Animals

Snails Senda (left), Jara, Tomeau, Jeremy and Indi hang out together at the University of Nottingham's labs. Jeremy was the lab's original sinistral snail; the others are his "Spanish pals," as scientist Angus Davison puts it.

Science

Jeremy, The Lonely, Left-Twisting Snail, Dies — But Knows Love Before The End

9:03pm October 13, 2017

by Camila Domonoske

OK, "love" might be overstating it. But the little lefty — whose seemingly hopeless search for a mate sparked an international quest — did manage to procreate before he slithered off this mortal coil.

One of the most famous African dog breeds, the basenji is closely related to street dogs found throughout West Africa.

Dogs And People Have More In Common Than You Might Think

5:46pm October 13, 2017

by Michaeleen Doucleff

It looks like dog DNA has evolved in lockstep with our DNA. A new study finds evidence in Nigeria's street dogs.

When it comes to sex, the roundworm Diploscapter pachys is a loner.

Tiny, Transparent Worm Challenges Notions About Sex

8:03pm October 12, 2017

by Rae Ellen Bichell

Scientists have found a group of worms that haven't reproduced sexually for 18 million years. Normally that would be a recipe for quick extinction, but these little guys seem none the worse for wear.

Adult female with young male coming in (without collar) to her kill.

Science

Pumas Are Not Such Loners After All

8:26pm October 11, 2017

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Researchers are startled to find that pumas, also called mountain lions, meet up quite frequently with their fellow big cats — perhaps to share an elk carcass.

Science

Light Pollution Can Impact Nocturnal Bird Migration

10:00pm October 05, 2017

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

A new study of how birds react to the annual light tribute to September 11th in New York City provides compelling evidence for how artificial light can disorient large numbers of migrating birds.

Queue Listen Now

Paris Residents Reject Mayor's Idea To Rid The City Of Pigeons

5:31am October 03, 2017

The mayor wanted to bring in three falcons and two hawks to scare the pigeons off. About 20,000 people have signed a petition to keep the birds of prey away.

Distillery Cat Wanted: Must Be Affable, Brand-Boosting, Cold-Blooded Killer

7:00am October 01, 2017

by Tove Danovich

A new book profiles some of the world's most fascinating felines, while telling how their job descriptions have evolved from rodent catchers to today's ambassadors for distilleries and breweries.

Health & Safety

Irma Was Bad News For Iguanas, Good News For Mosquitoes

12:17pm September 30, 2017

by Rolando Arrieta

Iguanas lost their habitat because of Hurricane Irma. That could mean disease-carrying mosquitoes, which are food for the lizards, could multiply faster.

Animals, Plants Rafted Across The Pacific After Japan's 2011 Earthquake

5:18pm September 29, 2017

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Greg Ruiz, a marine ecologist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, about nearly 300 Japanese marine coastal species that traveled across the Pacific Ocean.

A family of chimpanzees sits on a tree in Gombe Stream National Park in Western Tanzania.

Science

A Failure Of Intelligence Testing, This Time With Chimpanzees

9:36am September 28, 2017

by Barbara J. King

Apes' intelligence tests vary so much from kids' that comparative results may be invalid. Anthropologist Barbara J. King explores new insights from psychology.