The Most Infamous Komodo Dragon Encounters of the Century, From a Fatal Attack on an 8-Year-Old Boy to a Zookeeper Bitten by a Battling Animal
As tourism to see the endangered species is on the rise and their habitat decreases, on some very rare occasions, the animals bite
Ten Wild Facts About Octopuses: They Have Three Hearts, Big Brains and Blue Blood
These bizarre creatures have been around for hundreds of millions of years, and for humans, they’ve inspired horror, admiration and culinary prestige
The Slick Science of Making Olympic Snow and Ice
Crafting the ideal ice rink or bobsled course takes patience, precision and the skill of an Ice Master
See the Flowers that Bloom All At Once, One Night a Year
The mysterious night-blooming cereus just dazzled a garden in Tucson. Scientists still aren’t sure exactly how they bloom at the same time
This Could Be the Oldest Flowering Plant Ever Found in North America
A new look at Smithsonian’s fossil collection turned up a remarkably ancient flowering plant—scientists think it’s at least 115 million years old
Watch Fire Ants Use Their Bodies To Form Living Architecture
One species of ant can build floating rafts, resilient bridges and temporary shelters using nothing but their own bodies
The Seahorse’s Odd Shape Makes It a Weapon of Stealth
The shape of the seahorse’s snout and its painfully slow movements create help create minimal water disturbance, increasing its odds of bagging prey
Emissions of Methane, a Potent Greenhouse Gas, May Be Underestimated
Leaks from natural gas extraction may be a bigger source of U.S. methane emissions than previously thought, a new study finds
How Growing Up in Poverty May Affect a Child’s Developing Brain
A mounting body of research shows that the circumstances and chronic stresses of poverty interrupt the development of the brain
The Neuroscientist Who Discovered He Was a Psychopath
While studying brain scans to search for patterns that correlated with psychopathic behavior, James Fallon found that his own brain fit the profile
How Plastic Pollution Can Carry Flame Retardants Into Your Sushi
Research shows that plastic particles can absorb pollution from water, get eaten by fish and carry the toxins up the food chain
One of Nature’s Most Extreme Dads, the Darwin’s Frog, Is Going Extinct
The frog’s northern species is likely gone forever and a southern variety seems doomed to follow suit thanks to the amphibian chytrid fungus
Four Months After a Concussion, Your Brain Still Looks Different Than Before
Researchers have found neurological abnormalities that persist long after the symptoms of a concussion have faded away
World’s Rivers and Streams Leak a Lot of Carbon Dioxide
Lakes and reservoirs take up more space, but rivers and streams release more of the greenhouse gas into the atmosphere, a new study finds
Why Is Antarctica’s Sea Ice Growing As Temperatures Rise?
New research shows that the explanation for the counterintuitive growth of sea ice near the South Pole can be found blowing in the wind
Even People With “Perfect Memory” Can Be Tricked Into Recalling Fake Events
Those who can remember what they ate on a day ten years ago can be fooled by tests that distort memories
A History of Slavery and Genocide Is Hidden in Modern DNA
Genetic testing of people with Caribbean ancestry reveals evidence of indigenous population collapse and specific waves of slave trade
Hotspots of Deforestation Revealed in New Maps
New maps of global forest loss find that while Brazil is decreasing its rate of deforestation, many other nations are rapidly losing forest cover
People in Mexico Were Using Chili Peppers to Make Spicy Drinks 2400 Years Ago
New analysis of the insides of ancient drinkware shows chemical traces of Capsicum species, proof positive that its owners made spicy beverages
Mating Snakes Engage in a Literal Battle of the Sexes
Male and female red-sided garter snakes have antagonistic genitals, evolved to further the interests of their respective gender
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