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genetics

New Clues Emerge About the Fluffy Dogs Once Bred for Their Wool

The story of these distinctive doggos is emerging from ancestral knowledge of the Coast Salish peoples and a new genetic study of the pelt of a pup named Mutton.
December 14, 2023
Gastro Obscura
story
japan

The Woman Putting a West-Coast Spin on Japan’s Traditional Tea Sweets

Wagashi is a way to celebrate the beauty of the seasons.
December 11, 2023
story
botany

Herds of Mysterious ‘Glacier Mice’ Baffle Scientists

These moss balls move in unison, and researchers are okay with not knowing why.
December 7, 2023
story
poop

The Adventures and Trials of Jack, Scat-Sniffing Superdog

Jack and his handler Collette Yee found challenges, meaning, and each other in their work helping scientists better understand orcas, bats, and more.
December 1, 2023
story
penguins

How Polka Dots Help African Penguins Stand Out From the Crowd

A new study shows how the birds identify their mates in a sea of black and white.
November 30, 2023
story
exhibit

Scotland's Oldest Tartan Rose From a Peat Bog

The 400-year-old fabric extends the iconic pattern's history in Scotland by over a century.
November 16, 2023
story
ornithology collections

North American Birds Will No Longer Be Named After People

Renaming birds isn’t new, but this official change could be the start of something larger.
November 9, 2023
story
records

A 500-Year-Old Record of the Aztec Empire Comes to Life

The Digital Florentine Codex’s three languages and thousands of hand-painted illustrations provide a window into culture, war, and daily life.
November 8, 2023
story
ominous animals

The Smallest Wild Cat in the Americas Is Also the Cutest Bad Omen

In rural Chile, the kodkod, or güiña, has a bad rep for stealing chickens—and as a portent of death and disaster.
November 1, 2023
story
scary stories

For the Love of Fear

In a Swedish amusement park, two volunteers faced their greatest fears—for science.
October 31, 2023
story
dolls

Explore the Insidious Secrets of This Haunted Dollhouse

From human-teeth tiles to teeny-tiny taxidermy, this insanely detailed interactive diorama reflects the magic, lore, and history of the Southern Gothic.
October 31, 2023
story
appalachia

Explore the United States of Cryptids

Our archives offer a tour of the country's most elusive, mysterious characters.
October 28, 2023
story
ominous animals

Does the New Zealand Fantail Connect the Human and Spirit Realms?

The bird is sometimes considered an omen of death, but in Māori tradition, that's just one part of its story.
October 20, 2023
story
ominous animals

The Truth Behind the Deathwatch Beetle's Creepy Tap-Tap-Tapping

In the United Kingdom, the insects were once considered omens of death—they're actually much more destructive.
October 11, 2023
story
first nations

The Charming True Story of the Haunting ‘Lady in the Tree’

How an art prank created a new Halloween legend for the Miawpukek First Nation.
October 6, 2023
story
ominous animals

The Legend of Japan's 'Earthquake Fish'

The serpent-like oarfish has long been considered an omen of natural disaster. Scientists are shaking up that old superstition.
October 3, 2023
story
weird sports

Monster Wrestling And Other Weird, Wonderful Sports from Around the World

From traditional Japanese log riding to charitable llama races in Colorado, this photographer has seen it all.
September 26, 2023
story
chemistry

Get a Whiff of Ancient Egypt’s 'Scent of Eternity'

Experts reconstructed the smell of mummified organs—and it’s actually pretty pleasant.
September 14, 2023
story
snorkeling

Can We Swim With Whale Sharks Responsibly?

How to—and, more importantly, how not to—have an unforgettable wildlife encounter with the biggest fish in the sea.
September 12, 2023
story
beetle

The Living, Breathing Brooches of the Yucatán

The live, jewel-encrusted beetles called maquechs are tied to an ancient legend, but some worry for their future.
September 7, 2023
story
tools

How Ancient Dart Launchers Changed the Game for Early Female Hunters

A female archaeologist is challenging the idea of men as hunters and women as gatherers, one throw at a time.
September 5, 2023
story
sea forts

The Surprising Second Life of an Abandoned Victorian Sea Fort

“We want it to feel like you’re exploring something for the first time.”
August 31, 2023
story
mormons

The Rise and Fall of the Mormon King of Beaver Island

Rumors of piracy, polygamy, and betrayal shape the tumultuous history of King James Jesse Strang.
August 28, 2023
story
glowing

Biologists Threw a Fluorescent Frog Rave in the Amazon, for Science

Turns out many of the frogs glow, maybe to communicate.
August 22, 2023