Cognition
Smarter than they Look: What we Can Learn from Slime Moulds
Dr Tanya Latty tells me why slime moulds might be the best way to understand swarm intelligence
Stories by Felicity Muth
Cognition
Looking Past the Scales: The Truth about Reptilian Behavior
Jordan Bush reports how despite their sometimes unappealing exterior, reptiles care for their young, communicate with one another, and even play
Cognition
Chickadees Sing Different Songs Depending Where They're From
Carrie Branch tells me about her recent finding that chickadee populations vary in the songs they sing
Cognition
How to Enrich Cats' Lives: Food Puzzles for Cats
In the wild cats would naturally work for their food, and making meal times too easy for them may be detrimental. Cat behavior expert Mikel Delgado explains the advantages of food puzzles to me...
Cognition
The Future of Animal Behavior Research? How an Automated Device Can Address Questions in Cognition
Julie Morand-Ferron tells me about some of her recent discoveries in bird behavior using an automated device
Cognition
How Do Bonobos and Chimpanzees Talk to One Another?
Chimpanzees and bonobos gesture to one another, much as we humans do. Kirsty Graham tells me a bit more about what these gestures can tell us about the evolution of our own language
Cognition
What's Going On with the String-Pulling Bees? [Video]
String-pulling bees have been all over the news recently, but the majority of coverage has missed the most exciting thing about this research
Cognition
Female Zebra Finches Recognize Their Mates' Faces
New research shows that female zebra finches can learn to identify photos of their mate and other males
Mind & Brain
What We Understand about Cats and What They Understand about Us
A big part of cats' lives are spent around their human owners, yet scientists are just starting to understand what they think of us
Cognition
What's Going On in Your Cat's Head?
Cats are often depicted as being less friendly, cooperative and caring than dogs, but what's really going on in your cat's head?
Mind & Brain
Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt, Cuttlefish Perceive and Create Depth Cues
Cuttlefish blend with their background, creating remarkable camouflage. Using this unusual behavior, scientists can understand how this creature sees its world
Mind & Brain
Why Do Male Field Crickets Mate with Other Males?
Same-sex sexual behavior happens for many reasons—but why do field crickets do it?
Mind & Brain
Smart Birds Make the Worst Parents
Among mountain chickadees, at least, parents that contend with a harsher environment will be more likely to cause harm to their children than risk themselves.
Mind & Brain
Bumblebees Learn 2 Things at Once
Bumblebees learn both where to find nectar and where to find pollen, at the same time.
Mind & Brain
Bees Learn Which Flowers Have Pollen
A new type of learning for these 'insect geniuses'
Mind & Brain
Female Guppies Choose Males with More Sperm
It turns out, sperm is a limited resource
Mind & Brain
King Penguins Like One Another's Beaks
Love, lust and commitment in penguins
Mind & Brain
Dwarf Hamsters Hold Their Drink
Animals that are designed to be drinkers
Evolution
Robot Lizards Used to Address Evolutionary Questions
One of the reasons for the incredible breadth in the appearance of animals is to help individuals mate with the right species. This is one evolutionary process that causes differences between populations of animals and that can eventually lead to the formation of new species...
Mind & Brain
Baby Spiders Are Braver When Their Parents Are Around
As an individual who is part of a social species, you are likely aware of how others’ behaviour can influence your own and how you can influence others.
