This small rodent is at the center of theories about the hantavirus outbreak
The long-tailed pygmy rice rat is the primary host for Andes virus, the type of hantavirus responsible for sickening passengers on the MV Hondius cruise ship
Meet the tiny fish that looks like Mr. Snuffleupagus
A strange, tiny fish that resembles the famous Sesame Street character camouflages amid red algae thanks to its flamboyant reddish “hairs”
Meet the endangered scaly-foot snail, the most metal animal in the world
This snail became the first animal living on deep-sea hydrothermal vents to be added to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species—it also turns poisonous sulfur into armor
There’s an 82 percent chance El Niño will ‘emerge soon,’ NWS says
The El Niño climate event is due to return this year, with U.S. forecasters predicting an 82 percent chance of it coming in May through July and a 96 percent chance for it doing so in December through February 2027
The next quantum revolution may require a helium ‘gold rush’ on the moon
The rare isotope helium-3 is one of Earth’s most precious commodities—so precious, in fact, that it might prove profitable to mine from the moon
How the war in Iran could endanger one of Earth’s most unique ecosystems
Despite decades of damage, the Persian Gulf’s ecological marvels remain—for now
Deep-Earth diamonds reveal trove of never-before-seen minerals
Flecks of minerals captured in diamonds show hidden connections between Earth’s surface and its deep interior
2026 FIFA World Cup players and fans at risk of extreme heat, climate scientists warn
Heat conditions could exceed dangerous levels at a quarter of the planned 2026 World Cup soccer matches, including the final in New Jersey on July 19
Radar picks up on bird migration. But how do we tell birds and storms apart?
Flock shape, speed and structure are key in deciphering whether radar readouts are birds, bats, insects or weather
River ‘piracy’ is draining one of China’s biggest waterways
For the last 1.7 million years, China’s Yangtze River has been stealing water from the Yellow River, new research shows
Sucker fish are hiding in manta rays’ ‘butthole,’ new study reveals
The practice of “cloacal diving” could help remoras hide from predators—it could also be a feeding strategy or help the fish hitchhike
Celebrate Mother’s Day with nine bold, beautiful and bizarre animal moms
Here are some of the most fascinating facts about animal moms, from naked mole rats to giraffes and octopuses