Animals

  1. Life

    Molecular Evolution

    Investigating the genetic books of life reveals new details of 'descent with modification' and the forces driving it.

    By
  2. Animals

    A little climate change goes a long way in the tropics

    In hot places, even minor warming could rev up metabolism in animals that don’t generate their own heat, a new analysis suggests.

    By
  3. Animals

    Monkey in the mirror

    Monkeys with implanted head devices use mirrors to inspect themselves, perhaps signaling self-awareness.

    By
  4. Ecosystems

    Climate’s link to plague

    Scientists have correlated changes in long-term Pacific Ocean temperature patterns with the incidence of a deadly bacterial pestilence, one spread by fleas living on and around mice and other rodents.

    By
  5. Life

    New titi monkey, at last

    Travel risks in parts of Colombia had kept primatologists out for decades.

    By
  6. Life

    Aphids, abandon ship

    Warm, humid mammal breath drives the insects to jump off plants.

    By
  7. Life

    Bullied booby chicks end up OK

    In a seabird nest, abuse by older siblings doesn’t hamper fitness.

    By
  8. Ecosystems

    Gut first

    A crawling caterpillar’s gut moves forward before the rest of its body does.

    By
  9. Animals

    Fearless tadpoles give invaders the edge

    Clueless larvae don’t heed the scent of nonnative turtles, giving newcomers an edge over native species, a European study finds.

    By
  10. Life

    Having BFFs brings longevity to female baboons

    A seven-year study of one African troop finds that females live longer if they form close, lasting friendships.

    By
  11. Animals

    Climate change may favor couch-potato elk

    With drought and rising temperatures in Wyoming, migratory animals suffer while stay-at-home members of the same herd thrive

    By
  12. Life

    Forget mice, elephants intimidated by ants

    Swarms of little nuisances have an outsized effect on who nibbles which trees in the African savanna.

    By