a male lion is born it faces a gauntlet of challenges, ranging from snakebite to infanticide
On any given night, dense clouds of dark, ghostly figures pass over your head as you sleep. Maybe you never knew they were there, but there are people out there who are deciphering all the unseen movement that happens amid the darkness
This child was buried 400 years ago in what is now Poland, face-down and with an iron padlock on their foot
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” says a paleontologist not involved in the discovery of a 40-million-year-old fossilized whale
Scientists altered the genomes of female fruit flies, allowing them to reproduce without any contribution from a male
The genus of uni-sexual salamanders appear to be the only creatures in the world that reproduce the way they do. Researchers know how, but the why is still being figured out.
Malaria grabs headlines, but U.S. residents are more likely to encounter West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses
The attentive and endearing doggy head tilt might indicate your pup is trying to process what you’re saying
An international team of scientists says nematodes found in Siberian permafrost are 46,000 years old and survived using techniques similar to those of a modern lab favorite
With their stealth, speed and serrated teeth, sharks are predators to be reckoned with. And that’s before factoring in the cocaine some sharks may be eating
“Cell atlases” offer an unprecedented look at how kidney cells become diseased and how fetal cells invade and remodel the placenta’s blood vessels
Researchers across Europe have found bizarre nests bristling with the sharp metal stakes cities use to repel birds
Scientists have discovered that once mammals, such as dolphins or orcas, have become fully aquatic, they pass a threshold that makes a return to terrestrial landscapes almost impossible
Recent news of complex embryo models revived debates over stem cells and human cloning. But biology says there’s nothing to worry about
Was a teenager named Alessandra Giliani the western world’s first female anatomist? In 14th century Italy, women were strictly barred from medical research. One flouted that rule – disguised as a man.
Ascientist claims elephants’ cancer-preventing genes may have evolved to protect their sperm from the scorching hot habitats the pachyderms’ live in
Cape Cod has quickly become one of the largest white shark hotspots in the world and the first ever in the North Atlantic
Scientists hypothesize that coiled channels inside a cat’s nose may function like a gas chromatograph
Computer modeling explains a key facet of bees’ decision-making skills—something only seen previously in humans and other primates
Desert ants living in the featureless salt pans of Tunisia count their steps and erect tall entrances at their nests to find their way back home.
Genetic susceptibilities, the environment and the body’s response to inflammation all influence our odds of falling ill
To better understand early pregnancy loss without using actual human embryos, scientists employed stem cells to create models that mimic this stage of development
Insects have surprisingly rich inner lives—a revelation that has wide-ranging ethical implications
Animals have been catching z’s for at least half a billion years. Here’s the first evidence of an animal sleeping
A fish species recognizes its own face digitally edited onto another fish’s body. What does this mean for self-awareness?
Fat-like compounds in ancient rocks point to a vast array of previously unknown microbes that once dominated complex life on Earth
Rainbow lorikeets are Australia’s most abundant native bird. What is paralyzing thousands of them every year?
A female crocodile birthed a fully formed, stillborn fetus despite living in isolation for 16 years
Hyperintelligent octopuses just got weirder, when scientists found they can recode their brains when temperatures change
Terror birds were the grizzly bears of birds, the great white sharks of the land, Jack the Ripper but with feathers. They were also truly fascinating.
Hvaldi, a juvenile beluga whale likely used as a Russian spy, has become so accustomed to human interaction that he’s putting himself in danger and urgently needs our help
Officially, these prehistoric birds are the dromornithids, but everyone who studies them calls them thunderbirds--and for good reason.
The elephant bird was the heaviest bird to ever walk the earth. Also, its eggs were 150 times the size of chicken eggs, and thick as a dinner plate.
Crablike bodies are so evolutionarily favorable that they’ve evolved at least five different times
The emerging field of synthetic morphology bends boundaries between natural and artificial life
The fossil was a prehistoric bird is called Pelagornis sandersi,and its wings stretched out twice as wide as those of the great albatross.
If Martian microbes were like those in this Earth lagoon, they could have survived the Red Planet’s primordial desiccation
A new study found more than 5,000 new species in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, a mineral-rich area of seafloor that companies aim to mine for critical materials
Killer whales in a group near Spain and Portugal may be teaching one another to mess with small boats. They sank their third vessel earlier this month
A young mountain gorilla who is able to survive the tough early years may live as long or longer than peers who coasted through their youth without incident
Researchers show how tiny Arctic foxes travel thousands of kilometers for space—revealing potential disease pathways
A debate has been settled over the earliest animal ancestor—a free-swimming creature with a well-developed nervous system
Legislators, families and advocates are fighting to protect access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth and adults nationwide
A CRISPR gene-editing technique might have finally cracked the mystery of how death cap mushrooms kill and revealed a possible antidote
At 25 days old, these specimens could be the oldest primate embryos ever grown outside the womb
The U.K.’s fertility regulator reveals that at least one child has been born using mitochondrial replacement therapy, but the procedure’s effectiveness remains to be seen
Parrot nestlings spend time stringing together jumbled mixtures of sound—a rehearsal for more adult conversations
Scalloped hammerhead sharks take dramatic dives to hunt for food in cold, deep waters—and new evidence suggests they hold their breath to keep warm while they do so
Paleontologists have uncovered a miniature world of sea creatures whose tiny guts, eyes and even brains remain visible 462 million years after they perished
A wireless device worn on the face or lip can produce fragrances such as lavender and green tea in a virtual world
When it comes to dog traits, genetics-based lineages are more telling than human-made categories
A tiny, orange Brazilian tree frog may be the first known amphibian pollinator, further broadening our understanding of which animals perform this crucial biological function
Inside a vault at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles lies a microscopic population of immense value—the repository for vernal pool fairy shrimp.
Recently released data from samples of the COVID-causing virus SARS-CoV-2 at the market where many early cases of the disease occurred suggest animals were present but stop short of proving that they were infected and transmitted the virus to humans
Killer whales rip open the bellies of sharks to snag the liver. Other predators also have dietary preferences for organs, brains and additional rich body parts
These two researchers journey toward the center of the earth–via windows to the crust–to find bacteria that can breathe iron, arsenic and other metals that would kill us pretty quick.
A small, bizarre-looking fish was found more than five miles beneath the sea and is considered the deepest fish ever recorded
The real-life fungi that inspired The Last of Us hijack the bodies of ants, wasps, cicadas, and more.
Do efforts to create life—by cooking up imitations in computers, robots and molecules—point toward a universal definition of biology?
An extensive system of air sacs, evolved over and over, let dinosaurs grow larger without sacrificing strength
Wherever we dig and however deep we dig we find microscopic living organisms. Could they eat the carbon we're pumping into the air?
Unlike other senses, smell is not something doctors routinely test for—but some scientists think that should change
Here’s how to tell whether your eye drops are safe to use and how to recognize a potential infection
These pathogens already kill 1.6 million people every year, and we have few defenses against them
Decades of failed attempts have given way to several successful vaccines and treatments for the respiratory disease RSV
Genetic sequences show evidence of raccoon dogs and other animals at the Wuhan market sites where SARS-CoV-2 was found in early 2020, adding to evidence of a natural spillover event
A spider that caught and devoured a much larger shrew for its meal adds to evidence that more spiders aren’t strangers to dining on vertebrates
The research offers a tantalizing glimpse at a future in which two men can have biological children together, but any human applications remain in the distant future
The evolution of terrestrial plant roots could have kicked off large-scale extinctions by throwing the planet’s mineral cycle into disarray
Scientists are on a mission to save parasites—not to kill them. Climate change is already doing an increasingly good job at the latter, and that could be a big problem for the world.
A team of moth and butterfly scientists decided to go from a restaurant bar to the lab bench to understand mescal’s iconic “worm”
A glaring disparity exists between the biomass of humans and that of both terrestrial and aquatic mammals
Like chimpanzees, bees can learn specific strategies for opening a puzzle box and accessing a reward inside by mimicking the behavior of their trained mates
Some caterpillars have evolved with antifreeze in their body cavities, allowing them to become caterpopsicles to survive cold winters. But climate change could threaten that.
Although most experts say bird flu is not an immediate threat to humans, efforts are underway to produce vaccines for H5N1 or another potential pandemic virus
A global survey of predator attacks on humans shows that South Asia is the world’s most dangerous spot
Sharpshooter insects use a physics phenomenon called superpropulsion to efficiently fling away droplets of pee at extremely high speeds
The idea that wolf packs are led by a merciless dictator, or alpha wolf, comes from old studies of captive wolves. In the wild, wolf packs are simply families
By tuning the enzymes that control the breakdown or storage of sugars, hummingbirds and cavefish adapt their metabolism to meet the demands of the vastly different environments in which they live
Not only can snakes hear sounds traveling through the air, researchers find, but different species react differently to what they hear
In fair zoo-ona, a pair of star-cross’d pandas take their life. And we learn about whether or not animals can fall in love.
Science has long overlooked the clitoris, but the organ’s diversity in the animal kingdom reveals its importance
Many repeat infections are mild, but some studies suggest people who have been infected with COVID more than once are at a greater risk of severe disease or long COVID
Tiny flies that pollinate cacao are struggling, and this could affect our supply of chocolate
Trees communicate and cooperate through a fungal web, according to a widespread idea. But not everyone is convinced
The pandemic fungus in the television program The Last of Us is real. But an expert says other fungi are much more threatening to humans
Portable sensors and artificial intelligence are helping researchers decode animal communication—and begin to talk back to nonhumans
A study of more than 3,000 dogs finds that larger breeds, males and purebred animals tend to be diagnosed with cancer at a younger age
What really happens to our bodies when we age — and could we find a way to slow it down?
Urinary tract infections are increasingly becoming resistant to first-line antibiotics, and this may be a warning for our ability to treat other microbial infections
Mammal species that live in groups seems to live longer than those that lead solitary lives
A call for help sounds to ensure survival of a 140-year-old fishing partnership pairing cetaceans and humans
To protect from deadly drought and make it on land, plants developed complicated inner plumbing
Mycologist Flora Patterson helped make the USDA fungus collection into the world’s largest. She also made a mean mushroom “catsup”
Two newly identified primatelike mammals once lived in the Arctic, which could help us understand how species there today may adapt as the climate heats up
A rare flower encased in amber is the largest one ever found and dates from around 40 million years ago
Scientists have long known that ancient people living in Siberia made their way into what is now North America. Mounting DNA evidence suggests migration also happened in the opposite direction
A new variant of the virus that causes COVID has mutations that make it more transmissible, but vaccines are still likely to protect against severe disease
A detailed examination of gene activity in various organisms, including humans, reveals a new hallmark of the aging process
The vulva has long been ignored in anatomical study. But scientists and doctors are making strides in mapping its pleasure center, the clitoris, and improving sensation for survivors of genital cutting.
Metabolism studies reveal surprising insights into how we burn calories—and how cooperative food production helped Homo sapiens flourish
DNA from Denisovans, an extinct human species, that was found in the genomes of Indigenous Papuans may mold their immune system
A way to map the ancestry of dog breeds reveals the genetic basis of stereotypical dog behaviors
Two-million-year-old DNA, the world's oldest, reveals that mastodons once roamed forests in Greenland’s far northern reaches
Octopus outbursts, spiders evading sexual cannibalism and a human-cockatoo arms race—here are strange animal behaviors we learned about in 2022
Recordings of more than 50 species of turtles and other animals help scientists reassess the origins of acoustic communication in vertebrates.
A nutritious fluid secreted by pupating ants helps to feed the rest of the colony and could play a part in the evolution of social structures
Compared with other diseases with similar economic burdens, research on endometriosis is severely underfunded, in large part because we don’t talk about periods.
Researchers put this ancient critter through a subzero gauntlet to learn more about what happens to their internal clock while surviving the extreme.
The parasite Toxoplasma gondii can change the behavior of infected wolves in ways that make them more likely to be pack leaders
Watching fish rot for more than two months disproves a long-standing fossilization theory
Two epidemiologists explain how three viral illnesses are straining health care systems
A virologist explains what it takes for a virus to leap from an animal host into humans
A miniature antenna can transmit data from inside cells without using damaging microwaves
The “most complicated therapy ever” tailors bespoke, genome-edited immune cells to attack tumors
New Zealand's erect-crested penguin lays two eggs, but rejects the first one—the opposite of how most birds prioritize their offspring.
A genome analysis finds SARS-CoV-2 and bat coronaviruses shared an ancestor just a few years ago, but extensive recombination has muddied the picture
Cephalopods living unusually close together have been filmed throwing shells, algae and silt—sometimes at another octopus
For most of human evolution, multiple species with different ways of walking upright coexisted
Your questions answered about what RSV is, how it spreads, what vaccines are on the way and who is most at risk
Scientists demonstrate that crows are capable of recursion—a key feature in grammar. Not everyone is convinced
FDA Chief Medical Officer Hilary Marston explains the importance of getting a booster shot, considers why so few people have gotten them and answers other questions
Aye-ayes use their long middle finger to pick their noses, a first for this lemur species. But scientists aren’t sure why these animals picked up the habit
The variants appear to sneak past the immune system, but vaccines will likely continue to hold strong
Why on Earth would you try to “brew” anything using parasitic fish that slurp the blood and guts out of other fish?
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis explains how its AlphaFold AI program predicted the 3-D structure of every known protein
Prizewinning great pumpkins are approaching 3,000 pounds as growers perfect the process
A new computer model “maps” odor molecules to differentiate among those that have meaty, powdery, sweet and many other scents
Animals with a backbone may have first emitted something akin to bleeps, grunts, crackles, toots and snorts more than 400 million years ago
Controversy surrounding a study that involved modifying SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, has prompted researchers to call for better guidance from funders
New research shows that birds of prey attempting to grab a bat from a roiling mass of the flying mammals have developed a way to cope with the confusion.
A sunfish found near the Azores breaks the 26-year-old record for the heftiest bony fish ever measured
Human endogenous retroviruses make up 8 percent of the human genome. Researchers are studying how active they are
Certain compounds in our skin determine how much we attract mosquitoes, new research suggests—and those compounds don’t change much over time
An exquisite dinosaur mummy called Dakota shows evidence it was feasted on by ancient predators
With cases declining in the U.S. and Europe, here are some scenarios of how the outbreak might play out
A scientist who has been developing male birth control since the 1970s says safe, reversible and affordable options are possible
Uganda’s Ebola incident commander talks with Scientific American about the outbreak’s spread, the country’s response and the risk of cross-border transmission
The secret of whether your cat feels bonded to you lies in behavioral signals they would show to feline friends
Geneticist Svante Pääbo reconstructed the genome of long-extinct human relatives, showing we have more in common with Neandertals than previously thought
Svante Pääbo’s work on sequencing the DNA of Neandertals and Denisovans, which won the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, revealed surprising interbreeding among human species
One megafauna extends its nerve fibers at an astonishing rate of five centimeters per day
Drab brown moths’ infrared glittering could be key to tracking different species through the night
A study of orb-weaving spiders shows that the arachnids' webs pick up a range of sounds--and they are always "listening" for vibrations coming in over them.
Dolphins and whales experience a lot of pressure while swimming, and a “wonderful net” of blood vessels may protect their brain, new research shows
Chomping on food takes so much energy that it shaped human evolution. Our ancestors spent many hours a day chewing, which may have shaped our teeth and jaws.
Snake-identification groups on social media are turning serpent haters into appreciators
New research has discovered the first case of acoustic mimicry between a mammal and an insect—an acquired skill that could just save certain bats’ skin.
Fish fossils from Western Australia preserve the oldest 3-D hearts, livers, stomachs and intestines in a jawed vertebrate
Austrian veterinarian Michael Leschnik explains why high temperatures put a strain on pets. Pugs, bulldogs and Persian cats have a particularly tough time
The fossil-filled volcanic crater Foulden Maar was almost destroyed. A new book documents its ancient-ecosystem wonders
An innovation arms race may rage between birds and humans on the suburban streets of southeastern Australia
It turns out that hoverflies may fly hundreds or even thousands of miles—all to help pollinate our flowers and vegetables.
U.S. lung cancer screening guidelines miss people who have never smoked, as well as many women and Black people. Expanding outreach and eligibility could help
Bacterial predators fight like wolves, torpedoes and vampires, and they could provide the next antibiotics
Dragon flight in Game of Thrones comes from wing area, weight, speed and hints of a different atmosphere than that of Earth
Data show that smoking, drinking alcohol and having a high body mass index are the biggest contributors to cancer worldwide
The American Museum of Natural History recently received the life’s work of a professor in Minnesota—1,274 jars of crabs collected over decades from around the world.
Although recent spikes in temperature affect all of us, our urban critters have had to find their own ways to beat the heat. Sometimes they “sploot.
A small, speedy, omnivorous dinosaur was a forerunner of Brachiosaurus and other giant plant-eaters
Two research teams grew synthetic embryos using stem cells for long enough to see some organs develop
The antiviral Tecovirimat (TPOXX) shows promise against monkeypox, but human data and supplies are limited
Although the risk of long COVID is not insignificant, it is much lower than previously thought—allowing parents to breathe a sigh of relief
Our puppies’ eyes well up, a reaction caused by oxytocin, which makes us want to take care of them even more.
“Normalizing” infants’ and children’s genital appearance to match a sex assigned in early age isn’t medically necessary and can negatively impact quality of life
From the AIDS epidemic to the COVID-19 pandemic, the iconic medical chief has advised seven presidents on numerous outbreaks
For the first time, researchers have sequenced all 3,117,275,501 bases of our genetic code
Trillions of tiny animals may be coordinating their movements in ways that affect every organism on the planet
An unvaccinated person in New York State’s Rockland County developed paralysis from a polio infection, emphasizing the need to target vaccination efforts to vulnerable communities
A greyhound in Paris was infected with monkeypox from its owner, underscoring the possibility of a viral reservoir in animals
Frequently asked questions about how monkeypox spreads, who’s most at risk, and what vaccines and treatments are available
The scientists who want to bring back mammoths now hope to revive the marsupial carnivore thylacine
A single whiff of oxytocin, a chemical that some call the “love hormone,” promotes tolerance among lions at a wildlife sanctuary.
The Langya virus, which is related to the Nipah and Hendra viruses, has infected at least 35 people in China in the two years before 2021
A pair of studies show that male bottlenose dolphins rely on wingmen when wooing mates—and that they cultivate these friendships by being vocal.
Jumping spiders have REM-like twitches when they sleep, suggesting dreams may be much more widespread in the animal kingdom than previously realized
A virologist explains how they work, who can get them and how well they prevent infection
Restoring eye tissue postmortem could pave the way for reviving other types of brain tissue
Small marine critters ferry around seaweed sex cells, the first recorded example of “pollination” in algae
A new subpopulation of Greenland polar bears offers insights into how this species might hang on as Arctic ice disappears.
A possible biomarker for long COVID suggests some people with the condition never fully cleared the virus
The virus circulating in the current outbreak has mutated 50 times in the past four years
Fossil animals’ inner ear structures offer clues on when endothermy, or warm-bloodedness, evolved
Advances in robotics, sensing and genomics are accelerating findings of sophisticated life throughout the ocean depths
These avian tree drillers do tricks to protect their noggin. Meanwhile snapping shrimp avoid the problem with external eye goggles
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With infections still surging, the United States needs to invest in this technology to prepare for the next variants
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A technique that detects coronavirus strains circulating in a community could become an early-warning system
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Global warming fueled rampant overgrowth of microbes at the end of the Permian period. Such lethal blooms may be on the rise again
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Video analysis in 3-D shows the tiny creatures’ swarming rules
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From the depths of the ocean to the peaks of mountains, species are moving out of their historical homes in search of cooler conditions
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Geologic evidence for a freezing arctic suggests dinosaurs could have weathered an epoch-ending volcanic winter
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Some species were constrained by their food sources, while others ranged widely
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Researchers design an artificial neuron that can trigger closure of a Venus flytrap.
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An infectious disease expert answers questions about how the virus spreads, what its symptoms are and how to get testing and treatment
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Scientists in Thailand have established that a tabby passed SARS-CoV-2 to a veterinary surgeon—although such cases of cat-to-human transmission are probably rare
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Boa constrictors wearing blood pressure cuffs and tiny masks reveal the answer to a biological puzzle
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With Roe v. Wade overturned, banning abortion in many states could lead to a large number of ob-gyns avoiding practicing there or failing to receive crucial medical training
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The model, which uses machine learning to track the fitness of different viral strains, accurately predicted the rise of Omicron BA.2 and Alpha
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States that outlaw abortions after a certain number of weeks could make it difficult or impossible to terminate a pregnancy because of a serious genetic disorder
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Researchers tricked out conventional camera traps to snap headshots of Puma concolor, revealing a better way to track the elusive species.
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A study of more than 11,000 felines reveals the benefits of genetic testing before breeding
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A cone snail’s poison helps to form a fast-acting insulin
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These organisms’ private “mucospheres” play an outsize role in the planet’s carbon cycle
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Recommendations from the editors of Scientific American
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The discovery provides a glimmer of hope for the iconic white bears
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Juneteenth offers an opportunity to reflect on the wildlife linked to a people’s transformation
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Here’s how they choose the right leaf for the job
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Recommendations from the editors of Scientific American
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A key player is revealed in the acne-causing immune battle
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A medieval cemetery yields DNA evidence of the deadly pandemic bacterium’s Central Asian ancestor
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A new seals’-eye view shows these specialized hairs in motion at sea
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Were mitochondria a driving evolutionary force or just a late addition?
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Broad-webbed feet help them glide through rain-forest canopies
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Identifying the gut microbes in plastic-munching beetle larvae illuminates bacteria that could help degrade plastic waste
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Genetic mutations related to production of the stress hormone cortisol may have played a role in the process of canine domestication
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The placenta’s invasion of the uterus holds clues to cancer resistance
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Bacteria resistant to methicillin emerged in hedgehogs long before the drug was prescribed to treat infections.
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“Blackwater” divers photograph the largest migration of animals on the planet
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As states move to limit access to abortion, some are taking aim at the popular form of emergency contraception
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Tuberculosis is preventable and curable, yet it afflicts one quarter of the world’s population—mostly because of poverty
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For meerkats in the Kalahari Desert, rising temperatures spark deadly outbreaks of tuberculosis.
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The first known male appendage from trilobites has been found in a 508-million-year-old fossil
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Weirdly shifting colors may serve dual evolutionary purposes, providing both camouflage and conspicuous warning
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Natural selection propels the giraffe family to absolute extremes—and it is not just about the absurdly long necks
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Heart attacks, strokes and other consequences of cardiovascular disease are particularly dangerous for people who face inequity
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Researchers are racing to understand the latest monkeypox outbreaks—from their origins to whether they can be contained
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Mass infections in wild birds pose a significant risk to vulnerable species, are hard to contain and increase the opportunity for the virus to spill over into people
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The birds can dramatically drop temperatures at night to save energy or linger in an intermediate state
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The insects target red tones when they are exposed to carbon dioxide
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There’s a structural reason your sponge hosts so many microbes
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“Sexually transmitted” plant viruses may be on the rise because of agricultural activity
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It is unclear how some people recently diagnosed with the disease became infected with the monkeypox virus or how it is likely to spread
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It’s scientists’ responsibility to reveal the inherent biases of studies used to disparage Black people and other groups
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A microbiologist explains what is known about this smallpox cousin
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This “gorgoning” releases antibacterial compounds and other substances that dolphins could be using to self-medicate
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Parasites play an outsize role in balancing ecosystems, and some species may be in danger
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Genome-wide association studies can sleuth out genetic markers that raise or lower COVID risk, but they miss social factors
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They scurried in the shadows of dinosaurs for millions of years until a killer space rock created a new world of evolutionary opportunity
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Research shows straightforward solutions to help children learn and thrive
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Laws that ban gender-affirming treatment ignore the wealth of research demonstrating its benefits for trans people’s health
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Researchers looked back at more than 100 years of research and found that a fascination with annelids with mixed up appendages was strong—and that research still has relevance...
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How to tell the different versions of SARS-CoV-2 apart, and how well vaccines protect against them
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Birds seem to pay more attention to fine acoustic details that humans cannot hear than to the melodies that captivate us
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A new genetic study shows generalizing breeds as affectionate or aggressive doesn’t hold up
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Energy stored in the front legs of gangly orb-weaving spiders helps them live to mate another day
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An amazingly well-preserved fossil suggests the common ancestor of dinosaurs and pterosaurs also had some type of feather or feather precursor
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A new bio-inspired algorithm picks out the signal from the noise
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Weird dental scratches in humans can indicate tool use, but in some macaques, they mean something entirely different
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It’s not just physical combat—animals have a host of strategies for building clout
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New work shows how grass could have developed its distinctive sheath
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New studies reveal the complex world of bacterial epigenetics
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A new machine called BirdBot balances walking efficiency and speed
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This “keystone” variant of a gene could make or break a food web in an experimental system
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The Telomere-to-Telomere consortium just sequenced the tricky final 10 percent of the essentially complete human genome
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Small flies’ extreme clamping feet let them walk on a flying bee
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Citizen science data reveal how the declining species travels from its southern wintering site to its northern breeding grounds
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Florida manatees are “talking” up a storm, and a team that has been recording those sounds for seven years is starting to understand the chatter.
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Even after four years away from a release site, pigeons took similar paths home
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To survive on nutrient-poor blood, less can sometimes be more
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With around a third of freshwater fish facing extinction, ichthyologists are racing to discover more—including the 200 species found last year—before they disappear
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Evolution in cities illuminates long-standing scientific questions and climate change futures
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A host plant’s survival may depend on powerful chemicals swimming in its vines
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A related lineage’s explosive growth leaves just one descendant today
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A large colony may provide clues about the biology of traumatic stress resulting from climate change and war
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A speck-sized beetle overturns assumptions about flight mechanics
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The homunculus of textbook fame still does not take into account the relevant locations in the cerebral cortex that process touch for the sex organs
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New research hints at the biophysical underpinnings of their ability to use Earth’s magnetic field lines to find their way to their breeding and wintering grounds
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A well-preserved fossil introduces a new species that lived in what is now California around 42 million years ago
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The movements help the arachnids synchronize their attacks
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Elizabeth Stern’s research led the way to our modern understanding of the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of cervical cancer
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New fossils are changing a decades-old story about the species that roamed the Mediterranean 80 million years ago.
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Researchers want their models to inspire more accurate reconstructions of extinct animals such as mammoths and saber-toothed cats
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It is not clear whether the act has medicinal benefit or is merely a cultural practice among the animals.
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Instructing our cells to make specific proteins could control influenza, autoimmune diseases, even cancer
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Genes found in the flora could help crops and biofuels survive more drastic extremes
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The insects balance separation and care for those infected by parasites
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The small rodents are one of the few known monogamists in the wild—and their faithfulness was put to the test in a lab.
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An exercise scientist explains the biomechanics behind jumps such as the quadruple Axel and what the body’s limits are
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Equally surprising is the fact that we still do not know how birds actually stay airborne.
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Our much maligned cousins made sophisticated ornaments and probably had language
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The colony thrives in a frigid ocean covered by ice year-round
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Hamsters are only the second species known to have spread SARS-CoV-2 to humans
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The sea squirt relative demonstrates that sometimes less is more: losing genes can be adaptive
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Yet the unfit creatures survive, challenging our long-held view of evolution
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A genetic change that evolved from ancient wolves can help make dogs giant or small
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Without the sun’s guiding light, these tiny animals’ behavior still follows a circadian rhythm
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People with diseases or treatments that suppress their immune system cannot count on the same protection most vaccinated people have
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Molecules produced by the parasite lure mosquitoes to a beet-based bait
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For billions of years Earth was quiet. Then life got loud
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You might not think that you can generate more body acceleration than a big-league baseball pitcher, but new research shows you can.
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The more time the insects spend on the courtship ritual, the better mating goes
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A new study’s authors say their investigation represents the first time that a nonhuman brain has been shown to detect language
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Such proteins can be woven into resilient fibers
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Check out the weird and wonderful stories that delighted us this year
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Archaeological finds suggest that people developed numbers tens of thousands of years ago. Scholars are now exploring the first detailed hypotheses about this life-changing invention
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The synchronized dance of sulfur mollies is not only mesmerizing to watch but also confusing to predators
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Wombats’ cubic poop, secret pee signals and pandas’ unusual strategy to stay warm
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Scientists cracked the puzzle behind the mutant tigers’ markings and documented their spread
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The pachyderms build simple actions into complex movements
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A common solution is emerging in two different fields: developmental biology and neuroscience
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The rapid spread of new variants such as Omicron offers clues to how SARS-CoV-2 is adapting and how the pandemic will play out over the next several months
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The baleen that hangs from the jaws of some whale species contains clues about their migrations and diets
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