WEIRD ANIMALS
By Rich Haridy – A still from the winning video in the Nikon Small World In Motion competition showing a polyp emerging from staghorn coral. Philippe Laissue / Nikon Small World in Motion. – Zooming in on the motion of the microscopic, the winners …
‘Puppy dog eyes’ aren’t just sweet — they evolved to manipulate us. By Nina Pullano – Dogs have a secret weapon against us humans — ‘puppy dog eyes.’ Researchers learned earlier this year that the trait is one that dogs have evolved to have, for …
It’s some spooky, slimy science. By Nina Pullano – What do you call something that’s neither a plant, nor animal, nor fungus? In this case, the answer is “The Blob” — or, seeing as it exists in Paris, France, “Le Blob,” to be …
Scientists surprised by haul of crustaceans and tardigrades in undisturbed subglacial lake. Ian Sample Science editor @iansample – Tardigrade, a tiny aquatic invertebrate, is also known as a ‘water bear’. Photograph: Steve Gschmeissner/Getty Images/Science Photo Library. Scientists have found the remains of tiny, …
If a tiny bug’s brain can do math, so can you. By Nina Pullano – With their intricate honeycombs and careful selection of flowers to pollinate, it’s no surprise that honeybees are smart little guys — despite their tiny brains. But bees …
Our brains have evolved to love this thing. By Sarah Sloat – There is a new king and his name is Baby Yoda. For the uninitiated, Baby Yoda is an unnamed 50-year-old toddler who enjoys eating frogs and playing with the Force on …
A massive cat study discovered several key features linked to pain. By Lauren Finka – They say that eyes are windows to the soul. Indeed, research suggests this might also be true for our four-legged friends. Since the days of our most celebrated …
Life forms on Earth are wildly varied, but scientists discover a single formula that predicts every one’s life cycle. By Robby Berman – Image source: Winggo Tse/Unsplash; HelloRF Zcool/Komsan Loonprom/Pixeljoy/Shutterstock; Big Think. Earth’s species diversity is stunning, but there are a couple …
Seals in hats and bees in backpacks: An unusual assortment of animals offer an unprecedented view of our planet. A tagged elephant seal basks on Kerguelen Island, a French territory in the Antarctic. By Passant Rabie – NASA recruits a diverse array of …
Fat innkeeper worms typically burrow under the sand but recent storms have swept away layers, leaving them exposed. A beachgoer holds a fat inkeeper worm – otherwise known as a ‘penis fish’ – in Bodega Bay in June 2019. Photograph: Kate Montana/iNaturalist Creative …
