She’s less than a centimeter long, produces only daughters and is conquering the continent without a single male. Meet the elm zigzag sawfly, named for the delicate zigzag patterns it…
Category: Animals
In a Quebec park, a science game brings predator-prey dynamics to life
The predator was closing in, and the prey had to make a potentially life-altering choice: find food or flee? That prey was ecologist David Bolduc. And he was one of…
These sick baby ants sacrifice themselves to protect their colony
Some baby ants don’t ask for help when they contract deadly infections — they ask to be killed. Terminally ill worker ant pupae actively emit a “find me and destroy…
These scientific discoveries brought us joy in 2025
At its heart, science is about the joy of discovery — extending the boundaries of what we know and learning more about the world and our place in it. Research…
In a first, orcas and dolphins seen possibly hunting together
Orcas are renowned hunters. Now, they have surprised scientists with an unexpected twist — possibly getting help from dolphins. In the waters off British Columbia, marine ecologist Sarah Fortune and…
Science taught us a few new tricks about our pets in 2025
Carly Kay is the Fall 2025 science writing intern at Science News. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a master’s degree in science…
Have a taste of our favorite food stories from 2025
Carly Kay is the Fall 2025 science writing intern at Science News. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a master’s degree in science…
These are our favorite animal stories of 2025
Carly Kay is the Fall 2025 science writing intern at Science News. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a master’s degree in science…
Ancient DNA rewrites the tale of when and how cats left Africa
Like a toy on a string, the timing of cat domestication has been a moving target. Now researchers have pounced on a new timeline suggesting that tame descendants of African…
Mosquitos use it to suck blood. Researchers used it to 3-D print
A mosquito’s proboscis — the long, thin bit that pierces the skin — makes an excellent nozzle for fine 3-D printing. The proboscis’ unique geometry and mechanics make it well-suited…
