Insect Olympic Feats Astonish Biologists
June 25, 2024
Butterflies cross the Atlantic, and tiny gnats fly over the Pyrenees.
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Dragonfly Cat Trick Explained
May 16, 2022
An upside down dragonfly can right itself faster than the blink of an eye.
How Did Dragonflies Come By an Intercept Capability?
August 25, 2021
Dragonflies can track a prey, anticipate its future path, fly to a rendezvous point on that path and intercept it.
Little Bugs with Mighty Powers
April 30, 2018
Bugs so small you could step on them, but if we were their size, we could never do what they do.
How Flamingos Stand on One Foot
May 26, 2017
Mysteries of the universe unfold: how can flamingos sleep while standing on one foot? And why is it good to know?
Real Creatures with Superpowers
March 8, 2016
Check out the capabilities of these amazing little critters.
Jurassic Ark: Mesozoic Fossils that Challenge Evolution
January 23, 2016
Here are recent discoveries of extinct terrestrial and marine reptiles and animals from the Jurassic and Cretaceous.
Animal PhDs in Physics
March 3, 2015
Many animals and plants have mastered physics and chemistry. Engineers would do well to learn from them.
Take Up Insect Watching
July 19, 2013
Insects are among the most diverse animals on the planet, many possessing extraordinary abilities. Here are some kinds worth watching.
Of Hagfish, Geckos and Dragonflies
April 4, 2013
Some of the most unlikely creatures are making headlines because of their potential for advancing technology.
Zoo Celebrates Bio-Inspiration
August 31, 2012
The San Diego Zoo has a new Centre for Bioinspiration, promoting invention based on life's solutions to practical problems.
Biomimetics to the Rescue of Science
October 10, 2011
The booming field of biomimetics (imitating nature’s designs) is fascinating not only for the amazing products it promises, but for the fresh new opportunities it provides for science and engineering. From viruses to mammals, everything in the living world is now being seen in a new light: agents of innovation that humans can learn from. Here are just a few examples in recent news, arranged in order from large to small inspirational creatures.
Playing Fast and Loose with Evolution
August 10, 2011
The word evolution gets used and misused often. Strictly speaking, neo-Darwinian evolution demands that mutations and natural selection operate with no foresight or oversight, no purpose or direction, no impetus toward a desired outcome. In actual practice, scientists and reporters play fast and loose with the term, making it into a designer substitute.