Hybrid Cuban-American Crocodiles on the Rise
June 24, 2011
There's a new Cuban crisis—the island country's rare crocodile is being bred out of existence by its American cousin, a new study says.
Photos: "Smiling" Tarsier Among New Most Endangered Species
June 22, 2011
An impish-looking primate is among species recently deemed critically endangered—although researchers also found a species bounding back.
Oldest Art in Americas Found on Mammoth Bone
June 22, 2011
The Americas' oldest known artist has been confirmed as an Ice Age hunter in what is now Florida, according to a new study.
Arabian "Unicorn" Leaps Out of Near Extinction
June 17, 2011
The legendary Arabian oryx is alive and well in the deserts of the Middle East, conservationists say.
Sawfish Snout Has Sixth Sense, Splits Prey in Half
June 16, 2011
Sawfish use a sixth sense based in their snouts to hunt and dismember their prey, new research shows for the first time.
Penguins Do the Wave to Keep Warm
June 15, 2011
New video of huddling penguins shows the birds do the wave—not to show team spirit but to give each a turn in the toasty center. Video.
Pictures: Biggest Whale Shark "Swarm" Found
June 13, 2011
The biggest gathering of the world's biggest fish—the whale shark—occurred in 2009 off Mexico, a new study says.
Pictures: Nat Geo Picks of the Week
June 10, 2011
See National Geographic photo editors' favorite news pictures of the week, including a cross-eyed opossum, an epic ashfall, and more.
Highest Flying Bird Found; Can Scale Himalaya
June 10, 2011
The bar-headed goose can flap to heights of 21,120 feet on its migration over the Himalaya, a new study finds.
Coelacanths Can Live Past 100, Don't Show Age?
June 9, 2011
An ancient lineage of fish also have long life-spans, a new study suggests.
Spiders Evolved Spare Legs
June 7, 2011
Scientists may have uncovered why spiders are so creepy-crawly—they have more legs than they actually need, a new study says.
Photos: "Glam Rock" Lizard Among New Madagascar Species
June 6, 2011
See pictures of a bright pink snake, a see-through frog, and a one-ounce lemur—among hundreds of species found on the island since 1999.
World's Fastest Bird? Chubby Snipe Snaps Nonstop Record
June 6, 2011
An unlikely speed demon, the rotund great snipe has completed the animal world's fastest long-distance, nonstop flight, a new study says.
Why Skunks Have Stripes: To Point to Fierce Anal Glands?
June 2, 2011
Some mammals' stripes may direct predators' eyes straight to sources of danger—such as fierce anal glands or sharp teeth—a new study says.
New "Devil Worm" Is Deepest-Living Animal
June 1, 2011
Found miles under the Earth, a newfound worm species is the deepest-dwelling animal yet discovered, a new study says.
Photos: Shape-Shifting Cuttlefish Can Mimic Pictures
June 1, 2011
Cuttlefish use visual cues to rearrange their bodies for maximum camouflage, a new study confirms.
Female Fish Develop "Testes" in Gulf Dead Zone
May 31, 2011
Deprived of oxygen in the polluted Gulf of Mexico, female fish are producing sterile testes, scientists say.
3-Foot "Shrimp" Discovered—Dominated Prehistoric Seas
May 27, 2011
By far the largest ever found of its kind, the spiny fossil predator "would have made enough scampi to feed an army," one expert quipped.
Pictures: Gorilla Mother "Mourns" Dead Baby
May 26, 2011
Seemingly grieving, a wild gorilla holds on to her dead baby for days as family gathers around.
Top Ten New Species: "Walking" Fish, T. Rex Leech, More
May 24, 2011
From a human-size lizard with a double penis to glow-in-the-dark mushrooms—see scientists' picks for the top new species announced in 2010.
Species Extinctions Overestimated by 160 Percent?
May 18, 2011
Dire predictions of mass animal and plant die-offs may be overblown, but extinctions are still a critical problem, a new analysis suggests.
Pictures: See-Through Frog, Other "Lost" Species Found
May 17, 2011
Five ''lost species'' of frog--including a see-though species and one the size of a fingernail--have been found in Congo, scientists say.
Tarantulas Shoot Silk From Feet, Spider-Man Style
May 16, 2011
The big, hairy spiders spin silk from "spigots" in their feet to climb slippery surfaces, scientists have found for the first time.
Mississippi Flood Pictures: Pets, Wild Animals Seek Safety
May 13, 2011
See a few of the Mississippi River flood's other victims—pets, livestock, and wild animals seeking safety as the waters rise.
Chimps "Mourn" 9-year-old's Death?
May 12, 2011
In exclusive video, wild chimpanzees react to the deaths of a nine-year-old and infant, in one case quietly gathering around the deceased.
Blind, Legless Lizard Discovered—New Species
May 12, 2011
The blind, six-inch-long reptile is the first of its kind discovered in Cambodia, conservationists report.
Mississippi Flood Flushes Snakes, Deer Into Neighborhoods
May 11, 2011
The current Mississippi floods are flushing wild animals out of their natural habitats—and into homes and neighborhoods, officials report.
"Zombie" Ants Bite at High Noon, Then Die
May 11, 2011
A fungus is turning carpenter ants into puppets, and now scientists have a better idea how and when the infection does its gruesome work.
Biggest Great White Shark Caught, Released
May 6, 2011
A monster male named Apache hauled up off Mexico is the biggest great white shark yet caught, an expedition team reports.
New Species of Tiger Stingray Named
May 6, 2011
An orange-black stingray with a tiger-like tail has finally earned its scientific stripes, a new study says.
Whales Throng New York City Area, Surprising Scientists
May 6, 2011
A lot of big whales have a taste for the Big Apple area—including the largest animal on Earth—underwater recordings suggest.
Sea Monster Battle Seen in Prehistoric Bite Marks
May 5, 2011
A gnawed fossil skull points to "a really aggressive encounter" between two giant dolphin-like reptiles.
Giant Squid Killed by Sound?
May 3, 2011
When giant squid died in Spain, experts suspected sonar was to blame—a hunch supported by a new study that says sound harms cephalopods.
Wild Pig Explosion May Spread Disease to Humans
May 2, 2011
An explosion of feral pigs in the U.S. could be exposing people to dangerous parasites, a new study says.
Sea Urchin Body Is One Big Eye
May 2, 2011
Sea urchins may use their entire bodies—from the ends of their "feet" to the tips of their spines—as huge eyes, a new study says.
Is Your Brain Sleeping While You're Awake?
April 27, 2011
If you're sleep-deprived, key parts of your brain may be dozing even when you're awake, according to a new study of rats.
Marijuana Trade Threatens African Gorilla Refuge
April 27, 2011
Forests in Africa's Virunga National Park are literally going to pot—sparking renewed conflicts between rangers and rebels.
John James Audubon: Why Birds Flock Around Google's Doodle
April 26, 2011
Honored today with a Google doodle, the painter was a game changer in studying birds who was also "not shy in the ego department," experts say.
Pictures: Fire Ant Swarms Form Living Life Rafts
April 25, 2011
When a fire ant colony is flooded, the bugs use their natural buoyancy to form life rafts that can last for weeks, a new study shows.
Bacteria Grow Under 400,000 Times Earth's Gravity
April 25, 2011
Some bacteria can even reproduce under the same crushing gravity found on massive stars or in supernova shock waves, a new study says.
Scientists "See" Ocean Floor via Sonar
April 21, 2011
Cameras and sonar technology are helping experts create a new map of the little-known seafloor near the U.S. Virgin Islands. Video.
Texas Wildfire Pictures: Crews Fight Statewide Blaze
April 20, 2011
Severe drought and gusting winds have contributed to 22 separate blazes now raging across more than a million acres of the Lone Star State.
Migrating Birds Escaped Worst of Gulf Oil Spill
April 19, 2011
Though predictions of mass bird die-offs in the Gulf never materialized, crude is still oozing into some bird habitats, experts say.
Odd Animal Deaths, Deformities Linked to Gulf Oil Spill?
April 19, 2011
Strangely deformed fish and a rise in deaths of marine animals may be related to the Gulf oil spill, scientists say.
Gulf Oil Spill Surprises: 6 Things Experts Got Wrong
April 19, 2011
The Gulf oil spill delivered plenty of surprises—here's a look at some of the predictions experts got wrong.
Gulf Spill Photos: 9 Animal Victims—Plus 2 Survivors
April 19, 2011
From the pancake batfish to the manatee—see what what's happening to animals in the Gulf a year later.
Pictures: 20 Surprising Species of the Past 20 Years
April 18, 2011
From the "Yoda bat" to a "walking" shark—see 20 new and rare species spotted during two decades of "ecological SWAT team" expeditions.
Eyes Made of Rock Really Can See, Study Says
April 14, 2011
Sea creatures called chitons can use beadlike structures made of rock to distinguish shapes of approaching predators, a new study says.
New "Buck-Toothed Evil Spirit" Dinosaur Found
April 13, 2011
A newfound dinosaur with "monstrous front teeth" links the earliest dinos with more advanced predators such as T. rex, experts say.
Penguin Numbers Plummeting—Whales Partly to Blame?
April 11, 2011
Penguin populations are plunging due to a shortage of krill driven by shrinking sea ice and a boom in hungry whales, a new study says.
Fossil Pictures: Oldest Flying Insect Imprint Found
April 7, 2011
Three hundred million years ago, a possible ancestor of the mayfly got trapped in the mud—leaving behind a rare full-body impression.
Pictures: Millions of Puppy Mummies in Egypt Labyrinth
April 6, 2011
Perhaps supplied by ancient puppy mills, millions of animal mummies—likely seen as conduits to a jackal-headed god—fill newly excavated tunnels.
Alien Wasps Abduct, Drop Ants to Get Food
April 6, 2011
When competing for food with an ant swarm, a wasp will pluck an ant from the pile, fly away, and drop the insect, a new study says.
Oil-Eating Bacteria Engineered
April 5, 2011
Scientists are experimenting with "green" microbes in the lab that could someday be used to gobble up oil spills along coastlines without damaging the environment.
Pictures: Bats Swarm Philippines Cave
April 5, 2011
Bats living in a protected cave have set a world record for population size—although experts now worry about the effects of overcrowding.
Pictures: Sharks Taught to Hunt Alien Lionfish
April 4, 2011
Divers in Honduras are trying to help the top predators acquire a taste for the destructive invasive species, described by one expert as "rats of the sea."
Radiation in Japan Seas: Risk of Animal Death, Mutation?
April 1, 2011
Radiation in Japan Seas: Animal Death, Mutation Risk?If radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant continues to enter the ocean, animals could suffer "bizarre mutations" or worse.
April Fools' Day Pictures: Six Animal Hoaxes
April 1, 2011
From a human-dog hybrid to a Tasmanian mock walrus, see pictures of famous animal hoaxes, including some used as April Fools' Day pranks.
Pictures: Trees Cocooned in Webs After Flood
March 31, 2011
Documented by an aid worker, millions of spiders and possibly insects took to the trees to spin webs after heavy floods inundated Pakistan in 2010.
Substance to Stop Oil From Sticking to Birds?
March 31, 2011
Scientists are perfecting a naturally based substance that will act like a laundry detergent in oil spills to prevent the oil from sticking to bird feathers. The substance is currently in the testing phase, which is funded by the National Science Foundation.
"Castrated" Spiders Are Better Fighters, Study Says
March 30, 2011
Males that break off their genitals during sex aggressively guard their mates, perhaps because they "have nothing to lose," scientists say.
Pictures: New Dinosaur, Crocodile Cousin Found in Brazil
March 30, 2011
"Incredible" fossils of an ancient crocodile cousin and a dinosaur with shark-like teeth have been found in Brazil, scientists say.
Pictures: New Ruby-Eyed Pit Viper Discovered
March 28, 2011
A new pit viper species with jewel-colored eyes has been found in the forests of Southeast Asia, scientists say.
Pictures: "Zombie" Ants Controlled, Decapitated by Flies
March 28, 2011
Flies that inject eggs into fire ants are being used to fight the invasive ants. The larvae grow inside the ants' heads, appear to control the ants' behavior, then ''hatch'' from the now empty skulls.
Pictures: Rare Penguins Blackened by Remote Oil Spill
March 25, 2011
A cargo ship crash has oiled hundreds of rare penguins on a remote Atlantic island—a ''grave environmental disaster,'' experts say.
Odd Saber-Toothed Beast Discovered—Preyed on ... Plants?
March 24, 2011
Saber teeth can turn up in the strangest places—such as in the fossil head of the new pre-dinosaur vegetarian discovered in Brazil.
Giant Rabbit Fossil Found: Biggest Bunny Was "Roly-Poly"
March 22, 2011
Giant fossils found in Spain are from the biggest known rabbit species—a "beach bum" that couldn't hop and had short ears, experts say.
Photos: Preserving Beauty, Providing Hydropower in Scotland
March 21, 2011
Scotland harnessed power from water in the Highlands 60 years ago, amid conflicts that echo with relevance for a world still struggling to find clean and safe energy.
Fish "Walks" on Beach to Spawn
March 18, 2011
Every spring on California's beaches, thousands of tiny fish come ashore to lay their eggs—though their sandy habitat is in decline, experts say.
Why Transylvanian Chickens Have Naked Necks
March 15, 2011
Scientists have cracked why the Transylvanian naked neck chicken has a featherless neck—and it isn't to give vampires easier access.
New Species Found: Thai Fossils Reveal Ancient Primate
March 11, 2011
A handful of fossil jaws from a Thai coal mine belong to a new species of nocturnal primates called tarsiers, scientists say.
Pictures: Prehistoric American Skull Found in Sea Cave?
March 9, 2011
Divers in an underwater cave in Mexico may have found the skull of one of the earliest Americans—and maybe his or her mastodon leftovers.
Photos: "Zombie" Ants Found With New Mind-Control Fungi
March 3, 2011
Mind-controlling fungi that create ''zombie'' ants in Brazil's rain forests are more diverse than thought, a new study says.
Male Monkeys Wash With Urine to Attract Females?
March 2, 2011
Talk about "eew" de toilette—male monkeys that rub their fur with urine may be making themselves irresistible to females, a new study says.
Elusive Clouded Leopard Captured on Film—a First
March 2, 2011
A camera trap has caught one of the world's most elusive cats on film for the first time, conservationists say.
Dolphin-Baby Die-Off in Gulf Puzzles Scientists
March 2, 2011
An unusual number of dead young dolphins are washing up on the Gulf Coast. Puzzled scientists warn it's too soon to blame the BP oil spill.
"Dramatic" New Pictures: Rare Javan Rhino Spotted
March 2, 2011
Javan rhinoceroses—possibly the rarest mammals on Earth—are among the animals recently snapped by camera traps in Indonesia's rain forests.
Rarest Rhino Filmed
March 2, 2011
Critically endangered and rarely seen rhinos with their calves were filmed by WWF in Indonesia with motion-activated cameras. Video.
Best Rare-Bird Pictures of 2010 Named
February 28, 2011
From the marvellous spatuletail to a flightless parrot, see 12 award-winning pictures of birds most in danger of extinction.
Little Fish Exploding in Number, Models Show
February 25, 2011
There are still plenty of fish in the sea—they're just the little ones, according to new models of fish decline.
"Thunder Thighs" Dinosaur Thrashed Predators to Death?
February 23, 2011
A new dinosaur that used its "exceptionally powerful" thighs to kick predators likely had a bad temper to boot, one expert says.
Wormlike "Walking Cactus" Fossil Found
February 23, 2011
The 500-million-year-old creature had ten sets of jointed legs that resemble those of modern spiders and crabs, a new study says.
Photos: Bubble-nest Frog, Other "Extinct" Species Found
February 17, 2011
Fifteen ''lost'' frogs and toads have been rediscovered during a global search—a disappointing number, conservationists say.
Hibernating Bears Keep Weirdly Warm
February 17, 2011
Hibernating black bears can dramatically lower their metabolism without major drops in body temperature, a surprising new study says.
How Do Fleas Jump? New Video Solves Mystery
February 14, 2011
It was no small task, but researchers have used high-speed video to solve how the insects jump—by taking off from their toes.
Best News Pictures of 2010: World Press Winners
February 11, 2011
Whooper swans, a victim of the Taliban, and Bolivian wrestlers are among the winners of the 2010 World Press Photo Contest.
Squid Get Violent After Touching Eggs, Study Says
February 11, 2011
A chemical on longfin squid eggs causes males to rapidly shift from calm swimming to extremely aggressive fighting, scientists say.
Pictures: 10 Most Threatened Forest Hot Spots Named
February 10, 2011
From California's redwoods to Cambodia's wetlands—see which forest hot spots are in trouble around the world, according to a new report.
Frogs Evolve Teeth—Again
February 10, 2011
Lower-jaw teeth in frogs re-evolved after an absence of 200 million years, challenging evolutionary thinking, scientists say.
Pictures: "Remarkable" Ice Age Fossil Cache Found
February 9, 2011
The ''bumper crop'' of prehistoric animals—including mammoths and a giant sloth—is giving scientists a peek into Ice Age life in the Rockies.
Pictures: Nine Surprisingly Gassy Cities
February 9, 2011
Forget Beijing and Mexico City: Denver and Rotterdam are among the world's top polluters in terms of per-person CO2 emissions, a new study says.
Wolverine to Vanish From U.S. Due to Warming?
February 8, 2011
Built for the cold, the fierce wolverine may retreat from the mainland U.S. due to global warming, a new study says.
Venomous New Pseudoscorpion Found in Colorado Cave
February 4, 2011
Unless you've been living in a cave, you probably haven't run across the poisonous, nearly blind pseudoscorpion described in a new study.
New Dinosaur: Titanic Triceratops Ancestor?
February 4, 2011
With an eight-foot skull, Titanoceratops may have been the granddaddy of Triceratops. But did it really exist?
Biggest Bear Ever Found—"It Blew My Mind," Expert Says
February 3, 2011
There's a new titleholder for biggest bear ever found—an ancient South American giant short-faced bear that weighed up to 3,500 pounds.
"Extinct" Salmon Discovered in Japanese Lake
February 2, 2011
A Japanese TV host helped identify a fish from a Mount Fuji lake as the kunimasu salmon, thought to have gone extinct 70 years ago.
Bat Uses Pitcher Plant as Toilet; Plant Benefits
February 2, 2011
It's no load of crap—a carnivorous plant in Borneo survives mostly off of bat feces, a new study says.
Pictures: "Ominous" Japan Volcano Erupts Again
February 1, 2011
The biggest explosion since the Shinmoedake volcano awoke last week coated cities in gray ash and shot debris 6,500 feet into the air.
Groundhog Day 2011: Punxsutawney Phil Sees No Shadow
February 1, 2011
With ancient origins and modern media smarts, "immortal" rodent Punxsutawney Phil rules Groundhog Day 2011. Get the surprising facts behind winter's wackiest weather prediction.
Pictures: Volcano Lightning Electrifies Japan Eruption
January 28, 2011
A volcano in a James Bond setting flared to life Wednesday, sparking lightning and a huge ash plume as well as prompting evacuations.
New Hybrid Whale Discovered in Arctic
January 25, 2011
Antarctic minke whales desperate for food may be swimming north and mating with their Arctic cousins, a scientist suggests.
First One-Fingered Dinosaur Found—Dug for Bugs?
January 24, 2011
The parrot-size T. rex cousin probably used its enlarged digit to probe termite mounds, a new study says.
"Pink Meanie" Pictures: New Jellyfish Attacks Other Jellies
January 24, 2011
With a taste for other jellyfish, the species is so different physically that it sparked the creation of a whole new animal family.
Mother Pterosaurs Laid Soft Eggs, New Fossil Hints
January 20, 2011
The discovery is also the first to show the difference between male and female pterosaurs, suggesting only males had elaborate head crests.
Sharks Are Color-Blind, Retina Study Suggests
January 19, 2011
Despite their sensory prowess, sharks may not be able to see in living color, according to new tests done on the eyes of 17 species.
Pictures: "Red Hot" Nuclear-Waste Train Glows in Infrared
January 19, 2011
Nuclear waste glows red-hot in new thermal pictures of a controversial European train. But does that mean it's dangerous?
Siberians Raided Rodent Caches for Food
January 18, 2011
To survive in winter, nomadic groups dug up stores of roots, seeds, and nuts gathered by small mammals, according to a new study.
Oldest Domesticated Dog in Americas Found—Was Human Food
January 18, 2011
A skull fragment from a Texas cave shows that humans were breeding—and eating—dogs as early as 9,400 years ago, scientists say.
Pictures: "Nasty" Little Predator From Dinosaur Dawn Found
January 13, 2011
Fast and fierce, dog-size Eodromaeus dates to the advent of the dinosaur age and may have led to both T. rex and the humble turkey.
Video: "Nasty" Little Dinosaur Found
January 13, 2011
Meet the "dawn runner," the newfound, 230-million-year-old dinosaur thought to be a precursor to meat-eaters like T. rex.
Fish as Good as College Students in Numbers Test
January 7, 2011
College students showed roughly the same numerical skills as mosquitofish when presented with a laboratory test, a new study says.
"Vampire Flying Frog" Found; Tadpoles Have Black Fangs
January 7, 2011
The mountain jungles of Vietnam are home to a new breed of vampire—a tree frog whose tadpoles sport fangs.
Why Are Birds Falling From the Sky?
January 6, 2011
Seemingly freak bird die-offs in Arkansas and elsewhere are making headlines. But is it just media hype? And what causes airborne die-offs?
"Bodies" Make Up Fake Coral Reef
January 5, 2011
Sculptures of human figures are making a home for marine life in waters near Cancun, Mexico. The art is helping preserve the world's 2nd largest barrier reef system. Video.
Prehistoric Bird Had Wings Like Nunchucks
January 5, 2011
A flightless bird with wings like martial arts weapons once thrashed its foes on what's now Jamaica, a new study says.
Bumblebees Taking a Nosedive in North America
January 4, 2011
A European fungus may be to blame for the rapid decline of four once common bee species in North America, experts say.
Pictures: Birds Fall From Sky in Arkansas
January 3, 2011
Birds were falling from the sky and fish were found floating dead en masse in two recent but unrelated Arkansas die-offs, experts say.
Bee Viruses Spread via Flower Pollen, Study Says
December 29, 2010
Viruses that could play a role in the recent decline in honeybee colonies may be spreading through flower pollen, new research finds.
Rock-Chewing Sea Urchins Have Self-Sharpening Teeth
December 28, 2010
A very close look at sea urchins has uncovered the mystery of how the animals can literally chew through stone without dulling their teeth.
African Elephant Really Two Wildly Different Species
December 22, 2010
"Big surprise": The two African elephant types seem to be as genetically different from each other as Asian elephants are from mammoths.
Solar-Powered Hornet Found; Turns Light Into Electricity
December 22, 2010
The oriental hornet's "skin" pigments trap light and generate electricity, according to a new study.
Chimp "Girls" Play With "Dolls" Too—First Wild Evidence
December 20, 2010
Wild young female apes use sticks as dolls, but males rarely do—suggesting there's at least some biological basis to gender-based toy choices, a new study says.
Best Pictures: Nat Geo Photo Contest Winners, 2010
December 16, 2010
From a charging buffalo to an erupting volcano—see the winning pictures of the 2010 National Geographic Photo Contest.
Pictures: "Pizzly" to Be Joined by More Arctic Hybrids?
December 15, 2010
The ''pizzly,'' or ''grolar bear,'' has made headlines, but up to 34 mammal species may interbreed as the Arctic ice shrinks.
Pictures: New Head-Bobbing Lemur Found in Madagascar?
December 15, 2010
Meet the new rock star of Madagascar: an odd lemur species with head-bobbing theatrics, a high-pitched call, big feet, and a long tongue.
Killer Alien Weed May Threaten Biggest Animal Migration
December 13, 2010
An invasive weed found recently in southern Kenya may kill off native vegetation that wild animals and livestock depend on for survival, scientists warn.
Ancient Balloon-Headed Dolphin Found by Fishers
December 13, 2010
A 20-foot dolphin with a bulbous head roamed the North Sea 2.5 million years ago, a newfound fossil reveals.
New Bacteria Found on Titanic; Eats Metal
December 10, 2010
The metal-munching bacteria found on the famous wreck may help teach engineers how to protect deep-sea oil rigs, experts say.
Ten Weirdest New Animals of 2010: Editors' Picks
December 7, 2010
A fish with "hands," a T. Rex leech, and a self-cloning lizard are among National Geographic News's picks for the weirdest new species in 2010.
"Horse Dragon," Colossus Dinosaurs Found in Utah
December 7, 2010
One of two new plant-eaters found in Utah, the species has shaken up a branch of the dinosaur family tree, a new study says.
Pictures: 14 Rarest and Weirdest Mammal Species Named
December 6, 2010
From echidnas to hairy-nosed wombats, see ten of the rarest and weirdest mammals on Earth, as ranked by the Zoological Society of London.
Ten NatGeo News Stories You Might Have Missed in 2010
December 6, 2010
See our editors' picks of the best stories of 2010 that flew under the radar, including space-time "wrinkles" and squid plastic surgery.
Mercury Poisoning Makes Birds Act Homosexual
December 3, 2010
Male birds that eat mercury-contaminated food show "surprising" homosexual behavior, scientists have found.
NASA Life Discovery: New Bacteria Makes DNA With Arsenic
December 2, 2010
No, NASA didn't find life on another world. But scientists did uncover a new species of bacteria that's perhaps the most ''alien'' yet seen.
Top Ten Discoveries of 2010: Nat Geo News's Most Popular
November 30, 2010
A time-bending earthquake, a fish with "hands," and "Yoda bat" are among National Geographic News's most visited coverage of 2010 discoveries.
Pictures: New Squat Lobsters Found Off Australia
November 29, 2010
Looking colorful enough to eat, several squat lobsters found during recent expeditions are new to Australia—and two are new to science.
Top Ten Videos of 2010: Nat Geo News's Most Watched
November 29, 2010
You watched, we noticed. See Nat Geo News's best videos of 2010, as measured by viewer interest—a fire tornado, a vampire squid, and more.
"Flamboyant" New Squid Worm Surprises, Delights Experts
November 24, 2010
With head tentacles and iridescent "oars," the new sea species is "definitely flamboyant," one expert said. "I'm delighted by it."
How Shark Scales Give the Predators Deadly Speed
November 23, 2010
Scales on a shark's body "bristle" to reduce drag, helping the predator hunt fast-moving prey, new research suggests.
Sea Turtles Match Breathing to Dive Depths?
November 23, 2010
A new study shows that leatherback turtle buoyancy is likely determined by the amount of air they inhale above the surface before they dive. Video.
First Fishing Bat Discovered in Europe
November 23, 2010
The long-fingered bat is the first bat species in the Mediterranean known to catch and eat fish, scientists say.
How Snakes Can "Fly"
November 23, 2010
Looking up and doing the twist are among "flying" snakes' best moves, a new DARPA-funded study finds.
Pictures: Best Underwater Views of 2010 Announced
November 22, 2010
See a diver exploring an deep trench, a seahorse being born, an eel baring its teeth, and more in winners from an undersea photo contest.
Pictures: "Mr. Burns" Toad, More New Amphibians Found
November 17, 2010
A beaked amphibian said to resemble The Simpsons' Mr. Burns and a poison dart frog are among new species discovered in Colombia.
Large, "Glamorous" New Glowing Squid Species Found
November 16, 2010
The big, red new squid species—perhaps one of several—underscores the richness of undersea mountain life, experts say.
Pictures: Oldest Dinosaur Embryos Show "Big Surprises"
November 16, 2010
The most detailed look yet at the 190-million-year-old babies reveal a lack of teeth, suggesting their parents may have cared for them, a new study says.
Bats Crash More Often When They Use Vision
November 15, 2010
Being blind as a bat has its benefits: Wild bats that rely on vision are more likely to crash, a new study says.
GigaPan: Pill Bug
November 12, 2010
Billion-pixel photographs are proving powerful for science, such as this ''GigaPan'' of a pill bug.
GigaPan: Diseased Bees
November 12, 2010
Billion-pixel photographs are proving powerful for science, such as this ''GigaPan'' of honeycomb and diseased bees.
GigaPan: Fish Ball
November 12, 2010
Billion-pixel photographs are proving powerful for science, such as this ''GigaPan'' of a ball of fish.
Concrete to Help Oysters?
November 12, 2010
Rings designed to attract oysters may help restore reefs diminished by overharvesting, pollution, and recent oil spill activities, experts say.
Rare Pictures: Crocodile Attacks Elephant
November 11, 2010
In an unusual ambush, a Nile crocodile grabs onto an elephant's trunk at an African water hole. See which animal comes out alive.
Flamingos Apply "Makeup" to Impress Mates
November 10, 2010
There's a reason why flamingos are so pretty in pink: The birds apply colorful oil to impress mates, a new study says.
Photos: Best European Wildlife Pictures Announced
November 10, 2010
See a ghostly owl, a cheetah fleeing fire, and a turtle's first swim in this year's best shots by European wildlife photographers.
Cricket Has World's Biggest Testicles (But Puny Output)
November 9, 2010
The tuberous bushcricket's large testicles—the world's biggest, proportionately—don't mean greater output, a surprising new study says.
Sea Turtle Herpes Tumors Linked to Sewage?
November 9, 2010
Herpes tumors that have plagued green sea turtles worldwide for decades may be caused by pollution, a new study says.
New Self-Cloning Lizard Found in Vietnam Restaurant
November 8, 2010
A popular dish on Vietnamese menus is made from a newly discovered lizard that reproduces via virgin birth, scientists say.
Polar Bears Turning to Goose Eggs to Survive Warming?
November 8, 2010
Forced ashore earlier due to global warming, the bears are finding nutritious treats on land in the form of goose eggs, studies say.
Photos: Epic Migration Seen "Through Eyes of" Antelope
November 8, 2010
For the first time, a photographer has walked alongside Wyoming pronghorn on their annual treks, documenting the modern obstacles endangering the ancient migration.
Giant Shrimp-like Sea Predator Was a Weakling After All
November 3, 2010
A shrimplike creature thought to be Earth's first great predator was actually more of a worm-eating wuss, scientists say.
Citizen "Scientists" Track Birds in BP-Spill Zone
November 3, 2010
Millions of birds winter on the Gulf of Mexico coast. Now volunteers are counting the animals to help scientists determine the oil spill's effects on resident populations as well as on the migratory populations.
"Mind-Boggling" Pictures: Goats Scale Dam in Italy
November 1, 2010
Yes, these viral pictures of goats clinging to an impossibly steep rock face are real. Get the facts behind the Internet rumors.
Chupacabra Science: How Evolution Made a Mythical Monster
October 29, 2010
Just in time for Halloween, scientists say they've cracked the mystery behind the "goat sucking" monster—and it's all too real.
New Video Filmed by Whale Sharks
October 28, 2010
Researchers in Australia deploy the National Geographic Crittercam on whale sharks to see if tourists swimming with the sharks are affecting their behavior. Video.
New Snub-Nosed Monkey Discovered, Eaten
October 27, 2010
Pictured moments before humans ate it, a snub-nosed monkey represents a new species that sneezes when it rains.
New Amazon Species: "Bluetooth" Tarantula, Electric Fish
October 27, 2010
A new Amazon species was found roughly every three days between 1999 and 2009—among them a ''bluetooth'' tarantula and an electric fish.
Did Gulf Spill Boost "Dead Zone"?
October 25, 2010
Did the BP oil spill may sap oxygen from the Gulf of Mexico? Scientists are weighing new findings against years of "dead zone" data.
Ocean Pictures: Contest Winners Show Sea Life in Peril
October 21, 2010
Netted turtles, a finned whale shark, and a drowned albatross feature among the winning frames in a 2010 marine-conservation photo contest.
Gulf Manta Rays Affected by Oil Spill?
October 15, 2010
The little-studied manta rays of the Gulf of Mexico could be their own species—and victims of the BP oil spill, scientists say.
Fuzzy Critters' Crystallized Pee Changes Climate Record?
October 15, 2010
The crystallized pee of the rodent-like rock hyrax is filling in gaps in our understanding of climate change, experts say.
Giant Pterosaurs Could Fly 10,000 Miles Nonstop
October 15, 2010
Burned fat stores equal to a ''good-size human'' each trip, expert says.
New Deep-Sea Pictures: Snailfish, Eels Found in Trench
October 14, 2010
A new snailfish species and an eel swarm are among the creatures spotted nearly five miles deep in a Pacific Ocean trench, scientists say.
Surprising Ant "Mixing Bowl" Found in Manhattan
October 13, 2010
At least 13 species of urban ants thrive along the bustling boulevards of the United States' biggest city, a new study has found.
Pictures: Best Micro-Photos of 2010
October 13, 2010
A zebrafish nose, a wasp nest, and a mosquito heart took home top honors in the 2010 Small World Microphotography Competition.
Pictures: "Scruffy" New Carnivorous Mammal Found
October 12, 2010
Likened to a "scruffy ferret," an odd mammal on Madagascar may be the first new species of meat-eater found in 24 years.
Photos: Canadian Rain Forest Edges Oil Pipeline Path
October 7, 2010
In the home of the elusive "spirit bear," nine Coastal First Nations people await a decision on a pipeline to carry Canadian oil to sea for export to Asia.
Pictures: Tube-Nosed Bat, More Rare Species Found
October 6, 2010
A bat with trumpet-like nostrils and a katydid that ''aims for the eyes'' are among the hundreds of species recently seen in Papua New Guinea.
Photos: Great Whites "Take Turns" Feeding on Dead Whale
October 4, 2010
A veritable swarm of great whites tucked into a whale carcass in South African waters earlier this month—and kept their table manners, says a scientist who witnessed the rare event.
600-Year-Old Worms Among Surprises of 10-Year Sea Survey
October 4, 2010
Six-hundred-year-old tube worms and other oddities help put the brain-boggling, just-ended, ten-year Census of Maine Life in perspective.
Biggest Marine Census Complete
October 4, 2010
The Census of Marine Life has identified more than 6,000 potentially new species during a decade of exploring the world's oceans. Video.
New Species Pictures: Deep-Sea "Jumbo Dumbo," More
October 4, 2010
A see-through sea cucumber, a ''big eared'' octopus-like animal, a ''gold treasure'' crustacean, and more are among the many new deep-dwellers collected during an ongoing marine census.
13 Stunning Photos From 10-Year Sea Census
October 4, 2010
See "Mr. Blobby" and the other stars of our 13 favorite pictures from the Census of Marine Life, which concluded Monday.
New Species Photos: Vader-like Jelly, Whale Eater, More
October 4, 2010
See jellyfish with a Darth Vader-like look, a whale-eating worm, and other new species from the final haul of Census of Marine Life.
Undersea Mountain Photos: Brittlestar Swarm, More Found
October 1, 2010
Swarms of orange fish and other deep-sea creatures have been spotted during a five-year survey of the world's underwater mountain ranges.
Whale Snot, Cursing Away Pain Among 2010 Ig Nobels
October 1, 2010
Profanity to treat pain and whale-snot-collecting helicopters are just a few of the unusual scientific achievements awarded Ig Nobels on Thursday.
Pictures: Five-Foot Fossil Penguin Revealed
September 30, 2010
See how a giant new species of red-and-gray penguin might have looked 36 million years ago, based on fossil-feather evidence.
Giant Prehistoric Penguin Found, Sported Splashes of Red
September 30, 2010
A new, 36-million-year-old Peruvian penguin species--the water king--swam in shades of red and brown, a new study says.
Video: 5-Foot Penguin Fossil Discovered
September 30, 2010
Scientists have found the fossilized remains of a giant penguin, believed to have stood about 5 feet tall, in Peru. Video.
BO Attracting Predators to Birds
September 30, 2010
New Zealand birds' ripe body odor is giving the animals away to predators—and deodorant might actually help save species, experts say.
Pink-Hippo Pictures: Rare Youngster Spotted in Kenya
September 29, 2010
The young Kenyan hippopotamus has leucism, a condition in which the skin produces less pigment than usual, a scientist says.
Animals News-2
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