Science & Nature
Amazon River Dolphin
Amazon River Dolphin turns pink with age, and much of that color is scar tissue from years of fighting, so the brightest males are usually the oldest ones.
Devil Scorpionfish
Devil Scorpionfish sits so still on the reef that algae grows over its skin, and it breaks cover only to flash the hidden orange and black beneath its fins.
What The Psyche Mission Could Tell Us About Planetary Cores
NASA's Psyche spacecraft arrives at a metal-rich asteroid in 2029, where its readings could sharpen scientists' understanding of the cores of rocky planets.
Neotropical Rattlesnake
Neotropical Rattlesnake, the most widespread rattlesnake in South America, has an unusually neurotoxic venom that can paralyze and prove fatal to people.
Central American Bushmaster
Central American Bushmaster, a large, reclusive rainforest pit viper, ranks among the world's longest venomous snakes and, unlike most, lays eggs.
What Happens When A Satellite Burns Up In The Atmosphere
A satellite re-entry begins near 17,000 mph; learn what burns up, which dense parts reach Earth, and what the vaporized metal leaves behind.
Jararacussu
Jararacussu, one of the biggest pit vipers in South America, carries a potent hemotoxic venom that has been studied for anti-viral drug research.
The Deepest Underground Labs Hunting Dark Matter
Deep in subterranean labs, some of the most advanced technology in human history is being used to study the origins of dark matter.
Many-Banded Krait
Many-Banded Krait, a black-and-white banded snake of East and Southeast Asia, carries potent neurotoxic venom that can cause fatal respiratory paralysis.
Which Planet Has the Most Moons?
Saturn now holds 293 confirmed moons, more than any other planet. See how it overtook Jupiter, and meet Titan and Enceladus.
Naked Mole-Rat
Naked Mole-Rat, one of the only eusocial mammals, is a wrinkled East African rodent famed for resisting cancer, pain, and the usual signs of aging.
Eyelash Viper
Eyelash Viper, a small arboreal pit viper of Central and South America, is named for the bristly scales above its eyes and comes in vivid colors.
Which Planet Has The Most Eccentric Orbit?
Mercury holds the record among the eight planets orbiting the Sun, while HD 20782 b is among the most eccentric confirmed exoplanets known.
Where Coyotes And Wolves Overlap In The United States
Coyotes and wolves overlap across the US, from Yellowstone and Denali to North Carolina's Albemarle Peninsula, where the two canids sometimes hybridize.
Which Planet Has The Fewest Visitors From Earth?
Uranus and Neptune have each had exactly one visitor: Voyager 2, in 1986 and 1989. No spacecraft has returned to either ice giant since.
Wandering Albatross
Wandering Albatross, a giant seabird of the Southern Ocean, has the largest wingspan of any living bird and can glide for years over the open sea.
Malayan Blue Krait
Malayan Blue Krait, one of Southeast Asia's most venomous snakes, delivers a potent neurotoxic bite that can paralyze and kill without antivenom.
Which Moon Could Be Shooting Geysers Into Space?
Computer models hint at geysers erupting from Europa's icy crust, the kind already confirmed on Saturn's moon Enceladus. Europa Clipper arrives in 2030.
Why Mountain Lions Disappeared From The Eastern US
Mountain lions once roamed much of the eastern US, but bounties, hunting, fewer deer, and habitat loss eventually wiped out most populations.
Alligator Gar
Alligator Gar, one of North America's largest freshwater fish, is an ancient, armored predator named for its broad, toothy, alligator-like snout.
Red-Bellied Black Snake
Red-Bellied Black Snake, a glossy Australian elapid with a crimson underside, is venomous but notably shy, and rarely a serious danger to people.
What Happens If Kessler Syndrome Starts
One shattered satellite could start a chain reaction in orbit, multiplying debris until entire regions of space become too dangerous to use.
The Most Snake Infested Lakes in Missouri
Discover the most snake-infested lakes in Missouri, where diverse species, both venomous and non-venomous, make their homes in scenic waters.
Forest Cobra
Forest Cobra, the largest true cobra in Africa, is a fast, highly venomous snake at home in the rainforests and waterways across the continent.
Which Planet Has The Weakest Gravity?
Mercury has the weakest gravity of any planet. Its huge iron core still makes it pull harder than its small size suggests.
Killer Whale
Killer Whale, the ocean's top predator and the largest member of the dolphin family, hunts in tight-knit family pods across every sea on the planet.
Indian Cobra
Indian Cobra, the spectacled snake of snake charmers, is one of India's deadliest reptiles and a revered figure in Hindu mythology and folklore.
Why Doesn't the Moon Fall?
Gravity pulls the Moon toward Earth every second, yet it never lands. Tangential speed and Earth's curved surface turn that fall into a stable orbit.
Which Planet Would Float On Water?
The massive planet of Saturn, a gas giant, has a density such that if you could place it in a giant tub of water, it would float.
Monocled Cobra
Monocled Cobra, named for the single ring on its hood, is a highly venomous snake of South and Southeast Asia often found near water and rice fields.
Where America Watches For Asteroids From
Mountaintop telescopes, a Cambridge clearinghouse, and JPL orbit specialists share the job of spotting asteroids early in America.
Blue Whale
Blue Whale, the largest animal ever known to have lived, is a colossal baleen whale that filter-feeds on tiny krill across the world's open oceans.
Mozambique Spitting Cobra
Mozambique Spitting Cobra, one of southern Africa's most dangerous snakes, can spray venom into a threat's eyes and inflict a tissue-destroying bite.
Which Moon Is The Coldest?
Triton is frozen almost beyond imagination, but Earth’s Moon hides an even colder secret inside craters untouched by sunlight.
Scientists Discover The World’s Largest Snake Species
The green anaconda, now recognized as a separate species, is the heaviest and possibly longest snake, reaching over 21 feet and 200 kg.
The K2-18b Biosignature Debate And What It Actually Means
Scientists found possible signs of life on K2-18b, but the evidence soon weakened. Here is what the latest research actually tells us.