Stories by Jack Tamisiea

Researchers close in on a taxonomic home for one of paleontology’s weirdest wonders, the Tully Monster

Hibernating brown bears avoid the blood clots that can develop in even temporarily immobile people. Scientists now think they know how the animals do it

A spider that caught and devoured a much larger shrew for its meal adds to evidence that more spiders aren’t strangers to dining on vertebrates

Sharpshooter insects use a physics phenomenon called superpropulsion to efficiently fling away droplets of pee at extremely high speeds

Mammal species that live in groups seems to live longer than those that lead solitary lives

A rare flower encased in amber is the largest one ever found and dates from around 40 million years ago

The festive parasite mistletoe’s sticky prowess explained

Small marine critters ferry around seaweed sex cells, the first recorded example of “pollination” in algae

Broad-webbed feet help them glide through rain-forest canopies

This “gorgoning” releases antibacterial compounds and other substances that dolphins could be using to self-medicate

A new genetic study shows generalizing breeds as affectionate or aggressive doesn’t hold up

Energy stored in the front legs of gangly orb-weaving spiders helps them live to mate another day

A speck-sized beetle overturns assumptions about flight mechanics

To survive on nutrient-poor blood, less can sometimes be more

Thousands running alongside bulls in Spain speed up as density increases

The composite organisms, formed from the symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae, are crucial members of myriad ecosystems

The colony thrives in a frigid ocean covered by ice year-round

The synchronized dance of sulfur mollies is not only mesmerizing to watch but also confusing to predators

The baleen that hangs from the jaws of some whale species contains clues about their migrations and diets

Monogamous black-browed albatross may split up from the stress of less food availability

Scientists surveyed dozens of species’ genomes to uncover keys to longevity

Indris’ dramatic family “songs” show repeatable timing patterns

A lost “treasure trove” of bird samples reveals how eye shape changes with environment