Animals & Plants

Bird eye size reveals a whole lot about them

The eye size of birds can reveal broad patterns of their biology and behavior, including where they live, what they eat, and how they...

Female hummingbirds avoid harassment by looking as flashy as males, shows study

Much like in human society, female hummingbirds have taken it into their own hands to avoid harassment. By watching white-necked Jacobin hummingbirds in Panama, researchers...

Watch this slow but deadly tortoise hunt a baby bird

A predator doesn’t need to have the quickest speed or reflexes to catch a bird. In a paper published in the journal Current Biology, researchers...

Invasive plants are still for sale as garden ornamentals, shows study

A new study shows that 1,330 nurseries, garden centers and online retailers are still offering hundreds of invasive plant species as ornamental garden plants. This...

Cats prefer to get free meals rather than work for them, shows study

When given the choice between a free meal and performing a task for a meal, cats would prefer the meal that doesn’t require much...

Why weren’t New World rabbits domesticated?

Domesticated rabbits come in all sizes and colors, including tiny Netherland Dwarfs, floppy-eared French lops, Flemish Giants, and fluffy Angoras. These breeds belong to Europe's...

This deadly spider may help treat heart attacks, study finds

In a new study from the University of Queensland, researchers found venom from a deadly native spider may actually save lives, by halting the...

“Get out of the water!” Monster shark movies massacre shark conservation

Undeniably the shark movie to end all shark movies, the 1975 blockbuster, Jaws, not only smashed box office expectations, but forever changed the way...

Scientists find new way to protect seeds from drought

MIT researchers have devised a way to protect seeds from the stress of water shortage during their crucial germination phase, and even provide the...

You can snuggle wolf pups all you want, they still won’t get you quite...

After 14,000 years of domestication, dogs have some of the same cognitive abilities as human babies. You know your dog gets your gist when you...