By Science News | Jake Buehler | 1/27/2026 9:00 AM
An ancient ancestor of spiders and relatives doubled its genome about 400 million years ago, setting the stage for the evolution of spinnerets.
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Scientists have long focused on quantifying fear and other negative emotions in animals. Now they’re trying to measure positive feelings — and it’s a challenge. ... Read full Story
An array of animals and plants survive winter in the subnivium, nature’s igloo. But climate change is threatening this hidden seasonal ecosystem. ... Read full Story
Veronika the cow uses a brush as a tool to scratch herself, revealing rare problem-solving skills and expanding what we know of tool use in animals. ... Read full Story
By Science News | Jake Buehler | 1/16/2026 11:00 AM
The rockhead poacher is a little fish with a big pit in its head. The divot may be like a drum, making sound that rises above a chaotic, nearshore din. ... Read full Story
By Science News | Jake Buehler | 1/15/2026 11:00 AM
Arabian cheetah mummies' DNA reveals that the long-lost population could be closely replaced by a cheetah population in northwestern Africa. ... Read full Story
The density of fine hairs on bumblebees’ tongues determines how much nectar they can collect — and workers put queen bees to shame. ... Read full Story
By Science News | Sujata Gupta | 1/12/2026 9:00 AM
In humans, teens do the most dangerous things. In chimpanzees, that honor goes to toddlers. The difference may lie in caregiver supervision. ... Read full Story
The elm zigzag sawfly has spread to 15 states in five years. Now it's attacking the tree that cities planted to replace Dutch elm disease victims. ... Read full Story
Results show that players’ choices echo predator-prey patterns seen in wildlife, though scientists stress the limits of the analogy. ... Read full Story
When infected by a fungal disease, ant pupae actively emit a chemical cue that prompts workers to get rid of them for the good of the colony. ... Read full Story
By Science News | Gennaro Tomma | 12/31/2025 8:00 AM
New footage shows orcas and dolphins coordinating hunts, hinting at interspecies teamwork to track and catch salmon off British Columbia. ... Read full Story
By Science News | Jake Buehler | 12/16/2025 9:00 AM
Cats were domesticated in North Africa, but spread to Europe only about 2,000 years ago. Earlier reports of “house” cats were wild cats. ... Read full Story