The smallest species of snake ever discovered lives on the Caribbean island of Barbados.

Deep-sea vent waters harbor high numbers virus-carrying bacteria. The viruses may actually help the bacteria survive the harsh vent environments.

Hibernating ground squirrels forget who’s who, so thank goodness for the armpit effect.

Some magpies recognize themselves in mirrors, indicating that a basic form of self-recognition evolved in one family of birds.

The first known spider with a predominantly meatless diet nibbles trees.

A study of snake embryos suggests that fangs evolved once, then moved around in the head to give today’s snakes a variety of bites.

A species of ants not well understood surprises researchers with a nomadic lifestyle, roaming the rainforest on fungal forays.

Tanked half-way houses allow people and fish to get acquainted on their own terms — and exhibit their individual personalities.

Pathogens hitchhike on commercial bees that escape from greenhouses. These escapees bring disease to wild bumblebees.

A new HIV drug can, when combined with other therapies, suppress even the most drug-resistant strains of the virus that causes AIDS, scientists report in two papers in the July 24 New England Journal of Medicine.

The parasitic vine known as dodder really sucks. It pierces the tissue of other plants — some of which are important crops — extracting water and nutrients needed for its own growth. But it also consumes molecules that scientists could manipulate to bring on the parasite’s demise.