Wild Things
The weird and wonderful in the natural world
- Animals
Algal toxin impairs sea lion memory
California sea lions that have brain damage linked to domoic acid poisoning have impaired spatial memory, a new study finds.
- Animals
New movie asks viewers to care about whale hunters. Will they?
A new movie tells the tale of sailors shipwrecked by a whale. But it’s hard to feel sorry for the people trying to kill the animal.
- Animals
For male peacock spiders, the best dancers get the girl
Male peacock spiders dance to attract the ladies. And those that perform the best get the girl, a new study finds.
- Animals
A single penguin can break up a huddle
A new study documents how penguins regulate body temperature by forming huddles and breaking groupings apart.
- Plants
Pretty flower uses dead arthropods to lure protectors
A sticky columbine from California lures arthropods to their death to lure protectors to the plant, a new study suggests.
- Animals
For a python, every meal is like Thanksgiving
Burmese pythons rarely eat, but when they do, they gorge. Unlike humans, pythons have adaptations that allow them to survive on huge meals.
- Animals
Five species that show why ‘bird brain’ is a stupid phrase
Birds can use tools, make art and understand human language. Why do we assume they are stupid?
- Animals
Vampire bats share blood to make friends
Vampire bats that share blood with nonrelatives have a wider social network to rely on when they’re in need, a new study finds.
- Animals
Hungry elephants turn trunks into leaf blowers
Darwin once observed an elephant using its trunk to blow an object closer. Japanese zoo elephants use the behavior to obtain food, a new study reports.
- Animals
Tortoises provide a window into the illegal wildlife trade
Tens of thousands of Indian star tortoises are poached every year, a new study finds.
- Animals
Windy days mean smaller meals for little penguin chicks
Wind speed appears to affect how much food little penguins can bring home for their chicks.
- Animals
Big cats hunt livestock when wild prey is scarce
Lions, tigers and other big cats tend to hunt livestock only after their wild prey has dropped in availability, a new study shows.
