
Animals Evolved Color Vision before Bright Colors Emerged
Animals were able to see colors long before species developed the riot of colors that enlivens our world today

Animals Evolved Color Vision before Bright Colors Emerged
Animals were able to see colors long before species developed the riot of colors that enlivens our world today

5 Nifty Things We Learned about Pet Cats and Dogs in 2024
Why do some Labrador retrievers overeat? Do cats and dogs dream like humans do? Is your cat actually obsessed with you? In 2024 we got answers to these and other questions about our beloved furry friends


The 6 Cutest Things We Learned about Animals in 2024
From morphing beluga noggins to birds that practice singing in their sleep, science produced plenty of adorable findings this year

For Orcas, Dead Salmon Hats Are Back in Fashion after 37 Years
Orcas off the coast of Washington State are balancing dead fish on their head like it’s the 1980s, but researchers still aren’t sure why they do it

Chimps Share Knowledge like Humans Do, Spurring Innovation
Female chimps who migrate to new social groups bring skills and technology with them, helping to drive development of increasingly complex tool sets

When Did Human Ancestors Start Using Tools?
The 3.2-million-year-old human ancestor known as Lucy sparked a revolution in scientists’ understanding of the origins of clever hands and stone tools

Genetic Genealogy Can Stop Violent Criminals and Free the Wrongly Convicted
Despite investigative genetic genealogy revolutionizing cold case investigations, it has been underused to free the wrongly convicted

The Tooth Is Stranger Than Fiction
Anglerfish have invisible fangs, narwhal tusks are extra-long canines, and more facts from the weird and wonderful study of teeth will astound you

Miaou! Curly Tails Give Cats an ‘Accent’
A genetic mutation makes some cats’ tail curl over their back, giving them something akin to an accent when they communicate with other kitties

Alternate Timelines Can’t Help You, Quantum Physicists Say
The multiverse offers no escape from our reality—which might be a very good thing

The Lucy Fossil’s Extraordinary Journey to Becoming an Icon of Human Evolution
The 3.2-million-year-old human ancestor known as Lucy rose to fame through an incredible combination of circumstances

These Bird Nests Show Signs of an Architectural ‘Culture’
Culture may play a role in how birds build collectively in the Kalahari Desert