La Brea and Beyond
Pits and seeps full of tar and asphalt offer new insights into old ecosystems and cultures.
Out with a Whimper
Some species go extinct obviously and fast, but just as often, the process can be hard to detect until it’s too late.
Is the Ivory-billed Woodpecker Still Around?
With the US government poised to declare the Ivory-billed Woodpecker extinct, scientists work to determine what counts as evidence of existence.
Our Long-Running Love Affair with Pigeons
Through crazes of pigeon-fancying, these birds have been reshaped into a dizzying variety of forms.
A Deadly Virus is Lurking in East Coast Mosquitoes
Eastern Equine Encephalitis may be brewing in the bog near you. Should you worry?
The Great Seaweed Invasion
In the Caribbean, sargassum deposits have grown to unprecedented sizes, obscuring the sand and turning nearshore waters into seething sargassum soup.
The Strange Tale of the Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program
In the 1960s, over seventy scientists and graduate students traveled to U.S. outlying islands as part of the Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program.
Are There “Transgender” Proclivities in Animals?
We tend to think of gender expression as uniquely human. But many species gain advantages by projecting an opposite-sex appearance.
The Astounding Adaptations of Long-Distance Flyers
Frigate birds are truly champion fliers. The birds can fly for weeks without stopping. How do they do it?