Category: 5. Biology

Fledgling crustaceans have eyes like the sea, a peculiarity that could help them hide from predators. Young shrimp, crab or lobster larvae already rock nearly translucent bodies to stay out of view. But dark eye pigments essential for vision pose the risk of exposing the animals anyway. Some see-through ocean animals rely on mirrored irises…

A citizen science project in Denmark helped researchers find the world’s oldest (or at least scientifically-confirmed oldest) European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). At 16 years-old, Thorvald the hedgehog lived seven years longer than the previous record holder. On average, the six to 11 inch long animals typically found wooded areas, gardens, and parks and lives around…

Holding hands isn’t just for human sweethearts. Chimps often clutch each other’s palms while grooming in a behavior known as handclasping. Handclasping is common among chimpanzees, and this endearing act is a social custom passed on through generations, as a study published today in Science Advances reports. What’s more, a chimp will mimic the handclasp…

Blasting off into space poses huge demands on the brain and the rest of the body. Astronauts  must face the immense g-forces–or G’s–present during blast-off, while rapidly interpreting often conflicting sensory and visual stimuli, all while controlling a very complex vehicle at extreme speeds. All in all, it requires a lot of multitasking and is…

This article was originally featured on Undark. At Singapore’s National Environment Agency, more than a million mosquitoes buzz inside plastic boxes in a breeding room that smells of fermented sugar. The male insects, which don’t bite, feed on plant juices in the wild, but here, they nourish themselves on sugar water. Meanwhile, their female counterparts lay…

Mushrooms are part of the world of fungi, and while they are often thought of as plants, they are in a class by themselves. Some mushrooms have more in common with animals than plants, such as a cholesterol-like molecule called ergosterol, and mushrooms have been called a “third food kingdom.” Edible fungi have been eaten…

When it comes to what freaks American adults out, snakes rank right up there with heights, public speaking, and bugs. They can carry lethal venom in their bites and be strong enough to strangle and eat alligators. Still, snakes are an important part of the ecosystem as a whole because they help control pest populations…

Conservationists in Europe are warning that a population of Eurasian lynx will disappear from France if action is not taken. These elusive wildcats live in the Jura Mountains, a mountain range in eastern France on the border with Switzerland. After disappearing entirely from France in the 18th century, the wildcats were reintroduced to Switzerland during…