The Weird Fairy Circles of Namibia
The deserts of Namibia are dotted with odd circular bare patches, ringed by the dry desert grasses. They're called "fairy circles." It’s a desert whodunit.
It’s Not Magical Realism: Bullets That Bloom
With all the human casualties of armed conflict, sometimes the environmental impacts go unnoticed. But the U.S. military has started to ...
The Invention of Pets
Pet are a relatively recent invention. In the 18th and 19th centuries, pethood arose in the split between farm animals and home animals.
The Many Unexpected Jobs of the Clubmoss Spore
The first working internal combustion machine debuted in 1807, powered by lycopodium powder, which is made of explosive plant spores.
Where Have All the Cheetahs Gone?
Disturbing news for cheetahs: a recent census reveals that populations have plummeted.
The Cork Oak Forests Want You to Drink More Wine
Corks come from a tree that is part of a unique ecosystem dependent on cork harvest for its survival.
Giant Squid, Giant Secrets
Very little is known about the giant squid, which surely has added to the strange creature's mystique.
What Makes a Brain “Speech Ready?”
Can monkeys talk? According to new research, they could, if their brains would let them.
The Curious Case of the Coconut Crab
Meet the coconut crab, the largest terrestrial invertebrate on Earth.
The Strange Tale of the Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program
In the 1960s, over seventy scientists and graduate students traveled to U.S. outlying islands as part of the Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program.