Lens of Time: When Plants Fight BackVideo 11.07.2017Under cover of subtlety and slow-motion, plants not only perceive the organisms around them, they respond—and in some cases, prepare for battle.
The Anomalies: The Acorn WoodpeckerVideo 10.10.2017These highly social birds defy the typical two-parent family structure, proving that cooperation can make good evolutionary sense.
Lens of Time: Secrets of SchoolingVideo 08.08.2017Shimmering schools of fish have dazzled scientists for centuries with their synchronized maneuvers. Now, high-speed video is revealing how—and why—they do it.
Invisible Nature: Return of the Wood FrogVideo 06.27.2017A common frog species takes an unusual approach to winter—one that would kill most other vertebrates.
The Big PicturePhoto Gallery 06.20.2017A showcase of amazing creatures and gorgeous environments—some threatened, some thriving—from around the globe
Invisible Nature: Star of the DunesVideo 04.04.2017Coastal dunes set the stage for a surprisingly valuable partnership between a fungus and a tree.
Catching the Rainforest’s BreathVideo 02.28.2017Armed with a suite of high-tech tools, scientists are measuring the flow of gases into and out of the Amazon rainforest to understand how this iconic ecosystem responds to seasonal and climatic shifts.
Invisible Nature: The Glowing SquidVideo 02.21.2017Instead of hiding in the dark, the Hawaiian bobtail squid cruises through moonlit waters—and hides its own shadow.
Lens of Time: Building a Butterfly WingVideo 02.15.2017Scientists open a window—literally—into a process that normally remains hidden deep inside a butterfly’s chrysalis.
In Search of SuckersArticle 01.03.2017An endangered fish makes a comeback in the Grand Canyon’s depths—but will the razorback sucker stick around?
The Anomalies: The DewlapVideo 01.03.2017An apparent inconsistency leads scientists to a new discovery about the role the environment plays in animal communication.
Lens of Time: Velvet Worms—Secret of the SlimeVideo 12.13.2016Physics and biology meet to create one of the world’s strangest weapons: the slime cannon.
Lens of Time: How Hummingbirds HoverVideo 10.18.2016Armed with the latest technology, scientists are beginning to unlock the secrets of one of nature’s most acrobatic flyers.
Lens of Time: Spider SeductionVideo 09.13.2016For these jumping spiders, stayin’ alive requires all the right dance moves—and the perfect soundtrack, too.
Cancer at SeaArticle 08.23.2016A mysterious disease afflicting California sea lions is helping scientists understand the causes of cancer in all animals—including humans.
Lens of Time: Bat BalletVideo 08.02.2016Hundreds of thousands of bats emerge from a hole in the ground, and scientists with high-speed video cameras are there to make sense of the overwhelming spectacle.
Invisible Nature: Life in the CloudsVideo 07.05.2016Scientists are looking skyward to explore one of biology’s last frontiers, and discovering a rich diversity of microbial life high above our heads.
March of the FlamingosPhoto Essay 06.21.2016In the harsh, hot soda lakes of East Africa, flamingos thrive, and now scientists are beginning to understand how these birds live where other species die.
Lens of Time: Corals in MotionVideo 06.18.2016Corals occupy their own time dimension, but if given enough time, they reveal a surprising array of behaviors that give them an edge deep below the ocean’s surface.