Ghost Elephants in Angola Are a Living Genetic Mystery — DNA from Their Dung Is Now Offering Answers

Learn about the elusive ghost elephants living in the Angolan Highlands, and find out why researchers are so intrigued by their genomes. 

Northern Ireland’s Hedgehogs Are Wearing Mini GPS Backpacks To Help Species Conservation 

Learn how researchers in Northern Ireland are using GPS tracking to uncover the obstacles hedgehogs face in modern neighborhoods and cities.

Rare Birth of Cotton-Top Tamarin Monkey Twins Is a Conservation Win at the Lake Superior Zoo in Minnesota

Learn more about the cotton-top tamarin monkey and how the birth of twins at a Minnesota zoo is helping a crtically endangered species. 

Neanderthals May Have Turned Ice Age Rhino Teeth Into a Variety of Ancient Tools 

Learn how archaeologists discovered that Ice Age rhino teeth may have been used by Neanderthals to shape, sharpen, and repair stone tools.

DNA Solves 166-Year-Old Franklin Expedition Mystery as HMS Terror Sailor Identified

Learn how descendant DNA and archaeology helped a research team identify four more sailors from the Franklin expedition and solve a century-old mystery involving a crew member of the HMS Terror.

Giant Squids, Pygmy Sperm Whales, and Other Rare Species Detected in Australia's Deep-Sea Canyons

Learn about an innovative new approach using environmental DNA to explore deep-sea locations.

Pilot Whales Have to “Yell” to Be Heard Over Ships in the Strait of Gibraltar

Learn how long-finned pilot whales are adapting their calls in response to the racket made by commercial shipping vessels.

After a Massive Eruption, This Underwater Volcano Removed Methane from the Atmosphere

Discover how satellite data from the 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai suggests an unusual chemical reaction rapidly broke down methane high in the atmosphere.

There May Only Be About 100 Rice's Whales Left in the Gulf of Mexico — Why This Species Is So Endangered 

Learn more about Rice's whales, and why this population that calls the Gulf of Mexico home is so endangered.

Volcanic Eruption at Indonesia’s Mount Dukono Takes the Lives of 3 Hikers, Sends Ash Plume Skyward

Learn about the recent volcanic eruption of Mount Dukono in Indonesia, and find out why Indonesia has such a high number of active volcanoes.

Rare White Bison Calf Born At Iowa Wildlife Refuge 

Learn how the birth of a rare white bison calf at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge connects to broader efforts to restore plains bison and Iowa’s tallgrass prairie ecosystem.

This Substance Is 1,000 Times More Potent Than the World’s Spiciest Pepper — and It Could Provide Pain Relief

Learn about resiniferatoxin, the hottest substance on Earth that is being investigated as the future of pain relief.

1,700-Year-Old Roman Infant Burials Contained Purple Silk Once Worth More Than Gold

Learn how Tyrian purple textiles found in Roman York burials are reshaping what historians know about wealth, trade, and infant mourning in Roman Britain.

Denali's Puppy Cam Shows Adorable Sled Dog Pups — How Do They Become Canine Rangers?

Catch Acadia, Sequoia, Mesa, Rainier, Mammoth, and Teton, the new class of Denali canine ranger puppies, on the Denali Puppy Cam. 

Dinosaurs May Have Emerged Earlier Than Thought — and Evolved in Rapid Bursts

Learn about the new estimate for the emergence of dinosaurs, which may have occurred 250 million to 240 million years ago. 

146,000-Year-Old Butchering Tools Reveal Creativity May Have Helped Ancient Humans Adapt to the Ice Age

Learn how sophisticated Ice Age stone tools from China revealed advanced butchering techniques, careful planning, and unexpected creativity among ancient humans.

Why a Daring Coyote May Have Swum Two Miles to Reach Alcatraz Island

Learn more about Floyd the coyote, who was spotted swimming to Alcatraz in January 2026, and how DNA evidence proves he may have swum from much further than previously thought. 

Garlic Compound Shows Potential to Help Aging Muscles Stay Strong

Learn how a compound in aged garlic extract may help aging muscles stay stronger by influencing NAD+-related communication between fat tissue, the brain, and skeletal muscle.

Do Omega-3s Really Protect The Brain? The Answer May Depend on Your Health

Learn about new research on omega-3 fatty acids that suggests the supplements may not be a one-size-fits-all treatment.

A Roughly 400-Year-Old Jaw Reveals Scotland’s Earliest Known Evidence of a Gold Dental Bridge

Learn how researchers identified Scotland’s earliest known gold dental bridge, likely crafted by a jeweler before modern dentistry existed.