Despite Many Threats, Some Coral Reefs Are Thriving
Learning the secrets of these survivors could help scientists rehabilitate other reefs as well
Stories by bioGraphic
Hawk Moths Hold Steady When Faced with Turbulence
Hawk moths hover while they feed, but they recover surprisingly quickly when knocked off-balance. Scientists use high-speed video and mini-cannons made of plastic toy parts to understand how hawk moths respond to disturbances midair. "Lens of Time: The Art of Staying Stable" was first published on bioGraphic © 2018 California Academy of Science.
Lesser Prairie Chickens Show Greater Dance Moves in the Spring
Prairies become dance floors each spring as male birds vie for female attention. "Like No One is Watching” was first published on bioGraphic © 2018 California Academy of Sciences.
Better Beef
Can a remade cattle industry save the Amazon rainforest?
Life on the Rocks
Scientists are probing deep beneath the ocean’s surface to learn how life on Earth began
Scientists Learn from a Fish School
Researchers train high-speed video on schooling fish to track the motion of each individual, revealing how information and decisions travel through the group. "Lens of Time: Secrets of Schooling" was first published on bioGraphic ©2016 California Academy of Sciences
How a Mushroom Could Solve the Honeybee Crisis
Honeybee populations have decreased at an alarming rate worldwide in the past decade. Watch how one team of researchers is using compounds extracted from a common mushroom to combat the parasitic mite capable of decimating honeybee colonies.
Can the Amazon Save the Planet?
Scientists climb to perilous heights to gauge how much carbon dioxide the rainforest is absorbing
How to Build a Butterfly Wing
Iridescent butterfly wings get their brilliance from structures smaller than a wavelength of light. Scientists are now peeking inside the chrysalis to watch these structural colors form as a living butterfly develops. "Lens of Time: Building a Butterfly Wing” was first published on bioGraphic © 2016, California Academy of Sciences.
Watch Velvet Worms Fire Their Slime Cannons
These deceptively cute purple worms are in fact fearsome predators, launching a net of sticky slime from tiny hoses to capture prey. Scientists are using high-speed cameras to understand how the fluid forces the worm's flexible tubes to oscillate and spray the goo over unlucky insects. "Lens of Time: Velvet Worms—Secret of the Slime” was first published on bioGraphic © 2016, California Academy of Sciences.
Are Giant Sequoia Trees Succumbing to Drought?
Researchers climb 300 feet to the tops of thousand-year-old trees to analyze how they are faring
Spiders Perform a Spooky Seduction Dance
Male jumping spiders accompany their mating dance with a drum routine, sending vibrations through the ground to tempt a female. "Lens of Time: Spider Seduction” was first published on bioGraphic © 2016, California Academy of Sciences.
Watch a Sunset Bat Ballet
When a bat emerges from its cave, it engages in a delicate dance with hundreds of its neighbors. High speed videography reveals twirls and collisions as the bats maneuver. “Lens of Time: Bat Ballet” was first published on bioGraphic © 2016 California Academy of Sciences.
Life Blooms in the Clouds
Microbes in the atmosphere influence life on the planet's surface. "Invisible Nature: Life in the Clouds" was first published on bioGraphic. ©2016 California Academy of Sciences.
Corals Clash on the Ocean Floor
They may seem stationary to us, but corals are dynamic animals. In this film, researchers use time-lapse video to watch corals move along the ocean floor, unearth themselves when buried, and even attack each other for more real estate. “Lens of Time: Corals in Motion” was first published on bioGraphic and reproduced with permission. © 2016 California Academy of Sciences
Bumblebees Collide Midair Like Bumper Cars
Slow-motion footage of bees reveals their high-speed collisions and in-flight recovery systems. “Lens of Time: Bumper Bees” was first published on bioGraphic © 2016, California Academy of Sciences.
How Slime Molds Make Decisions
Slime molds have no brains, yet they make complex decisions. In this film scientists use time-lapse video to figure out how slime molds make those decisions. "Lens of Time: Slime Lapse" was first published on bioGraphic and reproduced with permission. © 2016 California Academy of Sciences