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Scientists at Work

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science

The Fiddly Business of Tracking Australia's Most Venomous Spider

To study the Sydney funnel web spider, one researcher tags along from a distance with the help of tags the size of a grain of rice.
Hannah Thomasy June 2, 2021
science

Helping Endangered Sea Turtles, One Emergency Surgery at a Time

For a species on the brink of extinction, saving one life can make a big difference.
Debra Moore and John Thomason May 24, 2021
science

What Secrets Lurk Within a Human-Sized Dome of Bat Guano?

Deep in a Jamaican cave, scientists are getting to the bottom of that question.
Jessica Leigh Hester May 18, 2021
science

For Sale: A $1 Million Bottle of Bordeaux Aged in Space

After 14 months on the ISS, the vintage Petrus could be yours.
Luke Fater May 10, 2021
geology

Using Video Game Tech to Teach Field-Starved Geology Students

A couple of enterprising professors started with Italy and Scotland, and then took to the stars.
Robin George Andrews April 30, 2021
fires

How to Kill a Zombie Fire

Underground peat fires are bedeviling: They refuse to die, even when flooded with water. Could this new weapon put them down for good?
Matt Simon April 26, 2021
snakes

What Can 26,000 Snakes Teach Us About Climate Change?

Oregon State University's massive collection is helping researchers learn how animals adapt to changing environments.
Jack Tamisiea April 22, 2021
disasters

Trying to Understand a Volcano's Jekyll-and-Hyde Eruptions

Volcanologists are doing detective work to understand what makes St. Vincent's La Soufrière go off.
Robin George Andrews April 16, 2021
islands

What Is Killing Albatross Chicks in the Falkland Islands?

The population is healthy overall, but a mysterious contagion has researchers looking for answers.
Erica Tennenhouse April 15, 2021
lakes

Behold Brine Shrimp, the Livestock of Utah’s Great Salt Lake

The otherworldly stars of a thriving industry and endless curiosity could be at risk if the lake continues receding.
Casey Crownhart April 8, 2021
animals

Why Researchers Dressed as Leopards to Scare Some Monkeys

A field experiment in Republic of the Congo revealed new insights into how the primates sound the alarm.
Gemma Tarlach April 1, 2021
folklore

Loved or Loathed: Can Madagascar's Aye-Aye Survive Superstition?

Understanding how locals really view the world's weirdest primate may be key to protecting it.
Bridget Alex March 23, 2021
lakes

The U.S. Government Is Begging You to Destroy Moss Balls

Zebra mussels showed up in imported aquarium accessories across 32 states. Ecologists want your help killing them.
Jessica Leigh Hester March 11, 2021
caves

The Grand Canyon's Caves Are Full of Sloth Dung and Mummified Bats

The limestone cliffs harbor hundreds of passages that offer glimpses into the distant past.
Shaena Montanari March 9, 2021
volcanoes

For a Volcanologist Living on Mount Etna, the Latest Eruption Is a Delight

Boris Behncke is enjoying one of nature's greatest displays from the comfort of home.
Robin George Andrews February 26, 2021
ecology

When Scientists Become Allergic to Their Research

“Every cell in your body is screaming out in mortal terror.”
Hannah Thomasy February 22, 2021
floods

The Great Kenyan Giraffe Rescue

It took a custom-built barge and a whole lot of patience to get these rare animals off a shrinking island.
Winnie Lee February 16, 2021
earthquakes

Can We Track Elephants With Earthquake Detectors?

Low-cost seismometers could give rural communities an alert system, or begin to decipher elephant communication.
Robin George Andrews February 8, 2021