How Longleaf Pines Helped Build the U.S.
The dense, resin-saturated, rot-resistant timber of the longleaf pine helped build up U.S. cities. But most of the native stands have already been logged.
The Delicate Science-Art of the Blaschka Invertebrate Collection
The Cornell Collection of Blaschka Invertebrate Models includes hundreds of glass models of sea creatures, making it both a teaching tool and a metaphor.
The Military Response to Poaching
Is militarizing rangers really the best way to cut down on poaching? It's more complicated than you might imagine.
How Non-Mammals “Nurse” Their Young
Some birds feed their young with "crop milk," while discus fish feed their fry with a special mucus. It may not seem as cute as nursing, but it works.
Denmark Builds a Wild Boar Wall
Is constructing a fence along the Denmark/Germany border really the best way to keep wild pigs away from domestic pigs?
Coexisting With Crocodiles
Conservation efforts have led to increased crocodile populations in areas like the Philippines. It's great news for the crocs. Not so much for the people.
The Biology of Death-Feigning
Some animals, when faced with predators, play dead instead of trying to escape. But for death-feigning to work, a lot of things have to go well.
The Woman Agrostologist Who Held the Earth Together
When government wouldn't fund female fieldwork, Agnes Chase pulled together her own resources.
The Mysterious Gynandromorph
Gynandromorphy is an extremely rare condition in which an animal is half male and half female. It's most visible in birds and butterflies.
The Pangolin Extinction Vortex
This shy, strange-looking, nocturnal mammal has been poached nearly to extinction.