Biology

As the mother-of-pearl in the inner layer of the shell forms, initial defects attract and eventually annihilate each other.

Australian scientists measure the gases that two Great Barrier Reef corals emit.

New findings suggest fingerprints and sweat work together in "fight or flight" survival responses.

The armor might help leafcutter ants defend the valuable fungus they grow for food.

The animals have evolved an immune system that doesn’t cause as much inflammation.

Accidents like the Deepwater Horizon spill may hurt the rays’ ability to hunt.

The subterranean rodents have little use for vision, but their magnetic sense tells them which direction is which.

The bright flowerlike symmetry of Australia’s northern jeweled orb-web spider lures in hungry prey.

Alligator blood inhibits a key toxin in the venom of vipers such as rattlesnakes and copperheads.

Study suggests parts of the animals' backs and legs fused together to form wings.

The beetles apparently use their legs to speed up their trip through the frogs' entire digestive system.

Traditional microscopes make it look like sperm tails undulate symmetrically -- but that's an optical illusion.