Saving Mexico’s Lost World Article 02.18.2020 Microbes have lived in Cuatro Ciénegas for 500 million years. They’ve survived countless cataclysms and extinctions. But can they survive us?
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.
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.
Mighty Mom Spotlight 03.17.2019 One of the most attentive of all insect parents, this tiny treehopper fiercely defends her offspring until they’re fully grown, using her thorn-shaped headdress as both shield and intimidation tool.
Mobile Home Spotlight 12.18.2018 This caterpillar combines next-level camouflage and shelter-building to disappear into one of the most vibrant and biodiverse ecosystems on the planet.
The Better to Bite You With Spotlight 10.23.2018 Finding—and defending—prime fruit-picking perches is no easy task in the rainforest, but toucans have a few tricks up their beaks.
It’s a Wasp-Eat-Caterpillar World Spotlight 09.11.2018 Shockingly, being eaten alive by dozens of hungry wasp larvae may have its advantages.
Lens of Time: The Art of Staying Stable Video 08.27.2018 A tiny copper cannonball is no match for this hawkmoth’s hovering prowess.
Mystic Minipizza Spotlight 04.24.2018 This might be your only chance to meet the best-named fish in the sea.
The Pond of Youth Spotlight 01.09.2018 A simple lifeform, prevalent in freshwater pools the world over, could reveal the secret to ever-lasting life.
Betting on Conservation Opinion 12.05.2017 As extinction rates climb, we have a responsibility—to our own species and to others—to work toward reversing the trend.
Swimming with Shark Pups Spotlight 07.11.2017 A young shark wriggles its way into the world, and one lucky—and dedicated—photographer is there to capture the moment.
A Moth’s-Eye View Spotlight 06.27.2017 Even the commonest of creatures can reveal stunning beauty (and impressive ingenuity) upon closer inspection.
Tear Hunter Spotlight 04.11.2017 In one of nature’s more surprising interactions, a butterfly hunts crocodilian tears in search of life-sustaining salts.
Venomous Weaponry Photo Essay 03.21.2017 Nature’s arsenal contains thousands of venomous creatures and a diverse array of armaments that are as brilliant, varied, and surprising as the creatures that wield them.
Lens of Time: Building a Butterfly Wing Video 02.15.2017 Scientists open a window—literally—into a process that normally remains hidden deep inside a butterfly’s chrysalis.
Darwin’s Fox Spotlight 02.07.2017 His finches may be more famous, but this small fox also helped Darwin develop his revolutionary theory of evolution.
Ahead of the Curve Spotlight 01.10.2017 A dolphin frolics unperturbed in the bow wave of one of the open ocean’s clumsier and less-efficient seafarers.
Lens of Time: Velvet Worms—Secret of the Slime Video 12.13.2016 Physics and biology meet to create one of the world’s strangest weapons: the slime cannon.
Aliens of the Deep Photo Gallery 11.01.2016 From transparent bodies and glowing appendages to motion-sensing cells, these denizens of the deep are highly adapted for life in a world without light.
