Of Moths and MarsupialsArticle 04.26.2023The ancient relationship between the mountain pygmy possum and the bogong moth reveals the complexity of global climate change—and the lengths people may have to go to save some species from extinction.
Rogues of the RainforestArticle 03.22.2023Tropical vines are wandering, as they always have, but recent environmental changes are giving them an edge over other rainforest plants—a shift that could have enduring impacts on climates around the globe.
What Conservation Sounds LikeArticle 02.17.2023New bioacoustic tools are revolutionizing scientific research and enabling much quicker conservation efforts around the globe.
Prince of DarknessSpotlight 08.24.2022Helmet jellyfish have taken over a Norwegian fjord, demonstrating the species’ tenacity and offering clues about environmental factors that can upend an ecosystem.
Returning England’s Forgotten FrogVideo 08.24.2022As scientists were discovering a surprising detail about an often-overlooked frog, the last local population of the species was winking out of existence. The extraordinary story of England’s pool frog and the effort to bring it back.
Shot in the DarkSpotlight 07.14.2022Africa’s black leopards are shrouded in mystery, but groundbreaking photography is bringing them to light.
The Big Picture 2022Photo Gallery 06.08.2022From the beautiful to the bizarre, this photographic showcase of life on Earth shines a light on some of our planet’s most amazing species and places.
Downward SpiralArticle 06.04.2022The nautilus’s lineage made it through all five of Earth’s previous mass extinctions. But can it survive the Anthropocene?
Love TrainSpotlight 06.03.2022The Kangaroo Island echidna may seem bizarre, but the spiky mammal’s quirks have helped it survive cataclysmic change.
Keeping the Magic AliveSpotlight 04.19.2022Paired black-browed albatrosses perform elaborate bonding rituals, but climate change may lead to higher divorce rates.
Potty PlantSpotlight 02.21.2022A carnivorous plant in Southeast Asia offers its leftovers to local fauna, and gets fertilized by those animals’ feces in exchange.
Single MomSpotlight 11.24.2021In a delicate ritual that might last only a few minutes, this female squid demonstrates remarkable self-sufficiency.
Seeing SpotsSpotlight 11.12.2021Spotted eagle rays’ distinctive markings are turning out to be important identifiers, and may become essential for their protection.
Bringing out the DeadArticle 10.28.2021By sinking a wide array of carcasses into the deep ocean and studying what turns up when they fall, scientists are learning about some of the world’s most exotic scavengers and the roles they play in the darkness.
Eye SpySpotlight 10.28.2021While this highly adapted fish peers out on its prey- and predator-rich surroundings, shapeshifting, pigmented cells enable it to all but disappear into its environment.
Signs of the TimesArticle 07.08.2021Despite their perceived abundance, the periodical cicadas that emerged across the eastern United States this summer point to a growing set of threats facing both the insects themselves and the ecosystems they help support.
The Big Picture 2021Photo Gallery 05.27.2021From the beautiful to the bizarre, this photographic showcase of life on Earth shines a light on some of our planet’s most amazing species and places.
Antarctica’s Upside Down WorldArticle 05.12.2021Clinging to the underside of ice hundreds of meters thick, strange communities of sea life eke out a living in perpetual darkness. Now, researchers are racing to find and study these creatures before they—and their ice sheets—disappear.
Are You My Mother?Spotlight 03.29.2021Before a timber rattlesnake mom leaves her babies to fend for themselves, she passes on an important piece of information: her scent.
