Nature
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Do goldfish really grow to the size of their tank?
The size of their watery home is only part of the story.
A common theory about fish is that their size is somehow based on the volume of water they inhabit, and to a new owne...
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English bulldogs' shallow gene pool problems
Distinctive physical features are accompanied by health problems.
English bulldogs are among the world’s favourite dogs, but centuries of inbreeding has cursed the pooches with poor h...
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Why are crows so smart?
In fact as smart as a seven-year-old human.
They can recognise faces, use tools – even drop nuts on a road for cars to crack (then pick them up with the safety o...
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Why do cats have slit-shaped eyes?
Pupil shape reveals prey or predator in animals.
Ever wondered why cats have vertical slit-shaped pupils, while sheep have horizontal bars? A recent study suggests it...
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The key gene that allows bees to collect pollen
Just how do they do it?
Scientists at Michigan State University have identified an important gene in the underlying genetic mechanism that en...
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The ancient fish that first had sex
Ancient armour-plated fish with bony sex organs are challenging what we know about reproduction.
When back-boned animals get down to business, they do it in one of two ways. Either females release eggs to be extern...
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Outfoxing a cunning killer
Scientists credit improvements in control methods
Australian scientists are within sight of eradicating the red fox from Phillip Island, south-east of Melbourne, where...
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Sex and the single cannibal
The males of some species have it tough when it comes to love.
This is a story about love gone horribly wrong. It’s a story where the girl always gets her man. We are talking abou...
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How ferns learnt to live in the shadows
Genetic detective work suggests they acquired a light sensor.
Ferns can make use of red light wavelengths prevalent on the forest floor. – Howard Snyder / Getty Images We thought...
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Symbiosis: when living together is win-win
Long-term interactions between two biological organisms.
There are many cases in nature where species team up to help each other, a behaviour known as symbiosis. Resources or...