Category: Articles

Don’t let their lanky appearance and beautiful, soft pink plumage fool you, flamingos are totally metal. They are extremophiles, meaning they can survive, and even thrive, in environments with extreme conditions.  Introduction  An environment is considered “extreme” when one or more environmental factor, such as temperature, salinity, radiation, or pressure, is on the far side…

This may seem like something you’d see on an acid trip, but it’s actually a real thing that giant honeybees do! This action is called “shimmering” and it’s a form of communication. A Coordinated Trick It does look quite like a doomsday signal; but that’s sort of the point. A doomsday for wasps anyway. These…

While some are looking for life on other planets, others are looking for life on Earth. There are an estimated 8.7 million organisms alive today, of which only around 1.2 million have been recorded, including 950,000 animal species. The estimates are based on trends in biodiversity data to predict the total number of species at…

If you’re from Texas you may have heard the story of Ol’ Rip, a lizard that was sealed in a time capsule for 30 years, but found alive when the capsule was opened.  That story is far from the only one about lizards or amphibians being found alive in seemingly impossible locations. But, before we…

To survive out in the wild, you must be able to improvise, adapt, and overcome! Many organisms have, thus, evolved to survive in ecologically niche environments that other species cannot tolerate. These organisms are called “extremophiles” and they push the boundaries of living and thriving on Earth.  Thermophiles Is it just me or is it…

You’re walking through a familiar, wooded area. Your ears are pricked up, but there is nothing too worrisome to be heard, only some insects whirring and birds chirping. You sniff the remnants of a scent of a predator who passed through this area some time ago. Suddenly, and without your senses having picked up on…

Whether driven by morbid curiosity or in pursuit of offspring with desirable characteristics, humans have selectively bred hybrid species of plants and animals for centuries. Animals like dogs and horses have been bred by humans to enhance certain characteristics in offspring, including hunting ability, speed, and aesthetic. Of course, there have also been cases where…

You know those little glow-in-the-dark stars that dot the ceilings of children’s rooms? Yeah, I didn’t have stars. Instead, I had little glowing dolphins, starfish, and sharks “swimming” on my ceiling at night. As it turns out, my room wasn’t the only place where some of these fish glow in the dark. Introduction A team…

On the 25th of June, 2024, a team of scientists from South Africa made history by inserting radioactive isotopes into the horns of rhinos in an effort to devalue rhino horn as a commodity. Here’s a deep dive into the project and the issue of rhino poaching.  Introduction Over the last decade, close to 10,000…