H5N1 bird flu viruses have acquired a molecular trick that makes them more easily infect mammary glands in cattle, but this adaptation does not appear to affect humans. To infect…
Category: Animals
AI and tech advances may soon enable talking with animals
In the animated movie Up, a boisterous dog wears an electronic collar that translates his doggy thoughts into English words. “My master made me this collar,” he tells his new…
Nearly 1 in 5 gray whales die after entering the San Francisco Bay
Spotting a gray whale in San Francisco Bay can be thrilling, but researchers now know it can be bad news for the marine mammals. Nearly 1 in 5 gray whales…
Mummified reptile hints at the origins of how we breathe
The mummified remains of of a land-dwelling vertebrate are helping to reveal how early ancient reptiles began to take a breath with their whole chests — the breathing style used…
A new book finds parenting inspiration in the animal kingdom
The Creatures’ Guide to Caring Elizabeth PrestonViking, $30 My early days of nursing a newborn felt like I’d transformed into a 24-hour diner. A demanding yet adorable customer flagged me…
Cicadas use darkness cues from shadows to move toward trees
When periodical cicadas surface after years underground, they don’t grope blindly for trees. They head for the shadows, researchers report March 20 in the American Naturalist. A detailed analysis of…
Fossil reveals that an early relative of spiders had claws
A stunningly preserved fossil shows that early relatives of spiders and scorpions were already armed with their hallmark front claws about half a billion years ago. The newly described animal…
Secrets of the Bees zooms in on life in a hive
At the edge of a wildflower meadow sits an unassuming tan box with a pitched roof. But a closer look reveals the box is buzzing with activity — literally. The…
How snakes defy gravity to stand tall
As a long and wiry scrub python slithers its way from branch to branch on a tree, it can effortlessly lift itself upright to climb onto a higher perch. But…
Watch the first video of a sperm whale birth captured by scientists
In a sperm whale birth recorded in more intimate detail than ever before, local whales huddled around the mother and lifted the calf to the surface.
