In the beginning, Earth’s atmosphere had no oxygen. Then photosynthesis made life as we know it possible, produced much of our mineable iron, and caused an ice age.
Read More
Chronic wasting disease, a neurological disease in deer, elk, and moose, has reached 27 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Experts worry that the disease could make the leap to humans.
Read More
Caecilians are amphibians, like frogs and salamanders. They look like a mix between an earthworm and a snake. And they let their children tear off their skin and eat it.
Read More
The brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), a native of North America, doesn’t build a nest. It also doesn’t feed its chicks, stick around for their first flight, or comfort them during storms. How can a bird species survive when it doesn’t care for its young? The answer involves covert egg-laying, chick sabotage, and the unwitting generosity of other songbirds.
Read More
The viceroy butterfly had a bad rap for far too long. Here’s how researchers cleared its name.
Read More