All of the saltwater bodies on Earth make up one big ocean. But within it, there is infinite variety – just ask any scuba diver. Some spots have more coral, more sea turtles, more fish, more life. “I’ve been diving in many places around the world, and there are few locations like the Fuvahmulah Atoll […]
As light filtered through a forest in southern India, a “shining blue” creature perched on a leaf to enjoy the sunshine. The colorful animal caught the attention of nearby scientists and turned out to be a new species. Researchers ventured into the Western Ghats mountain range on wildlife surveys in 2008 and 2021, according to […]
Tucked in the treetops of southern Mexico was an “alligator”-like creature. Hidden by the foliage and obscured by the height, the “unusually large” animal had generally avoided detection. When determined scientists eventually found the scaly animal, it turned out to be a new species. The yearslong quest began after some “intriguing photographs emerged” in 2014 […]
In a desert of northwestern India, a “dynamic” predator hunted its prey. Nearby, scientists watched the eight-eyed creature’s attack unfolding and something about the animal caught their attention. Researchers ventured into the Thar Desert in Rajasthan on a wildlife survey in 2022, according to a study published Dec. 21 in the journal Zootaxa. Despite its […]
Oil and gas operators were granted exemptions to drilling restrictions intended to protect an endangered bird species in the plans of eastern New Mexico, causing environmental groups to criticize the federal agency tasked with managing operations on public land. Largely based on timing restrictions, meant to prevent loud noises from fossil fuel machinery during the […]
Editor’s note: A version of this story appeared in CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. The incredible discoveries and scientific feats of 2023 prove just how far curiosity and wonder can take humanity. Archaeological findings allowed researchers to take intriguing steps into the past and reveal […]
Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Nearly 1,000 new species were discovered in 2023 by scientists at London’s Natural History Museum and the California Academy of Sciences, proving that Earth is still home to many unexplored wonders. The discoveries were made during […]
PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) — As native trees in the Pacific Northwest die off due to climate changes, the U.S. Forest Service, Portland, Oregon and citizen groups around Puget Sound are turning to a deceptively simple climate adaptation strategy called “assisted migration.” As the world’s climate warms, tree growing ranges in the Northern Hemisphere are predicted […]
The survival of one owl species hinges on the demise of another. That’s what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service argues in its proposal to allow the agency to shoot hundreds of thousands of barred owls over the next 30 years in West Coast forests. The service says the barred owl, which is not native […]
Scientists identified five new species of soft-furred hedgehogs in Southeast Asia. Two of the species are entirely new to science, while the other three have been upgraded from the subspecies level after DNA analysis and physical characteristics helped researchers from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History describe and categorize the animals. The study, published […]
Scientists have discovered five new species of soft-furred hedgehogs from South East Asia. The revelation required several scientific missions to the animals’ tropical forest home to study them. Researchers also re-evaluated specimens of the mammals which had been in museum collections for decades. This detailed, biological spot-the-difference study revealed that two of the animals in […]
In a plot reminiscent of the fairytale “Goldilocks,” chum salmon are looking for waters that are “just right.” Because of planet overheating, their proverbial perfect porridge is in remote arctic areas previously uncharted by the migrating fish known for their prolific breeding, according to a report from Wired that referred to the new development as […]