Why some species thrive after catastrophe – rules for making the most of an apocalypse
When the dinosaurs went extinct, some species took over the world. Adaptability, not survivability, explains why.
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Humans weren’t the first engineers, doctors and farmers – bacteria, plants and animals have lots to teach us
Ants are skilled surgeons, bacteria have their own internet, and scientists think sperm whales have names.
Flesh‑eating bugs: new research shows how carrion beetles turn death into life
Carrion beetles help stabilise the biology of the soil they live in.
Scientists have worked out how dung beetles use the Milky Way to hold their course
New research shows the insects use the brightness of different stars to work out which direction to go.
Curious Kids: How did some animals evolve wings to fly?
Today’s birds evolved from feathered dinosaurs.
Most birds can’t taste sugar – here’s why the hummingbird can
Chickens are not fussy eaters. Any object resembling food is worth an exploratory peck. But give a chicken the choice between sugary sweets and seeds, and they will pick the grains every time. This is…
Babies and animals can’t tell us if they have consciousness – but philosophers and scientists are starting to find answers
Dogs and infants may not be able to tell us what they’re thinking, but we are developing the tools that will help us find out.
We tend to keep away from midges and – even when in swarms – they tend to keep away from each other
Midges may move in swarms but, unlike a lot of other animals that travel in large numbers, they try to keep their distance from each other.
How conserving nature’s ‘umbrella’ species could benefit whole habitats
Conservationists have found a shortcut in the race to save Earth’s threatened species.
Meet the enemy of killer fungus that turns ants into zombies
One of most famous fungi in the world is the “zombie ant fungus”. It takes over the mind of an ant, causing it to climb up a branch and cling to the underside of a leaf before mummification. Once locked…
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