How do ants crawl on walls? A biologist explains their sticky, spiky, gravity-defying grip
Ant feet are equipped with an array of tools – from retractable sticky pads to claws to special spines and hairs – enabling them to defy gravity and grip virtually any surface.
Sept. 12, 2022 • ~6 min
How you can help protect sharks – and what doesn't work
Sharks are much more severely threatened by humans than vice versa. A marine biologist explains how people can help protect sharks and why some strategies are more effective than others.
Sept. 12, 2022 • ~6 min
Human skin stood up better to the sun before there were sunscreens and parasols – an anthropologist explains why
Our ancient ancestors didn’t have clothes or houses – but that constant exposure to the sun helped their skin protect itself from the worst sun damage.
Sept. 6, 2022 • ~9 min
Sleeping fish? From sharks to salmon, guppies to groupers, here's how they grab a snooze
Just about every creature on Earth needs to grab some Zs from time to time. Imagine trying to doze while dodging great whites and killer whales.
Sept. 5, 2022 • ~6 min
Axolotls can regenerate their brains – these adorable salamanders are helping unlock the mysteries of brain evolution and regeneration
Axolotls are amphibians known for their ability to regrow their organs, including their brains. New research clarifies their regeneration process.
Sept. 1, 2022 • ~8 min
Most human embryos naturally die after conception – restrictive abortion laws fail to take this embryo loss into account
Human embryos are far more likely to die than come to term, an evolutionary trait seen across species. Laws granting personhood at conception ignore built-in embryo loss, with potentially grave consequences.
Sept. 1, 2022 • ~10 min
Neanderthals died out 40,000 years ago, but there has never been more of their DNA on Earth
Here’s what we can learn from our closest extinct relatives.
Aug. 31, 2022 • ~8 min
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