Latest articles by Patrick Pester
Parasitic 'horror' wasp that bursts from a fly's abdomen like an 'Alien' xenomorph discovered in Mississippi backyard
Scientists accidentally discover new species of wasp that lays eggs inside living, adult fruit flies, which then burst from the hosts' abdomens while they're still alive.
Sexually frustrated dolphin behind spate of attacks on humans off Japan
A stock image of an Indo-Pacific dolphin swimming (not the individual responsible for the recent attacks).
How to tell you're in love with someone, according to science
Reference Your brain and behaviors tell you you're in love in a variety of ways. Here's 14 signs you've been struck by Cupid.
We now know why tarantulas are hairy — to stop army ants eating them alive
Tarantulas' hairy bodies protect against the scavenging, spider-eating army ants that clean their nests, scientists say.
T. rex relative with giant, protruding eyebrows discovered in Kyrgyzstan
The newly discovered Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus fossils are the first of their kind from Kyrgyzstan and provide evidence of predatory dinosaurs caring for offspring in the Jurassic.
Mice on remote island that eat albatrosses alive sentenced to death by 'bombing,' scientists decree
The wandering albatrosses of Marion Island can't defend themselves against an invasive mice population that devours birds alive, but conservationists say a rodenticide 'bomb' could save them.
Rare 'doomsday fish' said to bring earthquakes spotted in California days before LA quake
Beachgoers found a rare oarfish off California two days before an earthquake, mirroring folklore that says the deep-sea creatures are "doomsday fish."
'Banana apocalypse' could be averted thanks to genetic breakthrough
Fusarium wilt is threatening the global supply of bananas, but researchers might have found a way to control the disease.
What were the first animals to have sex?
Animals have been reproducing sexually for hundreds of millions of years, but not always like we do it.
Group of ancient stars spotted near the sun could rewrite the Milky Way's history
Researchers using the Gaia space telescope studied some ancient stars near the sun, revealing that our corner of the Milky Way may be billions of years older than once thought.
Meet 'small diver': One of the tiniest penguins ever discovered
A tiny extinct penguin from New Zealand is key to understanding penguin wing evolution, researchers say.
Minerals evolve under pressure in the same way life does, researchers find
Researchers say they've discovered evidence for the recently proposed 'law of increasing functional information' by proving that minerals evolve as life does.
Heavy rains expose one of the oldest dinosaur skeletons ever discovered, researchers claim
Researchers say they've recovered one of the world's oldest known dinosaurs after heavy rains exposed a Herrerasaurid skeleton in southern Brazil.
Continental collision 2.1 billion years ago may have sparked '1st attempt' at complex life on Earth
Researchers have laid out the case for complex life evolving 2.1 billion years ago, but not everyone is convinced it started so early.
'My jaw just dropped': 500 million-year-old larva fossil found with brain preserved
The newly discovered Youti yuanshi larva fossil is so well-preserved that it provides a road map for arthropod evolution during the Cambrian period.
Human origins tied to ancient jawless blood-sucking fish
Researchers have traced cell origins critical to vertebrate evolution by studying a group of primitive, bloodsucking fish called lampreys.
What's the most dangerous sport in the world?
It's hard to compare sports head-to-head, but some stand out in terms of their risk of causing injury or death.
'Wall of flames' from out-of-control Canadian wildfire devastates town of Jasper and national park
Firefighters are battling a 'monster' wildfire in the evacuated town of Jasper and Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada.
Spectacularly rare fossils of snakes that died huddled together 38 million years ago unearthed in Wyoming
Three fossilized snakes that died huddled together 38 million years ago are now called the "winter serpents."
There's a 2nd El Niño — and scientists just figured out how it works
A new simulation shows that an El Niño-like climate pattern begins near New Zealand and Australia, and can trigger temperature changes across the Southern Hemisphere.
How many animal species have humans driven to extinction?
Animals are disappearing too fast for researchers to record all of the extinctions we've caused.
Cottonmouth snakes: Facts about water moccasins
Cottonmouth snakes, also known as water moccasins, are venomous snakes found throughout the southeastern U.S. that can be identified by the white color in their mouths.
AI is rapidly identifying new species. Can we trust the results?
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the way scientists monitor wildlife and find new species, but how effective are these new systems?
