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UNUSUAL ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS
In 1994, NASA flew four Japanese red-bellied newts on STS-65 for nearly 15 days; two adults died, but 32 newt eggs hatchedSpace Shuttle Columbia's 1994 mission studied animal reproduction in zero gravity. Four red-bellied newts and medaka fish were part of biol...- Why do shrews lose brain size in winter but grow bigger noses? Scientists uncover a bizarre seasonal adaptation in tiny mammalsLong-clawed shrews exhibit unusual winter adaptations, shrinking their brains and skulls. However, their snouts grow noticeably larger duri...
- England’s hidden 7,500-acre wilderness could become the ‘Yellowstone of Britain’ — a £8.5 million rewilding project aims to bring back rare wildlife over the next 20 yearsEmblehope Moor in Northumberland is undergoing a significant nature restoration over twenty years. This ambitious project aims to rewet pea...
- Why don't bats die from the lethal viruses they carry? A new DNA study uncovers a second genetic system hidden inside their blood not seen in mammals beforeResearchers discovered vesper bats have two unique gene sets for antibody production. This unusual genetic arrangement has not been documen...
- A 31,000-year-old fossil has challenged everything scientists thought about the extinct 'American cheetah' — its DNA and diet tell a surprising storyAncient DNA studies have rewritten the family tree of the "American cheetah," Miracinonyx trumani. Genetic evidence shows this extinct cat ...
- How did insects conquer land? A 324-million-year-old fossil with 24 legs and paddle-like abdominal limbs suggests some of their earliest ancestors may have lived in water before becoming terrestrialA 324-million-year-old fossil from Texas offers new insights into early insect evolution. This ancient creature possessed an unusual 24-leg...
- In 1990, the USSR sent six Japanese tree frogs to the Mir space station for an eight-day experiment, where researchers watched them float with all four legs stretched out and their bodies bent backward - then found the frogs improved their ability to land after jumping in microgravitySix Japanese tree frogs journeyed to the Soviet space station Mir in 1990. They spent eight days in microgravity, which allowed researchers...
- 415 million years ago, giant scorpions the size of a Golden Retreiver prowled Britain — and its story is now rewriting prehistoric historyScientists identified Praearcturus gigas as the largest known scorpion, measuring one meter long. This ancient predator lived approximately...
- Science says sharks can hunt in total darkness using electricity: The biology behind their sixth senseA shark does not always need to see a fish to detect that a living creature is nearby. In murky water, beneath the sand or during the final...
- In 2005, NASA flew five thick-toed geckos aboard Foton-M2 for 16 days without food or water; all were recovered with no apparent negative health effectsFive geckos orbited Earth for sixteen days without food or water. Researchers studied how weightlessness affects these cold-blooded animals...
- Why are urban birds using 'cigarette butts' in their nests? Study reveals a surprising link to arthropod repellents and ectoparasitesWhy are urban birds using 'cigarette butts' in their nests? In urban landscapes, birds have taken to using cigarette filters in their nests...
- 125-million-year-old crocodile fossil reveals shocking details - UV light exposes traces of skin, sensory structures and possible color patternA fascinating 125-million-year-old crocodile fossil found in Spain has unveiled remarkable insights into prehistoric life. Through the use ...
- In 2026, scientists tracked 4,581 animals across 37 species; more than 65% changed their behaviour simply when humans were nearbyResearchers tracking 4,581 animals across 37 species in the US found that more than 65% changed how they used space when humans were nearby...
- In 2014, NASA sent young and older mice into space; within 9 to 11 days, the younger ones began running group laps in zero gravityIn 2014, NASA launched a group of twenty mice to the International Space Station for groundbreaking research. Remarkably, the young mice ex...
- In 2009, NASA sent four painted lady caterpillars to the ISS; reports said all four completed metamorphosis and emerged as adult butterflies in microgravityIn 2009, four painted lady caterpillars made their way to the International Space Station, embarking on a unique journey. In the absence of...
- Beginning in the 1900s, U.S. hunters imported Eurasian wild boar for sport; today’s feral swine threaten firefly larvae and turtle nests across the SoutheastWild pigs are destroying firefly larvae and turtle eggs in southeastern parks. These invasive animals root up the soil, disrupting delicate...
- On STS-51B, NASA flew 24 rats and 2 squirrel monkeys with Spacelab-3; one monkey showed space sickness while the rats returned with muscle lossIn 1985, Challenger carried rats and monkeys to study microgravity's effects. One monkey experienced space sickness, mirroring human astron...
- In 1973, NASA sent two fish into space to test their swimming ability in zero gravity; they initially swam in loops but later used light as cue to move normally after 21 daysIn 1973, NASA sent two mummichog fish and 50 eggs aboard Skylab 3 to study how weightlessness affected their sense of balance. The fish ini...
- Think you can trust your eyes? This simple trick makes you see colours that don’t existA viral optical illusion demonstrates how our eyes perceive colours that are not physically present. This phenomenon, known as a colour aft...
- 567 million years ago, strange soft-bodied animals began moving across the deep seafloor in what is now Canada, with Dickinsonia feeding through its underside despite having no mouth, pushing animal movement millions of years earlierThe fossil assemblage also includes Funisia, a stationary, tube-shaped organism found living in clusters. Researchers interpret these clust...
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