Social Insects Roundup
Fruit flies and humans share some of the same genes for learning; and one ant species lacks males entirely.
Gecko Tails
Severed gecko tails can perform surprisingly complex movements – and that may help scientists study spinal injuries.
Podcast
The gecko's phantom tail, the social lives of fruit flies, stem cells from fat, fall color secrets, ancient cave discoveries.
Rooks & Archimedes
Birds called rooks can use a surprisingly ingenious strategy to get a worm.
Podcast
AMAZING ORGANISMS: Assessing the developmental level of canines, the origin of malaria, powerful bacteria, and more.
Dog Intelligence
Dogs have similar cognitive abilities to two-year-old children.
Podcast
Why mosquitoes prefer some people over others, the genetics of fine touch, how early poverty can haunt your health and the science behind aromatherapy.
Mosquito Preferences
A listener asks: Why do mosquitoes find some people tastier than others?
Robo-Ferret
Researchers are designing a small robot to scour cargo containers for contraband.
Lamprey Contraception
An evolutionary quirk in the sex hormones of sea lamprey could help bring the destructive Great Lakes invader under control.
Bed Bugs
Researchers are using bed bug pheromones to beat the nuisance pests at their own game.
Prairie Dog Alarms
Prairie dogs have different alarms calls for predators of different colors and different species.
Podcast
SOUNDS & SIGNALS: Prairie dogs sound the alarm, turning bed bugs against themselves, bird songs vary by climate, and improving forensic voice comparison.
Birdsong & Climate
Birds that live in more variable climates sing more sophisticated songs.
Podcast
ANIMAL UPDATE: Frogs fight disease, species confusion, super spider silk, tenacious mosquitoes, better cows, and more.
Spider Silk
Treating spider silk with a chemical process makes it strong and tough.
Podcast
HEARING & SOUND: Why hyenas are anything but funny. Can animals dance to a beat? Using sound to save the whales. And physical fitness worsens hearing, but estrogen improves it.
Hungry Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes find their prey by following plumes of carbon dioxide.
Dancing Animals
Some animals can dance to a beat, while others have no rhythm.
Insect Food Roundup
Climate change has a ripple effect on the organisms that depend on each other for food.