Animals

The wild denizens that share our planet, including videos, photo essays, and news on recently discovered—or increasingly rare—species.

Latest in Animals

Blackmagic URSA Mini 12K

Technology

Shooting koalas in 12K for IMAX is as tricky as it sounds Shooting koalas in 12K for IMAX is as tricky as it sounds

By Stan Horazek

Red crab on water.

Science

Why everything eventually becomes a crab Why everything eventually becomes a crab

By Sara Kiley Watson

The White House covered in snow

Environment

The Trump administration’s environmental legacy can be undone. Here’s how. The Trump administration’s environmental legacy can be undone. Here’s how.

By Purbita Saha

Science

There’s no stopping this immortal jellyfish There’s no stopping this immortal jellyfish

By Popular Science Team

Tim Enthoven illustration

Science

Why do cats purr? Why do cats purr?

By Marion Renault

edible bug snacks

Environment

Cricket-based snacks are surprisingly delicious Cricket-based snacks are surprisingly delicious

By Stan Horaczek

Environment

Salmon are dying off and your car tires might be to blame Salmon are dying off and your car tires might be to blame

By Kate Baggaley

Woman in mask with dog.

Health

Dog owners may catch COVID-19 more often, but the reason will surprise you Dog owners may catch COVID-19 more often, but the reason will surprise you

By Sara Kiley Watson

Borneo’s Gunung Palung National Park

Health

The fight to stop the next pandemic starts in the jungles of Borneo The fight to stop the next pandemic starts in the jungles of Borneo

A pod of fish with red backs and green fins splashing in shallow running water.

Environment

North America’s biggest salmon run may no longer be in danger North America’s biggest salmon run may no longer be in danger

By Alex Robinson / Outdoor Life

a woman throws fall leaves into the air while smiling

Health

2020 isn’t all bad. Here are 13 science stories to be thankful for. 2020 isn’t all bad. Here are 13 science stories to be thankful for.

By Rachel Feltman

Pair of Asian short-clawed otters

Environment

These otters learn how to snag snacks by watching their friends These otters learn how to snag snacks by watching their friends

By Sara Kiley Watson

A hunter holds a traditional bow and runs through an open field.

Environment

Can a hunter outrun an antelope? This ultra-marathoner is finding out. Can a hunter outrun an antelope? This ultra-marathoner is finding out.

By Christine Peterson/ Outdoor Life

A group of Buffalo rests under a tree in the middle of a savannah, in Africa.

Environment

Animals are finding surprising ways to adapt to rising temperatures Animals are finding surprising ways to adapt to rising temperatures

By María Paula Rubiano A.

A green and red Io moth caterpillar crawling across a person's hands

Environment

Insects can be the ultimate teaching tool for kids Insects can be the ultimate teaching tool for kids

By Kawahara, Ennes & Markee/The Conversation

A red wasp specimen on black background

Environment

The US is running out of wasp venom. That’s bad. The US is running out of wasp venom. That’s bad.

By Hannah Hoag/Undark

Environment

Remembering one of history’s greatest whale explosions Remembering one of history’s greatest whale explosions

By Sara Kiley Watson

A bigfin squid floating in the water

Environment

The strange and ethereal bigfin squid just showed up off the coast of Australia The strange and ethereal bigfin squid just showed up off the coast of Australia

By Rachael Zisk

A cluster of bats on the ceiling of a cave

Environment

How animals can help us demystify viruses How animals can help us demystify viruses

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

CT scan of Albanerpetontid skull

Environment

This weird Cretaceous amphibian has the oldest-recorded ballistic tongue This weird Cretaceous amphibian has the oldest-recorded ballistic tongue

By Sara Kiley Watson

a woman holding an umbrella

Science

What really happened during the ‘Kentucky meat shower’? What really happened during the ‘Kentucky meat shower’?

By Popular Science Team

An illustration of a male wild turkey with two hens

Environment

Three love stories about birds that will delight your heart Three love stories about birds that will delight your heart

By Laura Erickson

Environment

Scientists are tracking down deep sea creatures with free-floating DNA Scientists are tracking down deep sea creatures with free-floating DNA

Environment

Gray wolves are leaving the endangered species list. But should they? Gray wolves are leaving the endangered species list. But should they?

An artist's rendering of Filikomys primaevus

Science

These prehistoric rodents were social butterflies These prehistoric rodents were social butterflies

southern right whales

Environment

The secret to helping this resilient whale species lies in its genes The secret to helping this resilient whale species lies in its genes

By Emma Carroll/The Conversation

A human hand holds a light brown vampire bat.

Environment

Vampire bats socially distance when they feel sick Vampire bats socially distance when they feel sick

By María Paula Rubiano A.

Technology

This robotic hawk can shape-shift as it flies This robotic hawk can shape-shift as it flies

a hand putting a ballot into a box

Science

The story behind the most fraudulent election in history The story behind the most fraudulent election in history

By Popular Science Team

Asian giant hornet

Environment

Murder hornets are officially here, but don’t freak out yet Murder hornets are officially here, but don’t freak out yet

By Sara Kiley Watson

A reconstruction of Ambopteryx in a glide.

Science

Dinosaurs may have evolved into birds, but early flights didn’t go so well Dinosaurs may have evolved into birds, but early flights didn’t go so well

By Kate Baggaley

Environment

We finally know why sea pickles glow We finally know why sea pickles glow

By María Paula Rubiano A.

An Amur tigress rubbing herself against a Manchurian fir tree

Environment

Check out the breathtaking winners of the 2020 Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest Check out the breathtaking winners of the 2020 Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest

By Rachael Zisk

Environment

How 25 chinchillas could save a mountain How 25 chinchillas could save a mountain

By Ed Stoddard/Undark

A yellow fever mosquito discretely sinks its labrum into its prey

Science

Evolution made mosquitos into stealthy, sensitive vampires Evolution made mosquitos into stealthy, sensitive vampires

By Erica McAlister

Paleontologist Jingmai O'Connor birding with her mother in China

Science

Birds are dinosaurs, and this fossil detective has rooms full of bones to prove it Birds are dinosaurs, and this fossil detective has rooms full of bones to prove it

By Science Friday

A ruby-throated hummingbird that hit a glass window, held in someone's hand

Environment

How to help an injured bird How to help an injured bird

By Purbita Saha

a fried egg on top of tomatoes on a white plate

Science

Egg yolk color doesn’t mean what you think it does Egg yolk color doesn’t mean what you think it does

By Popular Science Team

a black bear standing near a tree

DIY

Simple tips for getting black bears to leave you alone Simple tips for getting black bears to leave you alone

By Alisha McDarris

Dhritiman Mukherjee captured this gharial daddy giving over 100 of his offspring a ride on his back.

Environment

This crocodile daddy giving 100 babies a ride puts your carpool to shame This crocodile daddy giving 100 babies a ride puts your carpool to shame

By María Paula Rubiano A.

a forest at night

Environment

Nights are warming faster than days. Here’s what that means for the planet. Nights are warming faster than days. Here’s what that means for the planet.

Environment

We can protect whales from ship strikes by translating their songs We can protect whales from ship strikes by translating their songs

By Kate Baggaley

Bear 128 'Grazer', with medium blonde coat and light fluffy ears standing at the edge of the water with tall grass behind her.

Environment

How scientists try to weigh some of the fattest bears on Earth How scientists try to weigh some of the fattest bears on Earth

By María Paula Rubiano A.

A green frog from Madascagar sits on a leaf.

Science

What hundreds of pickled frog carcasses can tell us about their enormous eyes What hundreds of pickled frog carcasses can tell us about their enormous eyes

By María Paula Rubiano A.

a black pig is smiling

Science

Pig sex and celery have a surprising connection Pig sex and celery have a surprising connection

By Popular Science Team

Environment

Whale ‘roadkill’ is on the rise off California. A new detection system could help. Whale ‘roadkill’ is on the rise off California. A new detection system could help.

A male Northern cardinal feeding a female Northern cardinal

Environment

Few people knew female birds had unique songs—until women started studying them Few people knew female birds had unique songs—until women started studying them

By Omland, Rose & Odom/The Conversation

Myobatrachus gouldii live, in situ, Kalbarri National Park, WA.

Science

These buff frogs never skip arm day These buff frogs never skip arm day

By Sara Kiley Watson

African elephants face many threats, including poachers and habitat loss.

Environment

More than 350 elephants died in Botswana, and we may finally know why More than 350 elephants died in Botswana, and we may finally know why

white-crowned sparrow singing in a tree

Health

Bird songs got sexier during the COVID-19 shutdown Bird songs got sexier during the COVID-19 shutdown

Monarch butterflies

Environment

Migrating monarchs are in trouble. Here’s how we can all help them. Migrating monarchs are in trouble. Here’s how we can all help them.

By D. André Green II/The Conversation

A violet-green swallow perched on a wire

Environment

Thousands of dying birds out West could reveal an even bigger environmental tragedy Thousands of dying birds out West could reveal an even bigger environmental tragedy

By María Paula Rubiano A.

animal play graph

Environment

Animals play in all sorts of ways Animals play in all sorts of ways

By Sara Kiley Watson

a woman sits in a metal box while a man speaks to her

Science

This scientist thought he’d found the source of all sexual energy This scientist thought he’d found the source of all sexual energy

By Popular Science Team

Illustration of a star-nosed mole

Environment

How to hunt for star-nosed moles (and their holes) How to hunt for star-nosed moles (and their holes)

By Kenneth Catania

Highland wild dog.

Science

New Guinea singing dogs still roam the wilderness New Guinea singing dogs still roam the wilderness

By Sara Kiley Watson

acorn woodpecker

Environment

Blood, death, and eye gouging: welcome to the world of acorn woodpeckers Blood, death, and eye gouging: welcome to the world of acorn woodpeckers

By Kate Baggaley

Environment

A day in the life of an eagle wrangler A day in the life of an eagle wrangler

By Maggie BenZvi/Coffee or Die

Science

Your car is probably full of spiders Your car is probably full of spiders

By Popular Science Team

Environment

How cats and dogs see the world How cats and dogs see the world

By Stan Horaczek

A Blakiston's fish owl hunting for masu salmon in a river

Environment

The quest to snare—and save—the world’s largest owl The quest to snare—and save—the world’s largest owl

By Jonathan Slaght

A mother wolverine and her kits ascend a tree.

Environment

Mount Rainier’s first wolverine mama in a century is a sign of the species’ comeback Mount Rainier’s first wolverine mama in a century is a sign of the species’ comeback

A kitten in a litter box.

Environment

Toilet training your cat isn’t as great as it sounds Toilet training your cat isn’t as great as it sounds

By Candice Wang

Cuddled up pug.

Health

How to help your pet with separation anxiety How to help your pet with separation anxiety

By Sara Kiley Watson