Plants & Animals
18 articles in this section.
Bullfrogs may have an antidote to deadly shellfish poisoning
In warm, sunny weather, certain marine algae along American coasts and elsewhere can flourish into harmful algal blooms, producing a substance known as saxitoxin. This neurotoxin is deadly…
Sad or afraid? Dogs may be able to read your face
Dogs may be even more attuned to people’s feelings than we think. Man’s best friend has a knack for knowing what humans are thinking, reading signs as subtle…
Too many choices complicate female frogs’ sex lives
It’s not just you. Frogs also get overwhelmed when confronted with too many options — and sometimes, they make bad decisions. Female Cope’s gray tree frogs (Hyla chrysoscelis)…
These underwater bones could solve a mystery about extinct giants
Some of the fossil fragments have lain hidden on cave floors for thousands of years. Credit: Steve Trewavas Bones recovered from underwater caves can provide an extraordinary record…
Major study challenges long-held fears about acetaminophen and ibuprofen use in babies
A large randomized trial found no link between acetaminophen or ibuprofen use in babies and eczema or bronchiolitis. The results strongly support the safety of both medicines during…
Animals have been eating nature’s original bioplastic for millions of years
The little worm that changed the textbook: The gutless marine worm Olavius algarvensis (here lying next to some sand grains) is only about two centimeters long and has…
Japanese scientists use tiny silver particles to make DNA assembly up to 5x more efficient
A new silver nanoparticle technique could make assembling DNA dramatically more efficient. Credit: Shutterstock DNA consists of long molecular chains that carry the genetic instructions needed for life.…
Queen bees have a disturbing way to survive pesticides
Honeybee queens may have a surprising last-resort defense against pesticides: passing the contamination into their eggs. Credit: Shutterstock Worker bees normally serve as a colony’s first line of…