Velvet Worms Fire Crossing Jets of Sticky Slime
In damp leaf litter on a forest floor, a small arthropod begins to move. Nearby, a velvet worm advances on dozens of soft, stubby legs. It is not built for …
Reindeer Can See Light That Human Eyes Cannot
Across an Arctic winter landscape, snow can dominate almost everything the human eye sees. Hills, frozen ground, and wind-shaped drifts merge into a bright environment where objects may appear to …
This Primate Taps Wood to Find Prey Hidden Inside
In a Madagascar forest after dark, an aye-aye moves deliberately along a branch. Its large ears stand forward while its hands explore the wood. Then one remarkably thin finger begins …
How 190-Year-Old Museum DNA Revealed a Hidden Pangolin Species
For nearly two centuries, a pangolin specimen collected in Nepal sat in a natural-history collection carrying evidence that scientists could not fully read when it was collected. Modern analysis of …
The New Research Behind Why Bats Rarely Get Cancer
Bats present biologists with a remarkable puzzle. Many species are tiny, maintain demanding metabolisms, encounter numerous pathogens, and yet can live far longer than similarly sized mammals. New research on …
When to Pick Figs: How to Tell When a Fig Is Perfectly Ripe
Knowing when to pick figs can make the difference between fruit that is rich, soft and intensely sweet and one that tastes disappointingly bland. Unlike fruits that can continue changing …
How Pygmy Marmosets Cling to Vertical Trees With Claw-Like Nails
Introduction The hands of a monkey are usually imagined as grasping tools: flexible fingers tipped with flat nails, wrapping around branches much as a human hand might. Pygmy marmosets complicate …
Why Springhares Glow Under Ultraviolet Light
Under ordinary visible light, a springhare looks much like an animal built to disappear into an African grassland: earthy brown fur, a pale underside, enormous hind legs, and a long …
How Marine Iguanas Remove Excess Salt From Their Bodies
A marine iguana emerging from the Pacific can look as though it has just sneezed a cloud of seawater from its nose. Moments later, pale crystals may begin accumulating around …
How a Simple Bird Bath Can Bring More Birds to Your Garden
A bird bath for the garden can attract visitors that may completely ignore traditional seed feeders. Food preferences vary enormously between bird species, but virtually all birds depend on water …