biology

NOAA, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Watch the First-Ever Footage of a Baby Dumbo Octopus

They sport those floppy ears from the moment they hatch.

15 Confusing Plant and Animal Misnomers

As biology has developed, some of our common plant and animal names have turned out to be pretty far off the mark.

Watch an Antarctic Minke Whale Feed in a First-of-Its-Kind Video

The camera allows us a whale's-eye view of the life of a poorly understood species.

Slow Motion Is the Only Way to Appreciate a Chameleon’s Lightning-Fast Tongue

Some species stretch their tongues more than twice their body length.

Here's What Actually Happens When You're Electrocuted

There's a reason why "electrocution" sounds like "execution."

A Cold Nose Might Mean You're Working Too Hard, Researchers Say

An overloaded brain may lead to an icy sniffer.

11 Primal Facts About Dian Fossey

Get to know the real-life researcher behind "Gorillas in the Mist," who was born on this day in 1932.

Ryan von Linden/New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Flickr // CC BY 2.0

Scientists May Have Found a Cure for Deadly White-Nose Syndrome in Bats

The spread of the devastating fungal disease could potentially be halted with portable UV light sources, a new study suggests.

The Top 10 Science Stories of 2017

Science can't stop, won't stop.

15 Dramatic Nature Illustrations by 19th-Century Scientist Ernst Haeckel

His artworks showed the wonders of evolution to a wide audience.

People Listen (and Remember) Better With Their Right Ears, Study Finds

Our ears share the burden of listening equally.

Pigeons Are Secretly Brilliant Birds That Understand Space and Time, Study Finds

The much-maligned bird is a lot more intelligent than people think.

Why Is Your First Instinct After Hurting Your Finger to Put It in Your Mouth?

This self-soothing behavior is actually a pretty effective technique for temporarily calming pain signals to the brain. Here's how it works.

NOAA Fisheries Service scientists disentangle a young North Atlantic right whale off the coast Florida.

Meet the Biologists Who Rescue Whales Trapped in Fishing Gear

Getting tangled in lines and nets can be deadly for whales—and it's a global problem.

9 Essential Facts About Carbon

Diamonds aren't called "ice" because of their appearance.

8 Ways Spiders Are Creepily Clever

Spiders do a lot more than spin webs.

What Is a GMO?

You hear the term tossed about, but what does it really mean?

Nudibranchs, the Butterflies of the Sea, May Also Be Ruthless 'Kleptopredators'

They get two meals in one.

8 Little Known Facts About the Temple

It's the thinnest part of the skull … which is why Maori warriors crafted a special weapon to crush it.

A New Scale Can Measure the Weight of a Single Cell

The Cytomass Monitor can track the differences in a cell's weight on a second-to-second basis.

Why Do Holes Feel Larger With Your Tongue Than With Your Finger?

It's all part of the "oral size illusion."

Why Are Lemurs So Weird? Maybe Because They Don't Eat Enough Fruit

Almost all primates eat fruit, even if it's just a little. A lack of it might be the reason why lemurs exhibit un-primate-like behavior like hibernating.

Why Do Female Spotted Hyenas Give Birth Through Their Pseudo-Penises?

The better question is, are you sure you really want to know the answer?

Steve Wood/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Are Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll Really Linked? Researchers Investigate

A new study provides evidence that fans of faster music live life on the edge.