While hiking through the dense jungles of Uganda, wildlife photographer Federica Cordero stumbled upon a young male chimp lounging on a twisted vine. His bemused frown suggests some irritation at having his nap disturbed, but it gave Cordero’s photo a charming air of adolescent grumpiness. Teenagers, am I right? The image, titled The Canopy Watcher, […]
Official Trailer for ‘Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age’ Promises Survival, Snow—and Giant Teeth
Apple TV+’s Prehistoric Planet is known for its hyper-realistic CGI dinosaurs, but the Cretaceous period is so last year. The third season of this natural history docuseries leaps millions of years forward, inviting viewers to experience the Ice Age. In the season trailer released November 6, strikingly lifelike mammoths, giant ground sloths, dire wolves, and […]
Controversial Plan to Kill 500,000 Barred Owls in U.S. Clears Major Hurdle
To save the northern west’s spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) from extinction, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to kill up to 450,000 barred owls (Strix Varia) across California, Oregon, and Washington. The controversial conservation strategy, announced last year, has sparked an ethical debate that recently played out on the Senate floor. On October […]
It’s Not Just Us: Some Dogs Can Become Unhealthily Addicted to Their Favorite Things, Too
Obsessing isn’t just for humans. In a study out today, scientists have found evidence that dogs, too, can become addicted to certain objects—and especially, their favorite toy. The researchers observed dozens of dogs as they interacted with their most prized toys. About a third of dogs exhibited addiction-like behaviors, such as becoming especially agitated when […]
Flamingoes Can Slow Down Aging—But Only If They Embrace This Lifestyle
Despite the uniform appearance of pink flamingo flocks, individuals live very different lifestyles. In the Camargue region of France, some stay put for their entire lives while others migrate along the Mediterranean coast. Now, scientists believe these two groups differ in how they age, too. New research published Monday, August 25, in the journal PNAS […]
‘Weird Looking’ Otter Poo Reveals an Unexpected Role in Parasite Control
Receiving an unsolicited photo of worm-infested animal poop would make anyone cringe, unless you’re a parasite expert like Katrina Lohan. When a colleague sent her a snapshot of a watery pile of feces with a fire-engine red worm inside, she was instantly intrigued. “She sent this to me and was like, ‘I think this is […]
Your Nature Photos Are Doing More Science Than You Think
With a smartphone in hand, anyone can be a naturalist. Apps like iNaturalist have surged in popularity over the last 15 years, with millions using them to document wildlife around the world. A new study shows that these observations contribute a deluge of data to scientific research. Use of iNaturalist has skyrocketed since its launch […]
How to Become a Backyard Naturalist With Just Your Smartphone
In the early days of summer, backyards come to life. Warmer temperatures transform spring buds into lush greenery, coax insects from their winter slumber, and invite newborn animals to explore their surroundings on wobbling legs or wings. With smartphones, documenting this emerging wildlife has never been easier. These days, all the tools you need to […]
Video Shows Orcas Left Behind in Algae-Filled Tanks Months After French Park Shut Down
In November 2021, the French government passed legislation banning the performance of cetaceans, including whales and dolphins. In anticipation of the law coming into effect late next year, the French Riviera’s Marineland closed its doors in January. Four months later, two orcas are still captive in the abandoned marine zoo’s algae-infested tanks. Earlier this month, […]
AI Is Deciphering Animal Speech. Should We Try to Talk Back?
Chirps, trills, growls, howls, squawks. Animals converse in all kinds of ways, yet humankind has only scratched the surface of how they communicate with each other and the rest of the living world. Our species has trained some animals—and if you ask cats, animals have trained us, too—but we’ve yet to truly crack the code […]