biology

People Listen (and Remember) Better With Their Right Ears, Study Finds

Our ears share the burden of listening equally.

Pigeons Are Secretly Brilliant Birds That Understand Space and Time, Study Finds

The much-maligned bird is a lot more intelligent than people think.

Why Is Your First Instinct After Hurting Your Finger to Put It in Your Mouth?

This self-soothing behavior is actually a pretty effective technique for temporarily calming pain signals to the brain. Here's how it works.

NOAA Fisheries Service scientists disentangle a young North Atlantic right whale off the coast Florida.

Meet the Biologists Who Rescue Whales Trapped in Fishing Gear

Getting tangled in lines and nets can be deadly for whales—and it's a global problem.

9 Essential Facts About Carbon

Diamonds aren't called "ice" because of their appearance.

8 Ways Spiders Are Creepily Clever

Spiders do a lot more than spin webs.

What Is a GMO?

You hear the term tossed about, but what does it really mean?

6 Quick Facts About the Buttocks

5. Back pain may originate in your butt.

Nudibranchs, the Butterflies of the Sea, May Also Be Ruthless 'Kleptopredators'

They get two meals in one.

8 Little Known Facts About the Temple

It's the thinnest part of the skull … which is why Maori warriors crafted a special weapon to crush it.

A New Scale Can Measure the Weight of a Single Cell

The Cytomass Monitor can track the differences in a cell's weight on a second-to-second basis.

Why Do Holes Feel Larger With Your Tongue Than With Your Finger?

It's all part of the "oral size illusion."

Why Are Lemurs So Weird? Maybe Because They Don't Eat Enough Fruit

Almost all primates eat fruit, even if it's just a little. A lack of it might be the reason why lemurs exhibit un-primate-like behavior like hibernating.

Why Do Female Spotted Hyenas Give Birth Through Their Pseudo-Penises?

The better question is, are you sure you really want to know the answer?

Steve Wood/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Are Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll Really Linked? Researchers Investigate

A new study provides evidence that fans of faster music live life on the edge.

The Science Behind the Urge to Cuddle Cute Babies

It comes down to something called kinderschema.

Meteorites Splashing Into 'Warm Little Ponds' May Have Sparked Life on Earth

A new study supports a theory first proposed by Charles Darwin.

What Is Antibiotic Resistance?

Someone else's use of the drugs can potentially make your own bacteria resistant to antibiotics.

7 Essential Facts About the Pelvis

The pelvis is not actually a single body part, but a term that refers to a collection of bones, muscles and organs below the waist.

Microscopic Videos Provide a Rare Close-Up Glimpse of the Natural World

Here are the top 2017 winners of Nikon’s annual Small World in Motion digital video competition.

Sylke Rohrlach, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0

Scientists Discover 'Octlantis,' a Bustling Octopus City

It's the second "city" of gloomy octopuses (octopus tetricus) discovered in the area. Maybe they're not so gloomy after all.

8 Potential Signs of a Panic Attack

It’s not just fear or worry.

2017 Ig Nobel Prizes Celebrate Research on How Crocodiles Affect Gambling and Other Odd Studies

It's hard to pick a favorite from these off-the-wall studies exploring topics like whether cats can be both solid and liquid, the physics of walking backwards with coffee, and the brain activity of people who are grossed out by cheese.

Rare Video Captures a White Giraffe and Her Baby in the Wild

This is one of only three known white-giraffe sightings.