Accessibility links
Animals Animals

Animals

Like humans, these ants can perform leg amputations to save lives

Some ants, like the Florida carpenter ant, treat the injured legs of comrades, and will even perform medical amputations when necessary. Zen Rial/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Zen Rial/Getty Images

Short Wave

Like humans, these ants can perform leg amputations to save lives

Some ants herd aphids. Some farm fungi. And now, scientists have realized that when an ant injures its leg, it sometimes will turn to a buddy to perform a lifesaving limb amputation. Not only that — some ants have probably been amputating limbs longer than humans! Today, thanks to the reporting of ant enthusiast and science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce, we behold the medical prowess of the ant.

Like humans, these ants can perform leg amputations to save lives

Listen · 13:48
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198910375/1255410071" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Sharks often get a bad rap, but oceans need them

A blue shark captured from below off the coast of New Zealand. Cultura RM Exclusive/Richard Robinson/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Cultura RM Exclusive/Richard Robinson/Getty Images

Short Wave

Sharks often get a bad rap, but oceans need them

It's that time of the year again: Shark Week. The TV program is so long-running that if you're under 37, you've never known a life without it. In honor of this oft misunderstood critter, we revisit our conversation with shark scientist Melissa Christina Marquez. She explains just how important sharks are to keeping the oceans healthy, including their role in mitigating climate change. Plus, there may be some talk about shark poop.

Sharks often get a bad rap, but oceans need them

Listen · 10:56
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198910363/1255201285" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Named after the Norse god Loki, meet Lokiceratops, a new horned dinosaur species

Reconstruction of a Lokiceratops rangiformis being surprised by a crocodilian in the 78-million-year-old swamps that would have existed in what is now northern Montana. Andrey Atuchin/Museum of Evolution hide caption

toggle caption
Andrey Atuchin/Museum of Evolution

Short Wave

Named after the Norse god Loki, meet Lokiceratops, a new horned dinosaur species

A brand new species of ceratops, or horned dinosaur, was recently discovered in northern Montana. The dinosaur is called Lokiceratops rangiformis, after the Norse god Loki, and is believed to have lived roughly eighty million years ago. The bones of the plant-eating dinosaur were found on private land in an area well known for its large amount of fossils, and at first, researchers thought the bones belonged to another species of dinosaur!

Named after the Norse god Loki, meet Lokiceratops, a new horned dinosaur species

Listen · 9:14
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198910321/1254914724" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
How millions of mosquitoes could save Hawaii's endangered birds

The 'i'iwi is one of Hawaii's honeycreepers, forest birds that are found nowhere else. There were once more than 50 species. Now, only 17 remain. Ryan Kellman/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Ryan Kellman/NPR

Short Wave

How millions of mosquitoes could save Hawaii's endangered birds

To a lot of people, mosquito bites are annoying. But to the rare Hawaiian honeycreepers, they're deadly. Scientists in Maui are racing against time to save them ... and discovering some pretty crazy innovations along the way. Like, releasing-mosquitos-incapable-of-breeding level innovations.

How millions of mosquitoes could save Hawaii's endangered birds

Listen · 14:59
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198910271/1254237250" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Illegal wildlife trade is booming. What does that mean for the confiscated animals?

The illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Live animals that are caught, like this box turtle, need immediate and long-term care at facilities like The Turtle Conservancy. Ryan Kellman/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Ryan Kellman/NPR

Short Wave

Illegal wildlife trade is booming. What does that mean for the confiscated animals?

Wildlife trafficking is one of the largest and most profitable crime sectors in the world. The illegal trade estimated to be a multi-billion dollar industry. On a high level, that illegal trade causes problems for everything from global biodiversity to local economies and the balance of entire ecosystems. And on the immediate level, authorities are tasked with caring for confiscated animals and placing them in long-term care facilities.

Illegal wildlife trade is booming. What does that mean for the confiscated animals?

Listen · 11:17
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198910180/1253852697" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
A silky shark named Genie swam 17,000 miles, a record-breaking migration
Pelayo Salinas / CDF

Short Wave

A silky shark named Genie swam 17,000 miles, a record-breaking migration

A silky shark named Genie traveled from the Galapagos Islands out to the open ocean and back – over 17,000 miles – over the course of a year and a half. That's an average of 31 miles per day, making Genie's journey the longest recorded migration for a silky shark.

A silky shark named Genie swam 17,000 miles, a record-breaking migration

Listen · 9:14
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198910124/1253424959" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
A Michigan farmworker is diagnosed with bird flu in 2nd U.S. case tied to dairy cows

This 2005 electron microscope image shows an avian influenza A H5N1 virion. On Wednesday, Michigan health officials said a farmworker has been diagnosed with bird flu, the second human case connected to an outbreak in U.S. dairy cows. Cynthia Goldsmith, Jackie Katz/CDC/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Cynthia Goldsmith, Jackie Katz/CDC/AP

Health

A Michigan farmworker is diagnosed with bird flu in 2nd U.S. case tied to dairy cows

The Michigan dairy worker had mild eye symptoms from the infection and has recovered, health officials said. The worker had been in contact with cows presumed to be infected.

To escape hungry bats, these flying beetles create an ultrasound 'illusion'

Harlan Gough holds a recently collected tiger beetle on a tether. Lawrence Reeves hide caption

toggle caption
Lawrence Reeves

Research News

To escape hungry bats, these flying beetles create an ultrasound 'illusion'

A study of tiger beetles has found a possible explanation for why they produce ultrasound noises right before an echolocating bat swoops in for the kill.

To escape hungry bats, these flying beetles create an ultrasound 'illusion'

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1252096177/1252101025" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
When sea otters lose their favorite foods, they can use tools to go after new ones

A sea otter in Monterey Bay with a rock anvil on its belly and a scallop in its forepaws. Jessica Fujii hide caption

toggle caption
Jessica Fujii

When sea otters lose their favorite foods, they can use tools to go after new ones

Some otters rely on tools to bust open hard-shelled prey items like snails, and a new study suggests this tool use is helping them to survive as their favorite, easier-to-eat foods disappear.

When sea otters lose their favorite foods, they can use tools to go after new ones

Listen · 3:34
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1252214990/1252397440" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Sperm whale families talk a lot. Researchers are trying to decode what they're saying
wildestanimal/Getty Images

Short Wave

Sperm whale families talk a lot. Researchers are trying to decode what they're saying

Scientists are testing the limits of artificial intelligence when it comes to language learning. One recent challenge? Learning ... whale! Researchers are using machine learning to analyze and decode whale sounds — and it's just as complicated as it seems.

Sperm whale families talk a lot. Researchers are trying to decode what they're saying

Listen · 13:34
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198910024/1252241213" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Lessons from rattlesnake class in the American Southwest

A Phoenix Herpetological Society rattlesnake class attendee moves to pick up a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake with snake tongs under the supervision of instructor Cale Morris at the Florence Ely Nelson Desert Park in Scottsdale, Arizona. Caitlin O'Hara for NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Caitlin O'Hara for NPR

Lessons from rattlesnake class in the American Southwest

It's rattlesnake season in Arizona, where the number of bites has surged. And it turns out most of what you thought you knew about the reptiles isn't true.

Small but mighty Nimble becomes first mixed-breed dog to win Westminster agility title

Cynthia Hornor poses with Nimble, the first mixed-breed dog ever to win the Westminster Kennel Club dog show's agility competition, in New York on Monday. Jennifer Peltz/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Jennifer Peltz/AP

Small but mighty Nimble becomes first mixed-breed dog to win Westminster agility title

The border collie-papillon mix got a round of "app-paws" for her surprise win after finishing the race in under 30 seconds. She is the first mixed-breed and first 12-inch dog to win the competition.

On this unassuming trail near LA, bird watchers see something spectacular

Lauren Hill, a graduate student at Cal State LA, holds a bird at the bird banding site at Bear Divide in the San Gabriel Mountains. Grace Widyatmadja/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Grace Widyatmadja/NPR

On this unassuming trail near LA, bird watchers see something spectacular

At Bear Divide, just outside Los Angeles, you can see a rare spectacle of nature. This is one of the only places in the western United States where you can see bird migration during daylight hours.

On this unassuming trail near LA, bird watchers see something spectacular

Listen · 8:02
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1250248970/1250444003" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The CDC issues new rules for bringing dogs into the U.S., aimed at keeping out rabies

Traveling internationally with a dog — or adopting one from abroad — just got a bit more complicated. The CDC issued new rules intended to reduce the risk of importing rabies. mauinow1/Getty Images/iStockphoto hide caption

toggle caption
mauinow1/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Shots - Health News

The CDC issues new rules for bringing dogs into the U.S., aimed at keeping out rabies

The CDC announced stricter regulations for importing dogs from abroad — or traveling internationally with your furry companions.

A look at the sea slug utility belt, from solar power to stealing stings
A. Martin UW Photography/Getty Images

Short Wave

A look at the sea slug utility belt, from solar power to stealing stings

Emily gets super nerdy with former host Maddie Sofia get as they dive into the incredible world of nudibranchs in this encore episode. Not only are these sea slugs eye-catching for their colors, some of them have evolved to "steal" abilities from other organisms — from the power of photosynthesis to the stinging cells of their venomous predators. These sea slugs are going to blow your mind!

A look at the sea slug utility belt, from solar power to stealing stings

Listen · 12:10
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1198909956/1249847664" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
What are sperm whales saying? Researchers find a complex 'alphabet'

Sperm whales have lengthy exchanges, made up of clicks, which scientists have found is more complex than previously thought. Alexis Rosenfeld/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Alexis Rosenfeld/Getty Images

Climate

What are sperm whales saying? Researchers find a complex 'alphabet'

Researchers say sperm whales have a complex communication system, an example of how new technology is opening up the mysterious world of animal language.

What are sperm whales saying? Researchers find a complex 'alphabet'

Listen · 3:24
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1249546255/1250052882" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
'Dance Your Ph.D.' winner on science, art, and embracing his identity

Weliton Menário Costa (center) holds a laptop while surrounded by dancers for his music video, "Kangaroo Time." From left: Faux Née Phish (Caitlin Winter), Holly Hazlewood, and Marina de Andrade. Nic Vevers/ANU hide caption

toggle caption
Nic Vevers/ANU

Science

'Dance Your Ph.D.' winner on science, art, and embracing his identity

Weliton Menário Costa's award-winning music video showcases his research on kangaroo personality and behavior — and offers a celebration of human diversity, too.

'Dance Your Ph.D.' winner on science, art, and embracing his identity

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1248446775/1248451204" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org