Life

The search for alien life is far too human-centric. Our flawed understanding of what life really is may be holding us back from important discoveries about the universe and ourselves.

Fractal patterns are noticed by people of all ages, even small children, and have significant calming effects.

Exceptionally high-quality videos allow scientists to formally introduce a remarkable new comb jelly.

Researchers document the first example of evolutionary changes in a plant in response to humans.

An elephant at the Bronx Zoo has become a cause célèbre for animal rights activists.

One of the world’s most isolated island groups has just been made one of the world’s largest ocean reserves.

Across the world, wildlife is under severe threat.

Researchers find a key clue to the evolution of bony fish and tetrapods.

Another amazing tardigrade survival skill is discovered.

Scientists have identified the largest ever assemblage of mammoth bones.

“Interacting” with nature through virtual reality applications had especially strong benefits, according to the study.

Mosquitoes can taste your blood using unique sensory abilities. Can we use that to keep them off us?

The sudden prevalence of an artery in the forearm is evidence that we’re still very much a work in progress.

The young man died nearly 2,000 years ago in the volcanic eruption that buried Pompeii.

Modern crops have been optimized for a lot of things, but not for climate change.

The microbes that eventually produced the planet’s oxygen had to breathe something, after all.

Sharks fear killer whales. How does this impact the ecosystems they share?

A new study finds that starlet sea anemones have the unique ability to grow more tentacles when they’ve got more to eat.

A new study bases its calculations on more than the great white shark.

On the list of animals at risk are several endangered species.

Spending time in green spaces seems to yield many health benefits, most of which researchers are only beginning to understand.

The father of all giant sea bugs was recently discovered off the coast of Java.

Carbon locked in soils can be emitted by bacteria. Turning up the heat on them releases more carbon.

An experiment in Botswana suggests a non-lethal deterrent for predatory lions.

Our family tree is complicated, and some of the branches are still unlabeled.

Just what every arachnophobe needed to hear.

Certain water beetles can escape from frogs after being consumed.

Declining bee populations could lead to increased food insecurity and economic losses in the billions.

Big brains come at a big cost, however.

In one of the ocean’s most lifeless places, scientists discover and resuscitate ancient organisms.