
Black widow spiders have earned a fearsome reputation for their venomous bite. But in parts of the southern United States these spiders have much to fear themselves—from their brown widow spider relatives who really don’t like their company.
Plants were once thought to only rely on green leaves and photosynthesis. However, some plants, such as the genus Thismia, have abandoned this process and obtain nutrients from other organisms. This unique feature and its complete lack of photosynthesis make the fairy lanterns one of the strangest plants in the world.
A new species of frog from the Andes in Ecuador has been named after J.R.R. Tolkien, the creator of Middle-earth and author of famous works such as “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.” The researchers named the new species Hyloscirtus tolkieni, inspired by the amazing colors of the frog that reminded them of…
The notion that forest trees can communicate, share resources, and even safeguard their seedlings through an underground network of delicate fungal filaments has captured the public’s imagination and earned the moniker “wood-wide web.” However, University of Alberta expert Justine Karst warns that the science behind these ideas is yet to be proven.