Wildlife

The latest on the fascinating flora and fauna of our planet.

Latest in Wildlife

African grey parrot.

Science

For some African grey parrots, sharing is caring For some African grey parrots, sharing is caring

By Sara Kiley Watson

a hummingbird on a tree

Environment

Hummingbirds get their wild coloring from ‘air-filled pancakes’ in their feathers Hummingbirds get their wild coloring from ‘air-filled pancakes’ in their feathers

By Kate Baggaley

cuttlefish with 3D glasses

Environment

Cuttlefish perceive depth—and they wore 3D glasses to prove it Cuttlefish perceive depth—and they wore 3D glasses to prove it

By Sara Kiley Watson

A packed canoe on the shore in Bowron Lake Provincial Park, of Canada.

Environment

The 10 best canoe trips in the U.S. and Canada The 10 best canoe trips in the U.S. and Canada

By Ben Duchesney/Field & Stream

Our best bet against tick infestations might be fire

Environment

Our best bet against tick infestations might be fire Our best bet against tick infestations might be fire

By Ellen Airhart

Antietam National Battlefield

Environment

Countries can salvage places scarred by the horrors of war Countries can salvage places scarred by the horrors of war

By Todd Lookingbill and Peter Smallwood/The Conversation

A vulture perched in a tree.

Environment

Vultures are going extinct because people won’t stop consuming their brains Vultures are going extinct because people won’t stop consuming their brains

By Cathleen O’Grady/Undark

Female vampire bats regurgitate bloody dinners for their starving girlfriends

Environment

Female vampire bats regurgitate bloody dinners for their starving girlfriends Female vampire bats regurgitate bloody dinners for their starving girlfriends

Finally, some good news about humpback whales

Environment

Finally, some good news about humpback whales Finally, some good news about humpback whales

What’s big, lives underwater, and fights climate change with its body and booty? Whale give you one guess.

Environment

What’s big, lives underwater, and fights climate change with its body and booty? Whale give you one guess. What’s big, lives underwater, and fights climate change with its body and booty? Whale give you one guess.

By Sara Kiley Watson

A fox attacking a marmot

Environment

The most astonishing wildlife photos of 2019 range from meme-able to political The most astonishing wildlife photos of 2019 range from meme-able to political

All hail Holly, the queen of Fat Bear Week

Environment

All hail Holly, the queen of Fat Bear Week All hail Holly, the queen of Fat Bear Week

Why countries with loads of nutritious fish also have the most malnourished residents

Health

Why countries with loads of nutritious fish also have the most malnourished residents Why countries with loads of nutritious fish also have the most malnourished residents

a closeup of a male black Homalictus achrostu

Environment

These newly discovered iridescent bees are already at risk of extinction These newly discovered iridescent bees are already at risk of extinction

We’ve lost almost 3 billion birds in the U.S. and Canada since 1970

Environment

We’ve lost almost 3 billion birds in the U.S. and Canada since 1970 We’ve lost almost 3 billion birds in the U.S. and Canada since 1970

How some fish are adapted to thrive after catastrophic hurricanes

Environment

How some fish are adapted to thrive after catastrophic hurricanes How some fish are adapted to thrive after catastrophic hurricanes

By Thomas J. Kwak and Alonso Ramirez/The Conversation

Magnificent ocean ghost stuns scientists

Environment

Magnificent ocean ghost stuns scientists Magnificent ocean ghost stuns scientists

The best wildlife photos of the year remind us that nature is amazing—and brutal

Environment

The best wildlife photos of the year remind us that nature is amazing—and brutal The best wildlife photos of the year remind us that nature is amazing—and brutal

By PopSci Editors

Turns out there’s a shocking number of electric eels, and some could give off 1,000 volts

Environment

Turns out there’s a shocking number of electric eels, and some could give off 1,000 volts Turns out there’s a shocking number of electric eels, and some could give off 1,000 volts

How to survive a grizzly encounter

DIY

How to survive a grizzly encounter How to survive a grizzly encounter

By Alisha McDarris

Mammoth ivory may be bad for elephants—but should it be banned?

Environment

Mammoth ivory may be bad for elephants—but should it be banned? Mammoth ivory may be bad for elephants—but should it be banned?

By Rachel Nuwer/Undark

Extreme weather is making these spiders extra feisty

Environment

Extreme weather is making these spiders extra feisty Extreme weather is making these spiders extra feisty

By Sara Chodosh

Trump is attacking the Endangered Species Act when we need it most

Environment

Trump is attacking the Endangered Species Act when we need it most Trump is attacking the Endangered Species Act when we need it most

Congratulations to new penguin dads Skipper and Ping

Environment

Congratulations to new penguin dads Skipper and Ping Congratulations to new penguin dads Skipper and Ping

By Rachel Feltman

This three-foot-tall parrot proves New Zealand is the mecca of giant weird birds

Science

This three-foot-tall parrot proves New Zealand is the mecca of giant weird birds This three-foot-tall parrot proves New Zealand is the mecca of giant weird birds

By Sara Chodosh

Everything you need to know about shark bites

Environment

Everything you need to know about shark bites Everything you need to know about shark bites

By Gavin Naylor/The Conversation

Zebrafish could teach humans a lot about the science of sleep

Environment

Zebrafish could teach humans a lot about the science of sleep Zebrafish could teach humans a lot about the science of sleep

By Donavyn Coffey

The Atlantic cod’s migratory supergene comes at a cost

Environment

The Atlantic cod’s migratory supergene comes at a cost The Atlantic cod’s migratory supergene comes at a cost

By Donavyn Coffey

The weirdest things we learned this week: Two sleeps are better than one

Science

The weirdest things we learned this week: Two sleeps are better than one The weirdest things we learned this week: Two sleeps are better than one

By Popular Science Team

This probiotic is going to bat against a horrifying fungal plague

Environment

This probiotic is going to bat against a horrifying fungal plague This probiotic is going to bat against a horrifying fungal plague

fish shoal close up

Environment

A 50-million-year-old school of fish is etched forever in this rare fossil A 50-million-year-old school of fish is etched forever in this rare fossil

By Donavyn Coffey

chinook salmon ear stone otolith

Environment

The secret to saving salmon is lodged in their ears The secret to saving salmon is lodged in their ears

This spider’s exoskeleton looks like a helmet for a very tiny alien

Environment

This spider’s exoskeleton looks like a helmet for a very tiny alien This spider’s exoskeleton looks like a helmet for a very tiny alien

By Alex Schwartz

Baby sharks are eating the birds that live in your backyard

Environment

Baby sharks are eating the birds that live in your backyard Baby sharks are eating the birds that live in your backyard

By Jessica Boddy

With humans out of the way, Chernobyl’s wildlife thrives

Environment

With humans out of the way, Chernobyl’s wildlife thrives With humans out of the way, Chernobyl’s wildlife thrives

By Germán Orizaola/The Conversation

Birds, bats, and beluga whales: An incomplete list of animal spies

Environment

Birds, bats, and beluga whales: An incomplete list of animal spies Birds, bats, and beluga whales: An incomplete list of animal spies

By Eleanor Cummins

Old mascara wands are saving adorable Appalachian animals

Environment

Old mascara wands are saving adorable Appalachian animals Old mascara wands are saving adorable Appalachian animals

By Alex Schwartz

Four-legged whales once straddled land and sea

Science

Four-legged whales once straddled land and sea Four-legged whales once straddled land and sea

By Jan Hoole/The Conversation

Wind turbines do not cause cancer

Environment

Wind turbines do not cause cancer Wind turbines do not cause cancer

By Kaitlin Sullivan

Dinosaur extinction is an unsolved mystery. This ancient fish may have swallowed some crucial evidence.

Science

Dinosaur extinction is an unsolved mystery. This ancient fish may have swallowed some crucial evidence. Dinosaur extinction is an unsolved mystery. This ancient fish may have swallowed some crucial evidence.

By Neel V. Patel

At the height of the Peruvian guano boom, people mined poop instead of gold

Environment

At the height of the Peruvian guano boom, people mined poop instead of gold At the height of the Peruvian guano boom, people mined poop instead of gold

By Alice Outwater

Puffy unicorn stickers could save millions of migrating birds each year

Environment

Puffy unicorn stickers could save millions of migrating birds each year Puffy unicorn stickers could save millions of migrating birds each year

By Jessica Boddy

What it’s like facing down tennis-ball-size spiders at work

Environment

What it’s like facing down tennis-ball-size spiders at work What it’s like facing down tennis-ball-size spiders at work

By Sara Chodosh

Sun bears mimic faces just like us, and it’s raising some eyebrows

Environment

Sun bears mimic faces just like us, and it’s raising some eyebrows Sun bears mimic faces just like us, and it’s raising some eyebrows

By Jessica Boddy

Warblers live longer with a little child-rearing help from their friends

Science

Warblers live longer with a little child-rearing help from their friends Warblers live longer with a little child-rearing help from their friends

By Eleanor Cummins

Southern California’s mountain lions might soon go extinct

Environment

Southern California’s mountain lions might soon go extinct Southern California’s mountain lions might soon go extinct

Stormtrooper spider Stormtroopis discovery species Star Wars

Environment

These clone-like, Colombian spiders are named for Star Wars’ Storm Troopers These clone-like, Colombian spiders are named for Star Wars’ Storm Troopers

By Eleanor Cummins

Environment

The endangered species list is full of ghosts The endangered species list is full of ghosts

polar bear on sea shore

Environment

Climate change is pushing desperate polar bears, kangaroos, and other wildlife into human territory Climate change is pushing desperate polar bears, kangaroos, and other wildlife into human territory

By Niki Rust/The Conversation

Spider glowing eyes geology paleontology

Environment

Megapixels: This fossilized spider’s eyes are still glowing 110 million years later Megapixels: This fossilized spider’s eyes are still glowing 110 million years later

By Eleanor Cummins

guillemot colony

Environment

20,000 birds just starved to death off the Dutch coast and no one knows why 20,000 birds just starved to death off the Dutch coast and no one knows why

By Sara Chodosh

front, side, and from-below view of a tentacle-nosed catfish

Environment

Megapixels: These tentacle-nosed catfish are aquatic superheroes Megapixels: These tentacle-nosed catfish are aquatic superheroes

By Jessica Boddy

A macaroni penguin takes a little snooze on a rock.

Science

Penguins may have islands to thank for their diverse looks Penguins may have islands to thank for their diverse looks

By Jessica Boddy

Geese flock flying mechanics

Environment

How birds of a feather flock together How birds of a feather flock together

bird plane strike Miracle on the Hudson research science

Environment

It’s the 10th anniversary of the ‘Miracle on the Hudson.’ Here’s what we’ve learned since. It’s the 10th anniversary of the ‘Miracle on the Hudson.’ Here’s what we’ve learned since.

By Eleanor Cummins

a great tit perches on some foliage

Environment

Great tits are killing birds and eating their brains. Climate change may be to blame. Great tits are killing birds and eating their brains. Climate change may be to blame.

By Jessica Boddy

Close-up image of a polar bear underwater.

Environment

The inventors of the polar bear treadmill are back with a new scientific contraption The inventors of the polar bear treadmill are back with a new scientific contraption

By Jillian Mock

Purple jellyfish float in the dark

Environment

The new jellyfish genome proves you don’t need weird genes to be a weirdo The new jellyfish genome proves you don’t need weird genes to be a weirdo

By Charlie Wood

These spiders make protein-packed milk for their young

Environment

These spiders make protein-packed milk for their young These spiders make protein-packed milk for their young

By Jillian Mock

Behold the mighty elephant bird, blindly crashing through the Madagascan forest

Science

Behold the mighty elephant bird, blindly crashing through the Madagascan forest Behold the mighty elephant bird, blindly crashing through the Madagascan forest

By Sara Chodosh

chickadee eating caterpillar

Environment

These plants bring all the birds to your yard These plants bring all the birds to your yard

Black widow spiders could teach nanomaterial experts a thing or two

Environment

Black widow spiders could teach nanomaterial experts a thing or two Black widow spiders could teach nanomaterial experts a thing or two

By Charlie Wood

Some hummingbirds hit notes so high, only a dog could hear them

Environment

Some hummingbirds hit notes so high, only a dog could hear them Some hummingbirds hit notes so high, only a dog could hear them

By Jillian Mock

Our favorite finalists from the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Environment

Our favorite finalists from the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards Our favorite finalists from the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

By Jeanette D. Moses