Stories by Jason G. Goldman

Even though we do not hunt pumas for food, the big cats have reason to fear us

New DNA-based research suggests dogs were domesticated in a single event, in contrast with a previous hypothesis

Brown bears paw the ground to leave one another smelly messages

Logging, agriculture, mining and fires recently have eliminated a larger chunk of vast expanses of forests or naturally treeless ecosystems than you might think

The answer may surprise you

Memories for birds might be stored in only one of two hemispheres, which could bring advantages

Climate change and overfishing have made the penguins’ feeding grounds a mirage—which has led to a drop in penguin population. Jason G. Goldman reports. 

Guppies exposed to predators tend to aggregate into smaller, more tightly knit groups, which may allow them to coordinate their predator avoidance strategies. Jason G. Goldman reports.

The critically endangered birds have done well in captive breeding, meaning they may be ready once more for wild living, and the repertoire of calls associated with it. Jason G. Goldman reports. 

The cichlid, a small fish, has one of the most incredible visual systems known—which allows it to adapt to differently colored environments. Jason G. Goldman reports.

Some predators are attracted to the food in bird feeders, and end up targeting nestlings, too. Jason G. Goldman reports. 

Some marine mammals can compare time periods and sense milliseconds of difference

Untapped human abilities and new technologies could identify criminals and fight crime 

If a weak piglet positions itself next to a strong sibling while feeding, it may get some extra nutrition from inadvertently stimulated mammary glands.   

In areas where the white-nose syndrome fungus has been around for awhile, little brown bats seem to have found a way to limit the disease damage.

A study of white female nurses found those who were more optimistic were a third less likely to die of any cause

They can solve puzzles that solitary leopards and tigers can’t—evidence that sociality promotes high-level cognition

The persona of some fishes bends to conform to group dynamics, but it ultimately remains constant

An orangutan matched researchers' predictions about which mixed beverage he would choose based on his relative fondness for the separate ingredients.

Alaskan river otters can gain valuable information about one another by sniffing around their latrines. Jason G. Goldman reports.

With a shorter season of sea ice, polar bears have less access to marine mammals. But switching to a terrestrial diet deprives them of the fatty seal meals they need to thrive.

When rain fills the massive footprints left by elephants, communities of aquatic invertebrates quickly move in

The central bearded dragon can rapidly shift its body color to soak up extra sun or cool off, while using its neck color to communicate with other lizards.

The ruminants seem to head due north or south when fleeing, a new study shows