Why daddy longlegs are one of the most misunderstood creatures
This is a great example of how a popular myth can persist despite being completely false. Here are the key points: The “Daddy Longlegs” Myth Many people have heard the…
The surprising ways sharks keep the ocean healthy
Sharks are among the ocean’s most powerful predators, yet they are also some of its most threatened animals. Today, around 75% of open-ocean shark and ray species are threatened with…
Watch this new spider species launch ants right into its web
Scientists have discovered a remarkable new spider in the rainforests of Cape York Peninsula, Australia, that hunts one of the region’s most aggressive insects in an astonishing way. Nicknamed the…
Can we save the hammerhead shark from extinction?
Off the coast of Mexico, National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory made a heartbreaking discovery while filming Hammerheads Up Close. Suspended from a fishing line was a lifeless hammerhead shark, a…
Diver captures rare footage of great white shark—in the Mediterranean
A remarkable underwater encounter in the Strait of Sicily has provided scientists with a rare glimpse of one of the Mediterranean Sea’s most elusive predators: an adult great white shark.…
The Socorro Dove Has Been Extinct In The Wild Since 1972. Could The Birds Return To The Island Before The End Of The Decade?
The story of the Socorro dove is one of the world’s most remarkable conservation efforts. Although the species disappeared from the wild more than 50 years ago, dedicated breeding programs…
We Use “Birdbrain” As An Insult – But That’s Not Only Unfair, It’s Scientifically Inaccurate
For decades, calling someone a “birdbrain” has implied that they’re foolish or unintelligent. But modern science has completely overturned that stereotype. Birds possess remarkable cognitive abilities, and many species perform…
How Do You Weigh An Octopus Or A Giraffe, Or A Whale, Or A Supermassive Black Hole?
How do you weigh an octopus? Or a giraffe, for that matter? That’s a question that zoos and conservation groups across the world grapple with as they strive to keep…
How The Anus May Have Triggered The World’s First Mass Extinction Event And Other “Evolution” Wisdom With Chris Packham
All life on Earth can be traced back to a single ancient organism known as LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor), which lived around 4.2 billion years ago. Over billions of…
This common pesticide may be quietly wiping out future bumblebees
Bumblebees may be small, measuring only about an inch long, but they play an enormous role in global agriculture. About one third of the world’s food production relies on pollinators…