Wanted Alive Spotlight 07.14.2020 For the first time in decades, Icelandic whalers have stopped hunting fin whales, thanks in part to a growing appreciation for the value these mammals bring to both marine and human communities.
The Big Picture 2020 Photo Gallery 05.05.2020 From 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.
Records of Change Video 01.17.2020 Thanks to foresight and meticulous records collected nearly a century ago, scientists are reconstructing a picture of some of Mexico’s most important ecosystems before they were transformed.
Race Against the Biological Clock Spotlight 12.24.2019 It turns out some contests between predators and their prey are more genetically determined than others.
Standing Guard Photo Essay 12.24.2019 The population of this critically endangered bird has stabilized thanks to the conservationists who look after them, but what happens if the caretakers leave?
The Scent of Water Spotlight 12.10.2019 Most mammals can’t smell underwater, but Eurasian otters may have a way of sniffing out prey even while swimming.
A Great Escape Spotlight 12.03.2019 Invasive American mink, having escaped from British fur farms over the past century, are now wreaking havoc on native species—but this lucky gannet got away.
Layers of Life Spotlight 11.12.2019 On a crowded coral reef, species often make their homes on top of one another (literally), living lives that are tightly intertwined both biologically and evolutionarily.
Beguiling Intruder Spotlight 10.30.2019 Lionfish are hungry, long-lived, and extremely fertile invaders in their new-found Atlantic home.
Snake Fake Spotlight 10.15.2019 For a plump caterpillar with no defensive body parts, masquerading as a deadly viper is an effective adaptation for survival in the Peruvian Amazon.
Strength in Numbers Spotlight 09.26.2019 A spirited game of tug-of-war is more than just a sweet moment among siblings—it’s a sign of an African wild dog pack with enough members to keep its pups both safe and well-fed.
A Plague of Cactus Article 09.26.2019 Across Kenya’s wildlife-rich Laikipia Plateau, a thorny enemy is advancing. But a tiny sap-sucking insect may help save the region’s animals and people.
Unexpected Playmate Spotlight 08.27.2019 A young humpback whale is spotted off the coast of Sri Lanka. Is it a sign of a promising trend, or just a fluke?
Bobcat Manor Photo Essay 08.14.2019 Despite increasing hunting pressure, bobcats have proven themselves to be remarkably resilient in the face of human encroachment—and aren’t above raising their young in rural backyards.
Enemy of My Enemy Spotlight 08.14.2019 An Amazonian frog finds refuge under the watchful compound gaze of a surprising guardian.
Lens of Time: Jaw Jumpers Video 07.30.2019 Sometimes the best solution to a sticky situation is a quick escape, and few escapes are faster than a trap-jaw ant’s.
Sucker Deception Spotlight 07.30.2019 Mesmerizing bioluminescence is a rare trait—and a clever lure—for this deep-sea drifter.
Handle With Care Spotlight 06.26.2019 For one of the most heavily persecuted creatures on the planet, protection sometimes requires a very hands-on approach.
Bounty Hunter Spotlight 06.12.2019 When the Cape fur seals along the Namibian coast have their pups each December, the desert’s top scavengers become seal-hunting specialists.
Assume the Position Spotlight 05.29.2019 A master of disguise, this rainforest dweller doesn’t just wear the perfect outfit, it also performs the perfect imitation of a tree branch.
