Latest articles by Chris Simms
Chewed-up orca fins on Russian beach point to cannibalism, and scientists say it may explain why some pods are so tight-knit
Detached orca fins scored with distinctive tooth marks suggest that killer whale cannibalism is happening — and it might explain some complex orca societies.
Every ant is a queen in this parasitic species — and they reproduce by cloning themselves and hijacking other ant colonies
A rare Japanese ant is the only species known to lack female workers and males; all of its young develop into parasitic queens that try to take over other colonies.
China banned all fishing to save the Yangtze River. This 'nuclear' option appears to be working.
Decades of overfishing and habitat degradation led to huge declines in freshwater biodiversity in China's longest river, but there are signs of recovery after a fishing ban was implemented in 2021.
Spotted lanternflies are invading the US. They may have gotten their evolutionary superpowers in China's cities.
The alarming spread of spotted lanternflies across the U.S. has been made possible by cities acting as evolutionary incubators, fine-tuning the insects and enabling them to thrive.
Shark attacks in Hawaii spike in October, and scientists think they know why
Sharktober is real in Hawaii — and it's down to the reproductive pattern of predatory tiger sharks, an analysis of 30 years of data reveals.
Californians have been using far less water than suppliers estimated — what does this mean for the state?
Flawed assumptions about water demand mean suppliers in California overestimated future demand by an average of 74% over 20 years — positive news for the drought-embattled state.
Ever watched a pet cow pick up a broom and scratch herself with it? You have now
A pet cow in Austria started using a broom to scratch herself — the first ever documented case of bovine tool use.
T. rex quiz: How much do you really know about the king of the dinosaurs?
Almost everyone has heard of Tyrannosaurus rex, but how much do you actually know about this iconic dinosaur predator? Take our quiz to find out.
Yellowstone quiz: How much do you know about the first national park?
Crammed full of epic scenery, steaming geysers, plants and animals, Yellowstone National Park is a spectacular place to visit, but how hot is your knowledge on it? Take our quiz to find out.
Killer whales are teaming up with dolphins on salmon hunts, study finds — but not everyone agrees
There are eye-opening claims that orcas and dolphins are working together on salmon hunts and sharing food — but not everyone is convinced.
People in China lived alongside 'chicken-killing tigers' long before domestic cats arrived
Leopard cats were living alongside people in ancient China for more than 3,500 years before domestic cats arrived from Europe via the Silk Road.
A decade-long chimp war ended in a baby boom for the victors, scientists discover
A deadly conflict between rival groups of chimpanzees in Uganda led to comprehensive victory and a bounty of territory and food — does it show why humans go to war?
Why do vultures circle?
Circling vultures aren't waiting for you to die, and seeing them should be a welcome sight because of the benefits they bring, experts say.
'Nothing but a nightmare': Worker ants are tricked into murdering their mom by an imposter queen — who quickly takes the throne for herself
A sneaky spray of chemicals makes ant workers turn on their own mother — the queen — so a parasitic invader can take over the colony herself.
Medieval Hungarian duke was murdered in a brutal and coordinated attack, forensic analysis reveals
The skeleton of Béla, the Duke of Macsó, shows that he was murdered by three assailants in a bloody and coordinated attack.
Nanotyrannus isn't a 'mini T. Rex' after all — it's a new species, 'dueling dinosaurs' fossil reveals
An argument over whether fossils from several small dinosaurs represent a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex or smaller adults of a separate species may finally be settled.
'An increasing attack on water resources from multiple fronts': Scientists warn 'day zero droughts' could hit before 2030
Three-quarters of the world's drought-prone areas are at risk of extreme water shortages — known as "day zero droughts" — this century, and some could be hit before 2030.
Some naked mole rats are designated toilet cleaners, study suggests
Naked mole rats may have specific roles, such as cleaning the toilet chamber or transporting waste, rather than being generalist helpers. The findings suggest naked-mole-rat colonies are even more complex than we thought.
Iran among 'world's most extreme subsidence hotspots' with some areas sinking up to 1 foot per year, study finds
The extraction of water from aquifers in Iran is causing an area the size of Maryland to sink, exposing an estimated 650,000 people to the risks of subsidence and freshwater depletion.
Gigantic dinosaur with 'claws like hedge trimmers' found with croc leg still in its jaws in Argentina
Speedy megaraptor Joaquinraptor casali had big arms and claws like hedge trimmers that would have made T. rex's forelimbs look puny.
'Rare' ancestor reveals how huge flightless birds made it to faraway lands
The mystery of how related flightless birds ended up so far apart on different continents may have been solved.
Scientists are finally learning what's inside mysterious 'halo' barrels submerged off Los Angeles
At first thought to hold the pesticide DDT, some mysterious barrels dumped in the deep sea near Los Angeles actually contain caustic alkaline waste that stops most life from living nearby.
Return of wolves to Yellowstone has led to a surge in aspen trees unseen for 80 years
Gray wolves were reintroduced in Yellowstone National Park in 1995 to help control the numbers of elk that were eating young trees, and it is finally paying off for quaking aspen.
