-
Can animals lie? This sneaky bird might be proof.Book excerpt In his new book, "Liars, Cheats and Copycats," biologist James O'Hanlon surveys deception across the animal kingdom and asks whether any of it adds up to lying.
Book excerpt -
Are sharks really older than trees?Life's Little Mysteries It seems like a simple question, but it needs serious taxonomic sleuthing. Are sharks or trees the oldest?
Life's Little Mysteries -
Neanderthal DNA still survives in our human family tree. What were our ancient relatives' relationships like?Science Spotlight Developing research suggests that ancient interbreeding wasn't random — it was socially patterned, directional and far more complicated than the headlines suggest.
Science Spotlight -
A woman carried a 'stone baby' in her abdomen for 3 yearsDiagnostic Dilemma A woman's unexplained abdominal pain led doctors to a diagnosis that has only been documented a few hundred times over the past 400 years.
Diagnostic Dilemma -
Twin hurricanes stare out to space as they barrel toward HawaiiEarth from space A 2016 satellite photo shows Hurricane Madeline and Hurricane Lester heading straight toward Hawaii's Big Island. When viewed from above, the twin cyclones and the surrounding clouds look eerily like a giant smiley face.
Earth from space -
Mold gold cape: A 3,900-year-old accessory that's one of the finest examples of prehistoric goldwork ever foundAstonishing Artifacts The stunningly detailed gold cape is unique in Europe and may have belonged to a high-ranking woman.
Astonishing Artifacts -
Cosmic 'seagull' locks eyes with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in long-awaited test imageSpace Photo of the Week Stare into the transfixing eye of the "Seagull Nebula" in this newly-released test image from the visionary Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
Space Photo of the Week -
How purported tales of consuming vampire blood and organs spread in the 18th centuryBook excerpt In this excerpt from "Killing the Dead," author John Blair looks at how the printed press ramped up tales of vampirism, leading to stories of people eating a supposed vampire's organs and drinking their blood in a bid to avoid the same fate.
Book excerpt -
What happened when humans encountered Gigantopithecus?Life's Little Mysteries Gigantopithecus was the largest primate that ever lived. What would have happened when human ancestors encountered it?
Life's Little Mysteries
