Animals

The wild denizens that share our planet, including videos, photo essays, and news on recently discovered—or increasingly rare—species.

Latest in Animals

a large fossil of a segmented bug in gray rock

Environment

How big did ancient millipedes get? Bigger than you’d like. How big did ancient millipedes get? Bigger than you’d like.

a spotted lanternfly with green illustrated background

Science

Spotted lanternfly goo is surprisingly tasty Spotted lanternfly goo is surprisingly tasty

By Popular Science Team

One of the best-preserved dinosaur embryos ever found.

Science

This fossilized dinosaur embryo is curled up just like a baby bird This fossilized dinosaur embryo is curled up just like a baby bird

By Kate Baggaley

a giraffe sticks its tongue out against the background of a bright blue sky

Environment

9 animal stories that made 2021 more ‘bearable’ 9 animal stories that made 2021 more ‘bearable’

By Lauren J. Young

More skunks can do handstands than we thought

Environment

More skunks can do handstands than we thought More skunks can do handstands than we thought

By Kate Baggaley

robot fish that mimics mosquitofish predator

Technology

Need to fight invasive fish? Just introduce a scary robot Need to fight invasive fish? Just introduce a scary robot

By Charlotte Hu

This eyeless millipede shattered the record for most legs

Environment

This eyeless millipede shattered the record for most legs This eyeless millipede shattered the record for most legs

By Kate Baggaley

a color illustration of a brown and white bird in a lush forest

Science

This 120-million-year-old bird could stick out its tongue This 120-million-year-old bird could stick out its tongue

By Kate Baggaley

Northern pike underwater

Environment

Fish can bounce back quickly from mercury pollution Fish can bounce back quickly from mercury pollution

By Kate Baggaley

Barreleye fish from a deep-sea video taken by robotic ocean rovers in Monterey Bay

Technology

Watch these rare ocean creatures caught on candid robot camera Watch these rare ocean creatures caught on candid robot camera

By Purbita Saha

Cat sniffing olive tree indoors

DIY

Swap your toxic household plants for these 4 pet-friendly alternatives Swap your toxic household plants for these 4 pet-friendly alternatives

By Margo Milanowski

The salmon of 2100 will have new habitat: the remains of melted glaciers

Environment

The salmon of 2100 will have new habitat: the remains of melted glaciers The salmon of 2100 will have new habitat: the remains of melted glaciers

By Kate Baggaley

Science

Fish sounds tell us about underwater reefs—but we need better tech to really listen Fish sounds tell us about underwater reefs—but we need better tech to really listen

By Charlotte Hu

Wildlife officials are taking radical steps to save Florida’s starving manatees

Environment

Wildlife officials are taking radical steps to save Florida’s starving manatees Wildlife officials are taking radical steps to save Florida’s starving manatees

Hydras can regrow their heads. Scientists want to know how they do it.

Environment

Hydras can regrow their heads. Scientists want to know how they do it. Hydras can regrow their heads. Scientists want to know how they do it.

By Kate Baggaley

a cow with a blue ribbon

Science

Inside the cutthroat world of competitive meat judging Inside the cutthroat world of competitive meat judging

By Popular Science Team

A brown wasp with long antennae on a tree trunk.

Environment

To help stop voracious tree-killing beetles, send in the Russian wasps To help stop voracious tree-killing beetles, send in the Russian wasps

By Philip Kiefer

Brown and white extinct Haast's eagle with talons sunk into a furry carcass

Environment

This 30-pound eagle would take down 400-pound prey and dig through their organs This 30-pound eagle would take down 400-pound prey and dig through their organs

By Margo Milanowski

bird bot stanford

Technology

This bird-legged quadcopter can easily perch in the treetops This bird-legged quadcopter can easily perch in the treetops

By Margo Milanowski

Abalone with maroon and teal shell resting on a rock in an Underwater Wild

Environment

8 ‘insignificant’ creatures that will make you dream about the ocean 8 ‘insignificant’ creatures that will make you dream about the ocean

By Craig Foster and Ross Frylinck

What’s sweeter than honey to these bees? Rotting meat.

Environment

What’s sweeter than honey to these bees? Rotting meat. What’s sweeter than honey to these bees? Rotting meat.

By Philip Kiefer

This ancient mammoth tusk was found at the bottom of the Pacific

Environment

This ancient mammoth tusk was found at the bottom of the Pacific This ancient mammoth tusk was found at the bottom of the Pacific

planets lined up over an art illustration

Science

Death ‘by planet’ was surprisingly common in the 1600s Death ‘by planet’ was surprisingly common in the 1600s

By Popular Science Team

Four prairie dogs standing up in a row on a rock.

Environment

The American West’s changing climate might mean more plague-carrying critters The American West’s changing climate might mean more plague-carrying critters

By Philip Kiefer

A new technique reveals how butterfly wings grow into shimmery wonders

Environment

A new technique reveals how butterfly wings grow into shimmery wonders A new technique reveals how butterfly wings grow into shimmery wonders

an astronaut stands next to an american flag on the moon

Science

Imagine traveling to the moon only to realize you’re allergic to it. One astronaut did. Imagine traveling to the moon only to realize you’re allergic to it. One astronaut did.

By Popular Science Team

A very good dog

Gear

What to give your very good dog this holiday season What to give your very good dog this holiday season

By Sara Chodosh

dirty hands spray green plants with a plastic bottle

Environment

Pesticides leave a lasting mark on pollinating bees Pesticides leave a lasting mark on pollinating bees

By Kate Baggaley

Munu the black rhino in his enclosure

Environment

This blind rhino’s infrared security system could help stop poachers This blind rhino’s infrared security system could help stop poachers

By Rachael Zisk

Black pug trying to eat dangerous foods for dogs and cats like pie

Environment

5 Thanksgiving foods that can be dangerous for dogs and cats 5 Thanksgiving foods that can be dangerous for dogs and cats

By Kate Baggaley

an infrared heat map of butterfly wings

Science

These infrared images show just how alive butterflies’ wings are These infrared images show just how alive butterflies’ wings are

This four-legged snake fossil was probably a skinny lizard

Environment

This four-legged snake fossil was probably a skinny lizard This four-legged snake fossil was probably a skinny lizard

By Kate Baggaley

Greater roadrunner racing across a street in the desert

Environment

Las Vegas bird can’t remember how it ended up in Maine Las Vegas bird can’t remember how it ended up in Maine

By Margo Milanowski

A deer looks down a snowy trail at two women walking.

Health

The animal kingdom is full of coronaviruses. Here’s what that means for COVID’s future. The animal kingdom is full of coronaviruses. Here’s what that means for COVID’s future.

By Philip Kiefer

An overlooked fossil turned out to be a new herbivorous dinosaur with an oddly shaped nose

Environment

An overlooked fossil turned out to be a new herbivorous dinosaur with an oddly shaped nose An overlooked fossil turned out to be a new herbivorous dinosaur with an oddly shaped nose

By Philip Kiefer

a giant hornet crawls on a box

Environment

These honeybees have a surprisingly fierce battle cry These honeybees have a surprisingly fierce battle cry

By Kate Baggaley

Crow over a green art illustration background

Environment

Even more proof that crows are terrifyingly smart Even more proof that crows are terrifyingly smart

By Popular Science Team

ancient penis worm

Environment

Ancient penis worms used protection on the seabed Ancient penis worms used protection on the seabed

By Margo Milanowski

a worker ant in an aggressive stance against a white background

Environment

The protein that keeps worker ants in line can also make them queen The protein that keeps worker ants in line can also make them queen

Black kitten and spaniel mix puppy to represent cat or dog person

Health

What being a cat or dog person says about you What being a cat or dog person says about you

female zebra finch inspects male

Environment

When female finches fail to find mates, they dump their eggs and move on When female finches fail to find mates, they dump their eggs and move on

By Margo Milanowski

Biologists vastly underestimated how much whales eat and poop

Environment

Biologists vastly underestimated how much whales eat and poop Biologists vastly underestimated how much whales eat and poop

By Philip Kiefer

Wild deer are giving each other COVID—a lot

Health

Wild deer are giving each other COVID—a lot Wild deer are giving each other COVID—a lot

The surprising link between caterpillar poop and our climate

Environment

The surprising link between caterpillar poop and our climate The surprising link between caterpillar poop and our climate

By Elana Spivack

A young harbor seal looking at the camera

Science

Baby seals sing bass notes when they want attention Baby seals sing bass notes when they want attention

By Philip Kiefer

Environment

Dogs can understand more complex words than we thought Dogs can understand more complex words than we thought

By Margo Milanowski

a small brown and red bird perched on a branch

Environment

You’ve heard of truffle pigs. Now get ready for truffle birds. You’ve heard of truffle pigs. Now get ready for truffle birds.

By Kate Baggaley

Baltimore checkerspot caterpillar curled up in a black and orange ball

Science

Inflatable tentacles and silk hats: See how caterpillars trick predators to survive Inflatable tentacles and silk hats: See how caterpillars trick predators to survive

By Erin Fennessy

Parent and child engaging in baby talk and language development in a cartoon

Environment

Baby talk isn’t just cute—it’s critical for kids’ vocabularies Baby talk isn’t just cute—it’s critical for kids’ vocabularies

By Sarah Witman

Great white shark that has the potential to bite a swimmer that it mistakes for a seal

Environment

Great whites don’t hunt humans—they just have blind spots Great whites don’t hunt humans—they just have blind spots

Environment

When is a tooth a tusk? It’s surprisingly complex. When is a tooth a tusk? It’s surprisingly complex.

By Margo Milanowski

Two gray pigeons in a spotlight in a Rosemary Mosco cartoon

DIY

How to speak city pigeon How to speak city pigeon

By Rosemary Mosco

A lemur holding onto a vine with one arm.

Environment

These fuzzy lemurs have a human-like ability to sing on beat These fuzzy lemurs have a human-like ability to sing on beat

By Philip Kiefer

Devil's tooth fungus in the Pine Barrens, NJ

Environment

9 creatures that have made spookiness their brand 9 creatures that have made spookiness their brand

By Elana Spivack

Ivory poaching has triggered a surge in elephants born without tusks

Environment

Ivory poaching has triggered a surge in elephants born without tusks Ivory poaching has triggered a surge in elephants born without tusks

By Kate Baggaley

Entombed in amber, this tiny crab hails from the age of dinosaurs

Environment

Entombed in amber, this tiny crab hails from the age of dinosaurs Entombed in amber, this tiny crab hails from the age of dinosaurs

By Kate Baggaley

A translucent krill with red spots on its belly.

Environment

In constant darkness, Arctic krill migrate by twilight and the Northern Lights In constant darkness, Arctic krill migrate by twilight and the Northern Lights

By Philip Kiefer

moose in a lake with mountains in the background

DIY

How to track and spot a wild moose How to track and spot a wild moose

By Noah Lederman

A new vaccine may curb the koala chlamydia epidemic

Environment

A new vaccine may curb the koala chlamydia epidemic A new vaccine may curb the koala chlamydia epidemic

A zookeeper wearing a mask vaccinates an orangutan through a grille.

Health

Zoo animals are getting COVID vaccines made specially for them Zoo animals are getting COVID vaccines made specially for them

By Philip Kiefer

Environment

As El Niño years get worse, right whales suffer As El Niño years get worse, right whales suffer

By Margo Milanowski

After the dinosaurs, Earth became an all-you-can-eat buffet for snakes

Science

After the dinosaurs, Earth became an all-you-can-eat buffet for snakes After the dinosaurs, Earth became an all-you-can-eat buffet for snakes

By Kate Baggaley

Two-headed turtle

Environment

A rare two-headed turtle is alive and thriving, surprising scientists A rare two-headed turtle is alive and thriving, surprising scientists

Fluorescent microscopy images of nematodes

Environment

These worms produce milk, but only when they kick the bucket These worms produce milk, but only when they kick the bucket

By Elana Spivack