Australia's Heat Wave Fries Bats' Brains, Hundreds Found Dead
Sweltering temperatures killed bats outside Sydney over the weekend as temperatures soared up to 117 Fahrenheit, the hottest it's been since 1939.
Bats
Spillover Beasts: Which Animals Pose The Biggest Viral Risk?
Rodents, primates and bats likely carry hundreds of thousands of viruses we haven't yet identified. But how do you know which ones might infect humans?
Sound Matters: Sex And Death In The Rain Forest
Scientists eavesdropping in trees have decoded a high stakes game of hide and seek. Katydids rely on ultrasound to find mates and listen for bats, which use ultrasound to find the bugs, and eat them.
The Next Pandemic Could Be Dripping On Your Head
Bats, birds and tourists love a good cave. And so do viruses. Scientists say this mixture could trigger a deadly outbreak.
'Bat Bot' Flying Robot Mimics 'Ridiculously Stupid' Complexity Of Bat Flight
Robotics experts at Caltech and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have created a robot that mimics the flight patterns of bats, including swerving and diving.
Blame It On The Boys: How To Stop Vampire Bats From Spreading Rabies
Poisoning these thirsty critters doesn't work. But researchers think they're finally getting close to figuring out a plan.
Bats In The Bedroom Can Spread Rabies Without An Obvious Bite
When a Wyoming woman fell ill, no one suspected that she could have rabies from a bat in her bedroom. Health officials say sleeping in a room with a bat is a rabies risk because bites are hard to see.
Disease Detectives Find A Really Good Reason Not To Drink Date Palm Wine
Every year, little clusters of Nipah virus break out in Bangladesh. And it wasn't from the usual cause — drinking raw sap from date palm trees. So what's up?
Environmentalists Say 'Threatened' Status For Bats Not Enough
Northern long-eared bats were listed as a "threatened" species this week after being ravaged by a disease that has killed millions of bats. Some environmentalists say the protection is not enough.
Worrisome Bat-Disease Map Shouldn't Make People Fear Bats
A new map shows where the risk is highest for humans catching diseases from bats. But the researchers urge humans to remember: Bats do a lot of good, too!