Life

Ecosystems

Sea Change: People have affected what penguins eat

Adélie penguins in Antarctica significantly changed their eating habits about 200 years ago, after whaling and other human activities transformed the ocean ecosystem.

Ecosystems

Sawfish Central

Sawfish will soon be getting United Nations protection from exploitation. Right now, the only U.S. state where these ancient fish can generally be found—and then, only rarely—is Florida. Here’s a site to view the fish, a member of the shark family, and link to research aimed at rescuing populations of its seven beleaguered species worldwide. […]

Animals

Faker Crayfish: Males keep bluffing but don’t get caught

Some male Australian crayfish fake out their rivals by brandishing claws that look impressive but have little strength.

Animals

Cat History: DNA study finds domestic-cat kin

DNA evidence shows that the Near Eastern lineage of the wildcat, one of five lineages of Felis silvestris, gave rise to today's domestic kitty cats.

Animals

West Nile virus hits bird populations

West Nile virus has hammered populations of five common North American birds.

Animals

Profiles in Courtship: Flirting male fish show their best sides

Courting male guppies that sport a tad more orange on one side of their bodies than on the other tend to flash that brighter side at females.

Paleontology

Jurassic CSI: Fossils indicate central nervous system damage

Fossils found in the head-thrown-back position, the so-called "dead bird" pose, probably died from central nervous system damage.

Paleontology

Winged dragon

A quarry on the Virginia–North Carolina border has yielded fossils of an unusual gliding reptile that lived in the region about 220 million years ago.

Animals

Clownfish noisemaker is new to science

Clownfish make "pop-pop-pop" noises at each other by clacking their teeth together in a novel way.

Animals

Moths mimic ‘Don’t eat me’ sounds

Moths that make clicking noises at predatory bats are mimicking a defensive signal made by other moths that click and also taste bad.

Plants

Easy There, Bro: A plant can spot and favor close kin

A little beach plant can recognize its siblings as long as their roots grow in nearby soil.

Paleontology

Big and Birdlike: Chinese dinosaur was 3.5 meters tall

Paleontologists have unearthed the remains of a gigantic birdlike dinosaur, 3.5 meters tall, that lived 70 million years ago in what is now China.