Why Do Pandas Have Thumbs?
Some panda species have strange thumb-like appendages, but their thumbs evolved for strikingly different reasons.
Are GM Crops Worth It?
GM crops have been controversial from the beginning. Proponents argue they are better commercially, but that analysis is coming into question.
Mustangs: Celebrated Western Icon or Ecological Disaster?
Mustangs, as the wild horses of the American West are known, represent something different for everyone.
The Glowing Mystery of Bioluminescence
Bioluminescence, an animal's ability to create and use light, exists exclusively in the lower branches of the tree of life.
Plants Know When They Are Being Eaten. (And They Fight Back.)
Plants have long employed a variety of defensive strategies against herbivores, but the scope and sophistication of these defenses is still being understood.
The Incredible Moving Forest
For as long as plants have existed, there have been moving forests, migrating across the earth’s surface in response to changes in the climate.
Are There “Transgender” Proclivities in Animals?
We tend to think of gender expression as uniquely human. But many species gain advantages by projecting an opposite-sex appearance.
Believe It or Not, You Don’t Actually Want Mosquitoes Eradicated
What would happen if we actually eliminated mosquitoes?
The Curious Science of Animal Personalities
Any pet owner can tell you that different pets have different personalities, but actually measuring personality in non-human animals is a challenge.
What Makes a Species?
Scientists have found there are actually four different species of giraffes. But what makes a species?