Weird News
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The Battle to Be King of the Lumberjacks
July 21, 2014
In a hail of wood chips and sawdust, beefy woodsmen at the U.S. lumberjacking championships show that experience matters in the "original extreme sport."
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Q&A: The First-Ever Expedition to Turkmenistan's "Door to Hell"
July 16, 2014
Go along with explorer George Kourounis as he becomes the first person known to venture into Turkmenistan's fiery, gas-fueled Darvaza Crater.
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Amazing Video: Inside the World's Largest Gathering of Snakes
June 26, 2014
National Geographic photographer Paul Colangelo recently photographed the world's largest gathering of snakes-and emerged with a renewed appreciation for reptiles.
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Strange Findings on Comb Jellies Uproot Animal Family Tree
May 21, 2014
<p dir="ltr">Comb jellies rely on a "completely different chemical language" than all other animals, meaning their lineage may have diverged first.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
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11 Museum Surprises: Rediscovered Treasures, from a Celtic Brooch to an Early Hitchcock Film
March 28, 2014
Valuable artifacts, documents, and art were mislabeled, mislaid, or ignored-some for many decades.<p> </p><p> </p>
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How Finding Debris Could Quickly Solve Mystery of Malaysian Airlines Flight
March 15, 2014
After a long search for Flight 370 answers could come quickly. Here's how.
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Why Pi Deserves Its Own Day (and How It Can Help You Find the Best Pizza Deal)
March 14, 2014
Maybe you met pi in grade school. Maybe you didn't appreciate it. The magical, practical number that goes on forever and forever is celebrated on the day that matches its first digits: 3/14.
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The Flattest U.S. States? Not What You Think
March 14, 2014
Kansas is not as flat as a pancake, despite common perceptions.
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Why Do 16th-Century Manuscripts Show Cats With Flaming Backpacks?
March 10, 2014
Illustrations in 16th-century artillery manuals show how to use cats to attack a city.
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California Couple Strike Gold and Find $10 Million in Coins
February 26, 2014
A California couple, walking their dog, found a buried cache of rare gold coins worth $10 million.
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Surviving More Than a Year Adrift at Sea Is Possible, With a Little Luck
February 3, 2014
It's possible to survive being adrift at sea for more than a year, as a fisherman claims he did.
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Nazi Scientists May Have Plotted Malaria Mosquito Warfare
January 29, 2014
Nazi scientists studied spreading mosquito-borne malaria as a biological weapon of war, concentration camp records suggest.
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3 Winter Words You Should Know
January 23, 2014
Bombogenesis and other weather words are enjoying a day in the sun, going from meteorological circles to the general public via social media.
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ESP Is Put to the Test—Can You Foretell the Results?
January 21, 2014
Researchers at the University of Melbourne, Australia, debunk ESP.
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Wacky Old Texas Laws: Guess Which of These 4 Are Real
January 17, 2014
Can you tell the difference between a Texas state law and a myth?
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160-Foot Giant Squid Hoax: How Big Do They Really Get?
January 10, 2014
A fake picture of a 160-foot-long giant squid has made the social media rounds. What happened? And how big do giant squid really get?
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Nature Glows With Neon Animals and Plants
November 8, 2013
Halloween might be over, but don't put away your glow sticks just yet—nature's having a glow-in-the-dark party.
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Is the Abominable Snowman a Bear?
October 21, 2013
An ancient bear species that has survived to the modern day could help explain some sightings of the legendary creature.
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Cockroaches Have Neighborhoods, Too
October 7, 2013
A researcher shares what he's learned from studying New York's cockroaches—and what they have in common with humans.
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World's Biggest Hornet Kills
October 4, 2013
The Asian giant hornet is wreaking havoc in northwestern China, where 42 people have died after being swarmed and stung.
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Unusual Pictures: "Calcified" Birds, Bats Found at African Lake
October 3, 2013
Dead bats and birds preserved by a salty lake in Tanzania have been brought back to life in a photographic series.
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Why Does This Man Have a Nose on His Forehead?
September 28, 2013
A nose growing from a forehead. An ear sprouting on an arm. These startling images represent a revolutionary approach to surgical reconstruction.
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Superstitious Numbers Around the World
September 13, 2013
Depending on what country you are in, different superstitions may exist for numbers other than unlucky 13.
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2013 Ig Nobels Honor Research on Beer Goggles, Cows Ready to Be Tipped
September 13, 2013
Opera's healing power, beer's magical mirror trick, and cows that won't lie down are among the incredible scientific advances honored this week with Ig Nobel Prizes.
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How Sunlight Reflected Off a Building Can Melt Objects
September 4, 2013
How Sunlight Reflected Off a Building Can Melt Objects
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Can Dung Beetles Battle Global Warming?
September 4, 2013
The poo-loving dung beetle might just be a weapon in the battle against global warming, a new study says.
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Five Incredible—and Real—Mind Control Applications
August 29, 2013
Five Incredible—and Real—Mind Control Applications
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What's a Tibetan Mastiff? Explaining Dog Posed as Lion
August 16, 2013
Get the facts about the Tibetan mastiff, the large dog that a Chinese zoo recently passed off as an African lion.
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Why Sinkholes Open Up
August 12, 2013
National Geographic sits down with an expert to discuss why sinkholes open up and which areas are more at risk than others.
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Can Dogs Feel Our Emotions? Yawn Study Suggests Yes
August 8, 2013
Pet dogs yawn more in response to their owners' yawns than to strangers'—suggesting they can understand our emotions, a new study says.
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The Kids Are Alright: Goats That Double as Lawnmowers
August 8, 2013
Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C., recently rented 58 goats to eat invasive plant species.
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Subway Shark One of Many Exotic NYC Animals
August 8, 2013
Subway shark joins the ranks of parakeets, bats, coyotes, and other weird critters that have visited the Big Apple.
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From Darth Vader to Jelly Doughnuts, Weird Species Names Abound
August 8, 2013
Researchers sometimes turn to celebrities and pop culture for naming inspiration for new species, from Darth Vader to Beyoncé, Barack Obama, and beyond.
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World's Loudest Animals—"Power Saw" Cricket, More
August 7, 2013
A bug with a "singing" penis, a cricket with a "power saw" chirp, and a snapping shrimp—which is the loudest?
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The Real Megalodon: Prehistoric Shark Behind Doc Uproar
August 7, 2013
A "dramatized" documentary about megalodon has inspired public fear and annoyance. Here are the facts about the prehistoric shark.
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Dolphins Have Longest Memories in Animal Kingdom
August 6, 2013
The marine mammals can remember their buddies' calls after 20 years apart-the longest memory in the animal kingdom, a new study says.
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Will Your Next Burger Come From a Petri Dish?
August 6, 2013
Will Your Next Burger Come From a Petri Dish?
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Excuse Me, Who Am I?
July 31, 2013
When a California man began speaking only Swedish, experts struggled to figure out why. Diagnosis: a rare form of amnesia that can be caused by stress.
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Dune May Doom "Star Wars" Set
July 24, 2013
Scientists say a fast-moving sand dune will soon bury a set built for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace in the Tunisian desert.
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Dolphins Have "Names," Respond When Called
July 22, 2013
Dolphins respond to recordings of their own whistles—suggesting they use names to communicate in the wild, a new study says.
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7 of the World's Longest-Running Experiments
July 19, 2013
7 of the World's Longest-Running Experiments
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Robot Revolution? Scientists Teach Robots to Learn
July 18, 2013
For robots to really help humans, they'll need to learn more like we do. Here's how it's happening.
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“Stubborn” Corpse Flower Still Hasn’t Bloomed
July 18, 2013
The U.S. Botanic Garden's famous corpse flower still hasn't bloomed, and visitors are getting anxious.
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A Rare Look at an Iridescent Cloud
July 18, 2013
Iridescent clouds are a beautiful phenomenon-but they're rarely seen and even less frequently photographed.
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Giant Panda Twins Born: What Challenges Do They Face?
July 17, 2013
Giant Panda Twins Born: What Challenges Do They Face?
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Archaeologists Suspect Vampire Burial; An Undead Primer
July 15, 2013
Archaeologists have uncovered a burial site in Poland thought to be the grave of accused vampires.
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Stop and Smell the Corpse Flower
July 15, 2013
The corpse flower is about to bloom at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. Visitors can't wait to catch a whiff.
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Crickets Act Differently When Others Are Watching
July 9, 2013
Crickets play to an audience, changing their behavior when they know others are watching, a new study says.
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Europe's Largest Glacier Comes to New York
June 29, 2013
Artist Olafur Eliasson has turned an Icelandic glacier into an art exhibit to give visitors a closer look at climate change.
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U.S. Pet Poll: Most Prefer Dogs, 18 Percent Want Dinosaur
June 19, 2013
Americans love their pets, and a new poll shows just how much we dote on our animals and reveals some interesting views on animals.
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Albino Gorilla Was Result of Inbreeding
June 18, 2013
A recently mapped genome of the famous albino gorilla Snowflake shows he was born to an uncle and a niece, a new study says.
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A New Feet in Primate Research
June 6, 2013
Researchers have discovered human foot movement previously observed only among apes.
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Can an Airplane Door Open in Midflight?
May 28, 2013
A passenger tried to open a jet's door in flight. A pilot ejected from his falling plane. We asked an expert for insights into these incidents.
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Cicada Recipes: Bugs Are Low-Carb, Gluten-Free Food
May 15, 2013
Cicadas bugging you? See our recipe ideas for the low-fat critters, including the new candied cicada cocktail.
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U.N. Urges Eating Insects; 8 Popular Bugs to Try
May 14, 2013
From beetles to butterflies and from ants to stinkbugs, people in dozens of countries regularly eat insects. Here are the most popular types of edible critters.
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Why Animals "Adopt" Others, Including Different Species
May 10, 2013
From a deformed dolphin taken in by sperm whales to a dog nursing a squirrel—learn why animals sometimes take care of others.
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A Recent History of Diamond Heists
May 9, 2013
Jewelry heists happen surprisingly often. What's less common is that the perpetrators get caught.
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The Literal Truth About The Word "Literally"
May 7, 2013
Grammarians are upset about Google’s definition of the word ‘literally,’ which is listed as something not so literal. But this informal definition dates back over 200 years.
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Bat's Super-Long Tongue Powered by Blood (With Video)
May 6, 2013
High-speed video shows for the first time how hairs on a bat's tongue stand erect, allowing the animal to mop up nectar.
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Iranian Scientist Claims to Have Built ‘Time Machine'
April 12, 2013
An Iranian inventor claims to have built a time machine that can predict a person's future.
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You Never Know What You'll Find Under a Parking Lot
April 11, 2013
When digging starts at a construction site, it may uncover unexpected treasures: ancient temples, headless Vikings, even a few new whale species.
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Fact Checking 6 Persistent Science Conspiracy Theories
April 4, 2013
A new national poll finds that many Americans still believe conspiracy theories that can be easily debunked by science.
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Elephant Bird Egg Auction Inspires a Hunt
April 1, 2013
An auction at Christie's inspires another kind of egg hunt as a writer goes looking for National Geographic's elephant bird egg.
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Europe’s Horse Meat Scandal Escalates, Investigations Ensue
February 22, 2013
The food scandal shaking Europe escalates as authorities hunt for the culprit.
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In Need of "Sausage and Mash"? Visit an East London ATM
February 14, 2013
In need of "bread and honey" in East London? Head to a cash machine and brush up on your Cockney rhyming slang.
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Moles Smell in Stereo to Find Food, Dodge Predators
February 4, 2013
Though nearly blind, the common mole uses its nostrils independently to find food and dodge predators, a new study suggests.
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"Fantastic" New Flying Frog Found—Has Flappy Forearms
January 14, 2013
A huge new flying frog with big webbed feet and flappy forearms has been discovered near Ho Chi Minh City, a new study says.
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How "Cheating" Slime Mold Escapes Death
January 10, 2013
Cheaters do prosper—at least if you're a slime mold, a new study says.
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Albino-like Bald Eagle Spotted in Washington State
January 9, 2013
Talk about an odd bird—a bald eagle with white spots has been spotted in Washington State.
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How Fish Evolved to Climb Waterfalls With Their Mouths
January 7, 2013
A Hawaiian fish that inches up sheer rock faces uses the same movements to eat, a new study says.
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The Bloody Truth About Serbia's Vampire
December 17, 2012
Vampire experts explain why the legend of the vampire never dies.
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Meet Migaloo, World's First "Archaeology Dog"
December 10, 2012
An Australian dog specially trained to locate buried human bones by scent could aid archaeologists.
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Best News Pictures of 2012: Nat Geo News's Most Popular
December 7, 2012
A real-life "vampire," a spider swarm, and miniature chameleons are featured in the most popular news galleries of 2012.
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Top Ten Discoveries of 2012: Nat Geo News's Most Popular
December 3, 2012
The biggest crocodile and the God particle are featured in National Geographic News's most visited coverage of 2012 discoveries.
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World's Leggiest Animal Found Near Silicon Valley
November 14, 2012
Long thought extinct, a 750-limbed creature has been found near Silicon Valley—and this millipede's got claws and even its own "clothing."
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What Lives in Your Belly Button? Study Finds "Rain Forest" of Species
November 14, 2012
A "rain forest" of species thrive in our navels, a new study finds. Don't be alarmed, though—says one researcher, "It's quite beautiful."
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Ancient Roman Giant Found—Oldest Complete Skeleton With Gigantism
November 9, 2012
It's no tall tale—the first complete ancient skeleton of a person with gigantism has been discovered near Rome, a new study says.
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Elephant "Speaks" Like a Human—Uses Trunk to Shape Sound
November 2, 2012
Koshik the Korean-speaking elephant can say good, hello, no, and sit down—a novel discovery, new research shows.
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After Sandy's New York Deluge, a Flood of Rats?
October 31, 2012
In the wake of superstorm Sandy, thousands of the rodents have been driven from flooded subway tunnels.
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Squirrel Birth Control: To Stop Invasion, Science Gets Seedy
October 24, 2012
Offering squirrels drug-laced sunflower seeds may lower the rodents' booming numbers—while turning their bellies pink.
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"Talking" Whale Could Imitate Human Voice
October 22, 2012
Birds aren't the only animals that impersonate people—a captive beluga whale learned to mimic humans, a new study suggests. Listen for yourself.
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Guess Who's Eating Dirt: Surprising Number of Men Found Practicing Pica
October 19, 2012
Usually associated with pregnancy, the eating of nonfoods like soil and chalk seems to be surprisingly common among men in Madagascar.
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Singing Mice Learn New Tunes
October 17, 2012
Not only can male mice sing, they can learn to change the notes they produce in their songs, a new study says.
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Turtles Urinate via Their Mouths—A First
October 12, 2012
A species of soft-shelled turtle in China pees through its mouth—the first evidence of an animal doing so.
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Pictures: Colored Honey Made by Candy-Eating French Bees
October 11, 2012
Mysterious blue and green honey comes from honeybees feeding off remnants of M&M candy shells.
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Slime Has Memory but No Brain
October 8, 2012
Slime molds have evolved a way of remembering where they've been. Quips one scientist: "I, for one, welcome our new gelatinous overlords."
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New Fanged Dwarf Dinosaur Found—"Would Be Nice Pet"
October 3, 2012
A new, tiny dinosaur likely used its self-sharpening teeth against competitors, not prey, a new study suggests
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Pictures: Vampire Squid's Surprising Diet Revealed
September 29, 2012
Despite its bloodthirsty name and looks, the "vampire squid from hell" turns out to be the only known nonpredatory squid, a new study says.
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Tentacled, Carnivorous Plants Catapult Prey Into Traps
September 27, 2012
A carnivorous plant in Australia has special tentacles that fling prey into its sticky trap, a new study shows for the first time.
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"Virgin Birth" Seen in Wild Snakes, Even When Males Are Available
September 14, 2012
Who needs males? Even with potential fathers afoot—er, a-slither—vipers reproduce asexually, and surprisingly frequently, study says.
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"Zombie" Bees Electronically Enhanced to Help Solve Die-Off Mystery
September 12, 2012
To learn more about a bizarre, zombie-like behavior in honeybees, researchers are tagging the "zombees" with radio trackers.
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Could Cyborg Cockroaches Save Your Life?
September 7, 2012
Electrode-implanted bugs can now be "driven" with surprising precision (see video), which may make them futuristic first responders.
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Venus the Two-Faced Cat Still a Mystery
August 31, 2012
Just how Venus the cat—whose face is divided in two colors—got such a striking coloration is still a mystery, an expert says.
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What's Ambergris? Behind the $60k Whale-Waste Find
August 30, 2012
A beachcombing U.K. boy just stumbled upon a chunk of ambergris possibly worth up to $63,000. So what exactly is it, and why is it worth so much?
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Glowing Cockroach Mimics Toxic Beetle
August 30, 2012
A species of cockroach glows green to trick predators into thinking it's the toxic click beetle, a new study says.
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New Genitalia-Headed Fish Is Evolutionary Mystery
August 27, 2012
It's a mystery just how the fish's reproductive organs ended up front and center, a new study says.
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Deep-Sea, Shrimp-like Creatures Survive by Eating Wood
August 27, 2012
Deep-sea, shrimp-like crustaceans caught in the Mariana Trench get big by eating sunken wood, a new study says.
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Virus That Twists Snakes Into Knots Revealed
August 22, 2012
A new study has found the cause of a mysterious disease that makes snakes tie themselves in knots and waste away.
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Biggest Burmese Python Found in Florida—17.7 Feet, 87 Eggs
August 14, 2012
"Monstrous," egg-stuffed 17.7-footer suggests Florida life is "perfect" for the invasive snake species, experts say.
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Pictures: Death-Cult Mummies Inspired by Desert Conditions?
August 13, 2012
Surrounded by naturally preserved corpses, a South American people may have been inspired to make their own elaborate mummies, a new study says.
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Cloned Horses Coming to the Olympics?
August 3, 2012
It's too late for London, but genetic copies are now cleared to competing in the Olympics. Could we be seeing double at the 2020 games?
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Ancient Olympics Had "Spectacular" Opening Ceremony, Pagan Partying
July 27, 2012
Beyond sheer, naked athleticism, the Greek games were a "total pagan entertainment package"—prostitution, sacrifices, and even doping.
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Pictures: Toothless "Vampire" Skeleton Unearthed in Bulgaria
July 24, 2012
With a rod through its ribs and its teeth pulled—just to be safe—a 700-year-old suspected vampire has escaped the crypt in Bulgaria.
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Friday the 13th: Why We Fear It; Why It Can't Strike Again in 2012
July 13, 2012
The third Friday the 13th of the year—the most possible—is falling hard on triskaidekaphobes. Find out why it can't strike again in 2012.
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"Unusual" Pictures: Lions vs. Hippo
July 10, 2012
Newly released pictures show lions attacking and killing a young hippo in South Africa—a rarity, experts say.
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Arsenic-Life Discovery Debunked—But "Alien" Organism Still Odd
July 9, 2012
An organism that appeared to have rewritten the laws of life has been brought down to Earth by two new studies.
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Giant Crocodile Breaks Size Record—Suspected in Fatal Attacks
July 2, 2012
A saltwater crocodile captured last year in the Philippines is the largest in captivity, the Guinness World Records announced recently.
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World's Ugliest Dog: The Evolution of Mugly's Frightful Features
June 28, 2012
How did Mugly—newly crowned king of unsightly canines—get so ugly? Scientists untangle the roots of hairless breeds.
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Human Ancestors Ate Bark—Food in Teeth Hints at Chimplike Origins
June 27, 2012
Food stuck in prehistoric teeth suggest some of our forebears ate—and lived—a bit more like chimps than expected, a new study says.
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World's Oldest Purse Found—Studded With a Hundred Dog Teeth?
June 27, 2012
Studded with a hundred Stone Age dog teeth, the world's oldest purse may have been found in Germany.
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Photos: "Snubby" Monkey, Hula Frog Among New Most At-Risk Species
June 26, 2012
A sneezing monkey, an Amazon antbird, and a hula frog are among the species newly listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.
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Mating Turtles Fossilized in the Act
June 21, 2012
The first known fossils of copulating vertebrates may solve poisonous paleontology mystery: What killed the creatures of Messel Pit?
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Pictures: Odd Deep-Sea Creatures Found at Volcanoes, Canyons
June 13, 2012
Squat lobsters, "hairy" crabs, and "Mickey Mouse" squid are among animals spotted during a recent survey of underwater volcanoes and canyons.
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Super-tongue Bat Caught on Camera (With Video)
June 11, 2012
For the first time, a rare bat with a tongue longer than its body has been filmed in high definition. With video.
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Giant Bugs Eaten Out of Existence by First Birds?
June 4, 2012
Entomophobes rejoice! Prehistory's biggest insects were likely easy prey to dinosaur-era birds, a new study says.
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Paralyzed Rats Walk Again, Thanks to Electricity, Chemicals—And Chocolate
May 31, 2012
With help from electricity, chemicals, and chocolate, the rats' severely injured spinal cords recovered—a first that might help humans.
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Top Ten New Species: Snub-Nosed Monkey, Devil Worm, More
May 29, 2012
The biggest millipede and a Spongebob mushroom are among the ten most bizarre species of 2011, according to Arizona State University.
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Evolutionary Flop: Early 4-Footed Land Animal Was No Walker?
May 23, 2012
New 3-D models suggest that what's been seen as one of Earth's first land walkers was actually more of a flopper.
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Photos: Volcanic Vents, Crawling With Creatures, Found in Mexico Sea
May 23, 2012
Crawling with tube worms and crabs, the hydrothermal vents are the first found in the Gulf of California, scientists report.
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"Zombie Ant" Fungus Under Attack—By Another Fungus
May 4, 2012
Besieged by a fungus that takes over their brains then erupts from their heads, rain forest ants have an unlikely ally—another fungus.
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Glowing Pygmy Shark Lights Up to Fade Away
April 30, 2012
In what may sound like soggy logic, the smalleye pygmy shark hides in the dark by lighting up, a new study says.
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White Killer Whale Spotted—Only One in the World?
April 25, 2012
Iceberg the Orca may be the only known all-white adult killer whale, and his strange skin color remains a mystery.
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April Fools' Day: Why Is It Prime Time for Pranks?
March 29, 2012
Plumb the murky origins of April Fools' Day—and find out how straight-faced scientific research can be sillier than the wackiest pranks.
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Bizarre "King of Wasps" Found in Indonesia
March 27, 2012
Males of the venomous wasps have large, spiked jaws, perhaps to protect young, a new study says.
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Pictures: Glowing Blue Waves Explained
March 19, 2012
Glittering or flashing seas have long been linked to marine microbes—and now scientists think they know how the life-forms create light.
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Spiny, Venomous New Sea Snake Discovered—"Something Special"
March 2, 2012
Mysteriously covered in spiny scales, the snake was hauled from risky seas: "The only question is which animal would kill us."
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Leap Year 2012: Why We Need February 29
February 29, 2012
Find out why we need February 29, when leap day was adopted, and how cultures with other systems for tracking time handle their calendars.
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Giant Prehistoric Penguins Revealed: Big but Skinny
February 27, 2012
Scientists finally have the skinny on two extinct species of tall, "svelte" penguins that lived in New Zealand, a new study says.
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Strange New Leaf-Nosed Bat Found in Vietnam
February 24, 2012
Despite an onslaught of leeches, scientists have uncovered a new bat species whose face bristles with leaf-like protrusions.
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Pictures: New Amphibians Without Arms or Legs Discovered
February 21, 2012
They aren't worms or even snakes. They're burrowing, limbless amphibians, and they're completely new to science, a new study suggests.
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Mummy Pictures: Secrets of Stunning 19th-Century Heads Revealed
February 17, 2012
Their heads may be peeled like onions, and they may be 150 years old, but these Italian mummies are oddly lifelike. Now we know why.
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Why Some Poison Frogs Taste Bittersweet When Licked
February 17, 2012
It's a discovery perhaps only a frog-licking scientist could make: Toxic frogs secrete sugars and bile acids in addition to their poisons.
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Pictures: Miniature Chameleons Discovered—Fit on Match Tip
February 15, 2012
Four new chameleon species found in Madagascar—some tiny enough to fit on a match tip—are among the smallest known reptiles.
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Pictures: Shark Swallows Another Shark Whole
February 13, 2012
Divers on Australia's Great Barrier Reef recently snapped rare pictures of a wobbegong, or carpet shark, swallowing a bamboo shark whole.
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Pictures: Bird Mummies "Fed" After Death, Stuffed With Snails
February 7, 2012
Some of the millions of ancient Egyptian ibis mummies were "fed" after death, scans reveal—the better to live the afterlife.
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Rare Pictures: Scott's South Pole Expedition, 100 Years Later
January 17, 2012
A century after British explorer Robert Scott reached the South Pole, "incredibly rich," rarely seen pictures give an inside look at the ill-fated expedition.
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"White," Albino-like Penguin Found in Antarctica
January 12, 2012
Spotted by tourists in Antarctica, the rare bird has a genetic mutation that dilutes feather pigments.
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World's Smallest Frog Found—Fly-Size Beast Is Tiniest Vertebrate
January 11, 2012
No bigger than a housefly, the new species is the smallest known animal with a backbone, a new study says.
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Worm-Eating Plant Found—Kills via Underground Leaves
January 10, 2012
A Brazilian plant uses sticky underground leaves to trap roundworms, a new study says.
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"Virgin Birth" Record Broken by Hotel Shark
January 6, 2012
A zebra shark at the "world's most luxurious hotel" has experienced four straight years of reproductive success—no male required.
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Fish Mimics Octopus That Mimics Fish
January 5, 2012
For the first time, a jawfish has been caught one-upping a marine master of disguise (with video).
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Deep-Voiced Men Have Lower Sperm Counts, Study Says
January 5, 2012
The deep timbre of a male voice may sound attractive, but low-voiced men actually tend to have lower sperm counts, a new study says.
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Nuclear-Resort Pictures: Come for the Reactor, Stay for the Beach
January 5, 2012
A new Philippine destination has something for everyone: beach, karaoke, wildlife—and a real nuclear power plant (uranium not included).
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2012 Pictures: 6 Maya Apocalypse Myths Debunked
January 3, 2012
See six good reasons why the world (probably) won't end in the new year, despite supposed warnings in the Maya calendar.
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Hybrid Silkworms Spin Spider Silk—A First
January 3, 2012
Strong hybrid silk may someday be used to make parachutes and artificial limbs, a new study says.
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Evolution of Angels: From Disembodied Minds to Winged Guardians
December 23, 2011
From disembodied minds to winged guardians, heavenly messengers haven't always looked like the familiar Christmas tree toppers.
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Small Spiders Have Big Brains That Spill Into Their Legs
December 16, 2011
Tiny spiders have such huge brains for their body sizes that the organs can spill into the animals' body cavities, a new study shows.
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Walking Began Underwater, Strolling-Fish Discovery Suggests
December 13, 2011
Look Ma, no feet! The first walkers may well have been full-on fish, say experts who've seen a prehistoric-like fish walk underwater.
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People Can Hallucinate Color at Will
December 7, 2011
People can hallucinate color just with the power of suggestion, a finding that may help those fearful of hypnosis therapy, a new study says.
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"Yeti" Crabs Farm Food on Own Claws—A First
December 2, 2011
The deep-sea crabs farm bacteria on their furry arms as the crustaceans' main sources of food, scientists have discovered.
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Sex With Humans Made Neanderthals Extinct?
November 25, 2011
Fleeing advancing ice, Neanderthals increasingly encountered modern humans—and interbred to the point of extinction, a new study suggests.
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Why Does Evolution Allow Some People to Taste Words?
November 23, 2011
The neural tangling known as synesthesia may have survived evolution because it offers benefits in creative thinking, a new study hints.
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New "Albino" Spider Found in Australia
November 8, 2011
A new species of spider with an unusual white head has shocked scientists in Australia.
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Pictures We Love: Best of October
October 31, 2011
See National Geographic photo editors' favorite news pictures of the month—a lightning-filled eruption, a bubbly beluga, and more.
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Halloween 2012: Top Costumes, History, Myths, More
October 28, 2011
Get the facts on Halloween 2012's most popular costumes, record-breaking pumpkins, and more in our Halloween roundup.
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Python Hearts Double in Size—Now We Know Why
October 27, 2011
High levels of fats in the snakes' blood balloons their organs after breaking a long fast, experiments show.
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Halloween Pictures: 9 Spooky New Species Found This Year
October 27, 2011
From a Beelzebub bat to a vampire flying frog-see Halloween-worthy species that crept from the shadows into the scientific limelight.
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Male Spiders Give "Back Rubs" to Seduce Their Mates
October 18, 2011
When a male <em>Nephila pilipes</em> wants to get busy without getting eaten, he gives his mate a massage, new research shows.
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How Do Giant Pandas Survive on Bamboo Diets?
October 17, 2011
Panda poop has offered scientists clues to how the iconic bears keep high-fiber diets when they have the guts of carnivores.
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Pictures: Rare "Cyclops" Shark Found
October 13, 2011
A one-eyed fetus whose mother was caught by a fisher is one of only a few sharks with a documented case of cyclopia, new research says.
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Spawn of Medieval "Black Death" Bug Still Roam the Earth
October 12, 2011
Modern plague bacteria are still basically the same as the bug that caused the Black Death in medieval Europe, a new DNA study shows.
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Piranhas Bark—Three Fierce Vocalizations Deciphered
October 12, 2011
The fierce fish can be excellent communicators, though their "talk" ranges from "go away" to "no, really, go away," experts have found.
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Kraken Sea Monster Account "Bizarre and Miraculous"
October 11, 2011
An artistic kraken—a giant squid-like sea monster—is said to be behind a fossil graveyard. Critics call the find "fun" but "implausible."
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Pictures: First Quadruple Rainbow Ever Caught on Camera
October 7, 2011
Rescued from the realms of theory and myth, triple and quadruple rainbows have been caught on camera for the first time.
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Pictures: Best Micro-Photos of 2011
October 6, 2011
From mini insect "monsters" to solar cells-turned-abstract art—see the best microphotos chosen in the annual Small World photo competition.
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Secrets of Smell: Different Nose Parts for Stinky, Sweet
October 3, 2011
Receptors in human noses are grouped to help the brain discern good smells from bad ones, an "exciting, disturbing" study suggests.
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Pictures We Love: Best of September
September 30, 2011
See National Geographic photo editors' favorite news pictures of the month--a tool-using octopus, a giant typhoon wave, and more.
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Ig Nobel Prizes Honor Wasabi Alarm, Odd Beetle Sex, More
September 30, 2011
Wasabi as a wake-up call, beetles that mistook bottles for mates, and failed doomsday prophets were among this year's research honorees.
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New Life-Forms Found at Bottom of Dead Sea
September 27, 2011
New life-forms have been found living in freshwater springs at the otherwise barren bottom of the Dead Sea, new research shows.
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Particles Moved Faster Than Speed of Light?
September 23, 2011
A claim that neutrinos traveled faster than light would be revolutionary if true, but "I would bet against it," physicist says.
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Squid Males "Bisexual"—Evolved Shot-in-the-Dark Mating Strategy
September 20, 2011
In the dark ocean depths, male squid looking for "love" will mate with other males just as much as with females, a new study says.
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Space Debris: Five Unexpected Objects That Fell to Earth
September 9, 2011
As NASA eyes a 6.5-ton satellite due to fall from orbit, get a roundup of notable objects that previously made it back to Earth.
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How "Zombie" Virus Liquifies Caterpillar Hosts
September 8, 2011
Scientists have identified a single gene that helps a caterpillar-brainwashing virus do its dirty work, a new study says.
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Pictures: Biggest Crocodile Ever Caught?
September 6, 2011
An allegedly 21-foot saltwater crocodile captured alive in the Philippines could be the biggest known croc—but some experts are skeptical.
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Pictures We Love: Best of August
September 1, 2011
See National Geographic photo editors' favorite news pictures of the month—an invisible man, sardine "storm," Swiss daredevil, and more.
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Cloned Fathers Mate With Insect Daughters—From Inside
August 17, 2011
Insect females have begun developing internal clones of their fathers, which fertilize the females eggs—which could end males altogether.
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Small Squid Have Bigger Sperm—And Their Own Sex Position
August 12, 2011
"Sneaker" males' sperm has evolved for a second female reproductive reservoir, reserved just for them, a new study says.
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"Sea Monster" Fetus Found—Proof Plesiosaurs Had Live Young?
August 11, 2011
Like most mammals, giant, dinosaur-era marine reptiles gave birth to live young, a new fossil study hints. But did the monsters mother?
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Other Universes Finally Detectable?
August 9, 2011
A new method for detecting bruises from collisions with other cosmoses could "forever change how we view our own universe," experts say.
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Why Giant Bugs Once Roamed the Earth
August 8, 2011
Dragonflies the size of modern birds ruled 300 million years ago because smaller larvae were at risk of oxygen toxicity, a new study hints.
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Major Deep-Sea Smokers Found—"Evolution in Overdrive"
August 8, 2011
A hotbed of "evolution in overdrive" the newfound volcanic vent field, which teems with odd animals, is a North Atlantic first.
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Vampire Bats Have Vein Sensors
August 3, 2011
Here's a finding that might make your blood run cold—vampire bats have specially evolved nerves that can sense the heat of your veins.
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Parasite Creating Deformed Frogs in Western U.S.
August 3, 2011
Amphibians with "sick and twisted" deformities remain widespread in the U.S. West, and pollution may be making it worse, new research says.
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Spiky Rat Uses Plant Poison to Turn Its Hair Deadly
August 3, 2011
An African rat chews poison bark, then wears the deadly drool—making the rodent the first animal known to apply external lethal poison.
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Pictures We Love: Best of July
July 28, 2011
Slimy seas, stormy skies, a bull's ear—National Geographic photo editors eye the month's best new pictures and find ten favorites.
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Secrets of Giant Cloud Holes Revealed
June 30, 2011
Mysterious cloud formations made by aircraft may owe their huge sizes to a little bit of heat, a new study suggests.
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"Exceptional" Giant Squid Found Dying off Florida
June 30, 2011
A stirring, intact giant squid gave a fishing party a shock this week—and could give researchers new insights, scientists say.
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Hybrid Cuban-American Crocodiles on the Rise
June 24, 2011
There's a new Cuban crisis—the island country's rare crocodile is being bred out of existence by its American cousin, a new study says.
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Pictures: First True Cocaine Submarine
June 24, 2011
See the first fully submersible drug sub captured by the U.S. in Colombia—a swamp-built vehicle that can carry six underwater for a week.
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Sacks of Human Waste Reveal Secrets of Ancient Rome
June 23, 2011
A giant "septic tank" in volcano-smothered Herculaneum held clues to everyday Roman existence, including—not surprisingly—what they ate.
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Sawfish Snout Has Sixth Sense, Splits Prey in Half
June 15, 2011
Sawfish use a sixth sense based in their snouts to hunt and dismember their prey, new research shows for the first time.
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Sleep Preferences Predict Baseball Success, Study Says
June 15, 2011
What times major league baseball players hit the hay can predict when they'll hit it out of the park, new research shows.
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Pictures: Nat Geo Picks of the Week
June 10, 2011
See National Geographic photo editors' favorite news pictures of the week, including a cross-eyed opossum, an epic ashfall, and more.
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Why Skunks Have Stripes: To Point to Fierce Anal Glands?
June 1, 2011
Some mammals' stripes may direct predators' eyes straight to sources of danger—such as fierce anal glands or sharp teeth—a new study says.
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New "Devil Worm" Is Deepest-Living Animal
June 1, 2011
Found miles under the Earth, a newfound worm species is the deepest-dwelling animal yet discovered, a new study says.
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Photos: Shape-Shifting Cuttlefish Can Mimic Pictures
June 1, 2011
Cuttlefish use visual cues to rearrange their bodies for maximum camouflage, a new study confirms.
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3-Foot "Shrimp" Discovered—Dominated Prehistoric Seas
May 27, 2011
By far the largest ever found of its kind, the spiny fossil predator "would have made enough scampi to feed an army," one expert quipped.
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Revealed: How Area 51 Hid Secret Craft
May 20, 2011
Veterans of the secret U.S. base reveal how they shielded futuristic prototypes—and jury-rigged low-tech decoys.
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Friday the 13th Superstitions Rooted in Bible and More
May 13, 2011
They date back at least to ancient Roman times, but Friday the 13th superstitions won't be getting much of a workout this year. Luckily for triskaidekaphobia sufferers, today is 2011's only Friday the 13th.
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"Zombie" Ants Bite at High Noon, Then Die
May 11, 2011
A fungus is turning carpenter ants into puppets, and now scientists have a better idea how and when the infection does its gruesome work.
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Sea Urchin Body Is One Big Eye
May 2, 2011
Sea urchins may use their entire bodies—from the ends of their "feet" to the tips of their spines—as huge eyes, a new study says.
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Is Your Brain Sleeping While You're Awake?
April 27, 2011
If you're sleep-deprived, key parts of your brain may be dozing even when you're awake, according to a new study of rats.
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Eyes Made of Rock Really Can See, Study Says
April 14, 2011
Sea creatures called chitons can use beadlike structures made of rock to distinguish shapes of approaching predators, a new study says.
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Alien Wasps Abduct, Drop Ants to Get Food
April 5, 2011
When competing for food with an ant swarm, a wasp will pluck an ant from the pile, fly away, and drop the insect, a new study says.
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Pictures: Trees Cocooned in Webs After Flood
March 31, 2011
Documented by an aid worker, millions of spiders and possibly insects took to the trees to spin webs after heavy floods inundated Pakistan in 2010.
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"Castrated" Spiders Are Better Fighters, Study Says
March 30, 2011
Males that break off their genitals during sex aggressively guard their mates, perhaps because they "have nothing to lose," scientists say.
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Electric Wand Makes Fire Disappear
March 29, 2011
With a wave of the hand, scientists can now extinguish small fires, and someday firefighters may be able to too—no spells required.
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Odd Saber-Toothed Beast Discovered—Preyed on ... Plants?
March 24, 2011
Saber teeth can turn up in the strangest places—such as in the fossil head of the new pre-dinosaur vegetarian discovered in Brazil.
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Giant Rabbit Fossil Found: Biggest Bunny Was "Roly-Poly"
March 22, 2011
Giant fossils found in Spain are from the biggest known rabbit species—a "beach bum" that couldn't hop and had short ears, experts say.
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Fish "Walks" on Beach to Spawn
March 18, 2011
Every spring on California's beaches, thousands of tiny fish come ashore to lay their eggs—though their sandy habitat is in decline, experts say.
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Why Transylvanian Chickens Have Naked Necks
March 15, 2011
Scientists have cracked why the Transylvanian naked neck chicken has a featherless neck—and it isn't to give vampires easier access.
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Pictures: Lifelike "Wet Mummy" Found During Roadbuilding
March 10, 2011
Freed from a liquid-filled coffin last week, the centuries-old Chinese woman had been found when roadbuilders stumbled upon a tomb.
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Photos: "Zombie" Ants Found With New Mind-Control Fungi
March 3, 2011
Mind-controlling fungi that create ''zombie'' ants in Brazil's rain forests are more diverse than thought, a new study says.
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Male Monkeys Wash With Urine to Attract Females?
March 2, 2011
Talk about "eew" de toilette—male monkeys that rub their fur with urine may be making themselves irresistible to females, a new study says.
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Amelia Earhart Spit Samples to Help Lick Mystery?
February 18, 2011
Geneticists plan to mine DNA from envelope seals to help identify remains of aviator Amelia Earhart, who vanished over the Pacific in 1937.
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11 Thomas Edison Predictions That Came True—Or Didn't
February 11, 2011
Celebrated Friday with a Google doodle, Thomas Edison was the "nation's inventor philosopher." See how his predictions hold up in 2011.
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Squid Get Violent After Touching Eggs, Study Says
February 11, 2011
A chemical on longfin squid eggs causes males to rapidly shift from calm swimming to extremely aggressive fighting, scientists say.
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Frogs Evolve Teeth—Again
February 10, 2011
Lower-jaw teeth in frogs re-evolved after an absence of 200 million years, challenging evolutionary thinking, scientists say.
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Biggest Bear Ever Found—"It Blew My Mind," Expert Says
February 3, 2011
There's a new titleholder for biggest bear ever found—an ancient South American giant short-faced bear that weighed up to 3,500 pounds.
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Bat Uses Pitcher Plant as Toilet; Plant Benefits
February 2, 2011
It's no load of crap—a carnivorous plant in Borneo survives mostly off of bat feces, a new study says.
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UFO-Like Clouds Linked to Military Maneuvers?
January 27, 2011
Three "hole-punch clouds" recently appeared close together, sparking suspicions of a military connection—and they may not be all wrong.
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First One-Fingered Dinosaur Found—Dug for Bugs?
January 24, 2011
The parrot-size T. rex cousin probably used its enlarged digit to probe termite mounds, a new study says.
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Fish as Good as College Students in Numbers Test
January 7, 2011
College students showed roughly the same numerical skills as mosquitofish when presented with a laboratory test, a new study says.
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"Vampire Flying Frog" Found; Tadpoles Have Black Fangs
January 7, 2011
The mountain jungles of Vietnam are home to a new breed of vampire—a tree frog whose tadpoles sport fangs.
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Why Are Birds Falling From the Sky?
January 6, 2011
Seemingly freak bird die-offs in Arkansas and elsewhere are making headlines. But is it just media hype? And what causes airborne die-offs?
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Prehistoric Bird Had Wings Like Nunchucks
January 4, 2011
A flightless bird with wings like martial arts weapons once thrashed its foes on what's now Jamaica, a new study says.
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Space Circles Are Proof of a Pre-Big Bang Universe?
December 27, 2010
Ring-like patterns in primordial radiation suggest a universe existed before the big bang, according to a controversial new study.
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Pictures: Lighthouse Turned Into Ice Castle
December 23, 2010
Wrapped for the holidays, an Ohio lighthouse is so coated in ice that even its light is obscured, thanks to freezing spray from Lake Erie.
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Ten Weirdest New Animals of 2010: Editors' Picks
December 7, 2010
A fish with "hands," a T. Rex leech, and a self-cloning lizard are among National Geographic News's picks for the weirdest new species in 2010.
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Top Ten Discoveries of 2010: Nat Geo News's Most Popular
November 30, 2010
A time-bending earthquake, a fish with "hands," and "Yoda bat" are among National Geographic News's most visited coverage of 2010 discoveries.
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Best Cosmic Mindblowers of 2010 From Nat Geo News
November 29, 2010
From the end of time to black hole portals, wrap your brain around our editors' picks for some of the odder astrophysics concepts of 2010.
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"Flamboyant" New Squid Worm Surprises, Delights Experts
November 24, 2010
With head tentacles and iridescent "oars," the new sea species is "definitely flamboyant," one expert said. "I'm delighted by it."
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How Snakes Can "Fly"
November 23, 2010
Looking up and doing the twist are among "flying" snakes' best moves, a new DARPA-funded study finds.
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Large, "Glamorous" New Glowing Squid Species Found
November 16, 2010
The big, red new squid species—perhaps one of several—underscores the richness of undersea mountain life, experts say.
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Cricket Has World's Biggest Testicles (But Puny Output)
November 9, 2010
The tuberous bushcricket's large testicles—the world's biggest, proportionately—don't mean greater output, a surprising new study says.
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Photos: X-Ray History—Hidden Kittens, Quackery, and More
November 8, 2010
See some of the most important—and oddest—images associated with x-rays, whose 115th anniversary is marked Monday with a Google doodle.
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"Mind-Boggling" Pictures: Goats Scale Dam in Italy
November 1, 2010
Yes, these viral pictures of goats clinging to an impossibly steep rock face are real. Get the facts behind the Internet rumors.
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Halloween Costume Pictures: Spooky Styles a Century Ago
October 29, 2010
From roller skates to swastikas, see how people in the early 1900s celebrated what one expert calls the United States' "rogue holiday."
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Chupacabra Science: How Evolution Made a Mythical Monster
October 28, 2010
Just in time for Halloween, scientists say they've cracked the mystery behind the "goat sucking" monster—and it's all too real.
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New Snub-Nosed Monkey Discovered, Eaten
October 27, 2010
Pictured moments before humans ate it, a snub-nosed monkey represents a new species that sneezes when it rains.
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Fuzzy Critters' Crystallized Pee Changes Climate Record?
October 15, 2010
The crystallized pee of the rodent-like rock hyrax is filling in gaps in our understanding of climate change, experts say.
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Pictures: Return to the Crystal Caves
October 8, 2010
Returning to Mexico's otherworldly Cave of Crystals, explorers have uncovered a new cavern, microscopic life-forms, and more.
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Giant Crystal Caves Yield New "Ice Palace," More
October 7, 2010
It looks like Superman's fortress and is nearly as hard to get into, but that hasn't kept explorers from uncovering new secrets on and around Mexico's deep, deadly Cave of Crystals.
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BO Attracting Predators to Birds
September 29, 2010
New Zealand birds' ripe body odor is giving the animals away to predators—and deodorant might actually help save species, experts say.
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Flooding Farms on Purpose—For the Birds
September 23, 2010
In response to the BP oil spill, U.S. farmers are flooding fields to create untainted wetland stopovers for migrating birds.
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"Sea Snot" Explosion Caused by Gulf Oil Spill?
September 23, 2010
A "blizzard" of sticky life-forms caused by the BP spill may have crippled the base of the Gulf of Mexico food chain, early results suggest.
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Einstein's Relativity Affects Aging on Earth (Slightly)
September 23, 2010
Standing higher on a staircase will make you age faster, according to new research that confirms Einstein's theories on Earthly scales.
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Giant Vacuum to Help Bugs in Oiled Marshes?
September 17, 2010
Using huge hoses, researchers are vacuuming up marsh bugs along the oiled Gulf coast. By comparing their samples to bugs collected before the spill, teams hope to determine the effects of oil on creatures near the bottom of the food web.
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Photos: World's Biggest, Strongest Spider Webs Found
September 17, 2010
A new spider species in Madagascar weaves 80-foot webs out of the world's toughest biological material, new studies say.
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Astronauts' Fingernails Falling Off Due to Glove Design
September 13, 2010
Astronauts with wider hands are more likely to have their fingernails fall off after working or training in space suit gloves, according to a new study.
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Fire Tornado Filmed in Hawaii
September 10, 2010
While battling a blaze on the slopes of Mauna Kea in August, a Hawaii firefighter captured rare footage of a fire tornado, or fire whirl. Video.
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Hunchback Dinosaur Found: Carnivorous "Camel"
September 8, 2010
The otherwise fearsome new one-ton predator, Concavenator corcovatus, sported an odd hunchback and scrawny "protofeathers," puzzling scientists.
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Pictures: What Drives Death Valley's Roving Rocks?
September 8, 2010
What causes stones to sail in the hottest place in North America? New evidence suggests the mysterious rocks "float" on winter ice.
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Tarzan Chameleon Found in Tarzan Forest, Near Tarzanville
September 2, 2010
The discovery on Madagascar of the new species—given away by its flat snout—is a "Tarzan yell for conservation," a new study says.
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"Whispering" Bat Evolved to Trick Prey
August 31, 2010
The barbastelle bat has lowered its voice to evade detection by moths with keen hearing, a new study says.
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Pictures: World's Biggest Tent Rises in Kazakhstan
August 31, 2010
Kazakhstan's new Khan Shatyr evokes a traditional dwelling but boasts futuristic fancies such as an indoor "beach," a monorail, and more.
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Ancient Sorcerer's "Wake" Was First Feast for the Dead?
August 30, 2010
First feast? Packed with tortoise "leftovers," the earliest known shaman's burial hints that the first villagers made peace by partying.
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"Firecane" Myth Busted—No Danger on Katrina Anniversary
August 25, 2010
Flaming, oily hurricanes, aka firecanes, and "black rain" are no danger to Gulf residents on Katrina's fifth anniversary—or to anyone, anywhere, experts say.
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"Snot Otter" Sperm to Save Giant Salamander?
August 20, 2010
To save North America's biggest salamander—the hellbender, or "snot otter"—conservationists are freezing its sperm.
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Evolution Surprise: Bacteria Have "Noses," Can Smell
August 18, 2010
The single-celled organisms can detect the aroma of ammonia, says a new study that suggests the sense of smell evolved earlier than thought.
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Friday the 13th Superstitions Rooted in Bible and More
August 13, 2010
They date back at least to ancient Roman times, but Friday the 13th superstitions won't be getting much of a workout this year. Luckily for triskaidekaphobia sufferers, today is 2010's only Friday the 13th.
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Oyster Herpes: Latest Symptom of Global Warming?
August 6, 2010
Don't worry—it isn't a side effect of eating oysters. But a virulent new herpes strain could continue spreading as seas warm, experts say.
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Pictures: "Ghost" Robot Lets User Cuddle, Chat Remotely
August 5, 2010
Part phone, part ventriloquist's dummy, the Telenoid R1 robot can stand in for distant relatives, friends, or teachers, its creators say.
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Fossil "Cat Crocodile" Had Mammal-like Teeth
August 4, 2010
With canines, molars, and a sliding jaw, the newfound fossil crocodile Pakasuchus kapilimai could do one thing no other known reptile can or could: chew.
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Video: Record-Breaking Sea-Creature Surveys Released
August 2, 2010
See some of the deep-sea stars of a new "roll call"—thousands of ocean species found during recent expeditions. Video.
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Sea Discoveries Spawn Music Video
August 2, 2010
Featured in a new "roll call" of life from 25 key ocean regions, marine oddities oscillate, swim, and skitter to an ocean "chorus." Video.
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Jumbo Squid Flash, Flail in First Ever Squid-cam Video
July 29, 2010
Filmed away from humans for the first time, jumbo squid light up during an expedition that also found them to have superstrong bites.
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Alligator "Feeding Frenzy" Video Shows Teamwork
July 28, 2010
In a new viral alligator "feeding frenzy" video a fisher boats through hundreds of hyped-up alligators. Despite their snapping, the gators show true teamwork, experts say.
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Bowls of Fingers, Baby Victims, More Found in Maya Tomb
July 21, 2010
With bowls of human fingers, a burned baby, and jeweled teeth, a Maya king's tomb is rich in oddities—and archaeological gold.
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Pictures: Walls of Fat Clog London Sewers
July 20, 2010
Nine double-decker buses' worth of congealed food waste filled a London sewer until shovel-wielding "flushers" hacked it away last week.
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Parasitic Wasp Swarm Unleashed to Fight Pests
July 19, 2010
A huge "army" of parasitic wasps was unleashed in Thailand on Saturday to control a devastating pest outbreak, scientists say.
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"Extinct," Pop-Eyed Primate Photographed for First Time
July 19, 2010
The pop-eyed Horton Plains slender loris has been seen for the first time in 60 years—alive and cute, if not exactly well.
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Pictures: Surprising Creatures Found Deep off Australia
July 16, 2010
See a "prehistoric" shark, a hairy anglerfish, jellyfish glowing like Avatar extras, and more—dark-adapted oddities of the Deep Australia Project.
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Jungle Cat Mimics Monkey to Lure Prey—A First
July 13, 2010
Sure it's a "poor imitation," but an Amazon cat's unprecedented monkey call shows surprising "psychological cunning."
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Photos: Glowing Oil Could Aid Gulf Spill Cleanup
July 8, 2010
A crime scene tool reveals that beached oil from the Gulf spill glows in ultraviolet light, which could be a boon to cleanup crews.
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Mouse Tears Are Aphrodisiacs
July 1, 2010
A pheromone in male tears makes female lab mice more receptive to mounting, a Japanese study says.
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New Leviathan Whale Was Prehistoric "Jaws"? (Pictures)
June 30, 2010
A newfound prehistoric sperm whale with giant teeth likely attacked other whales—and possibly giant sharks, scientists say.
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Big Cats Wild for Calvin Klein Cologne?
June 24, 2010
Bronx Zoo cheetahs are attracted to Calvin Klein's "Obsession for Men," which scientists have tested to lure wild big cats close to camera traps. Video.
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Planes Create Weird Clouds—And Snow, Rain Fall Out
June 16, 2010
Airplanes, it turns out, can change the weather—at least at the hyperlocal scale, a new study says.
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Crocodiles Body Surf to Hop Between Islands
June 7, 2010
Rather than swimming, the reptiles ride currents to travel long distances, according to a study co-designed by the late Steve Irwin.
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Mammoth-Belch Deficit Caused Prehistoric Cooling?
June 3, 2010
By killing off woolly mammoths and other Ice Age megamammals, humans may have sparked a thousand-year cooling event, a new study says.
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Frogs Shake Booties Before Fights
June 1, 2010
In a stunning display of amphibian machismo, tree frogs boogie before they brawl in this unprecedented video.
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Photo in the News: Giant Sinkhole Swallows Guatemala Homes
June 1, 2010
Deeper than the Statue of Liberty is tall, the chasm is blamed in the deaths of three people so far.
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Sinkhole in Guatemala: Giant Could Get Even Bigger
June 1, 2010
Spurred by tropical storm Agatha, the sinkhole swallowed a three-story building in Guatemala Sunday—and it could get even bigger.
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Photos: Dracula Fish, Bomber Worm on Top New Species List
May 26, 2010
From a psychedelic fish to a "phallic" fungus, see some of the most unusual species described in 2009, as chosen by a team of taxonomists.
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Male Antelope Scare Females Into Staying for Sex
May 21, 2010
To keep wandering females close, male topi antelope will begin snorting and staring at nonexistent predators, a new study says.
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Alpacas to Help Fight Gulf Spill?
May 14, 2010
Human hair, pet fur, and now alpaca fleece from zoo animals are being used to make booms designed to keep oil off the U.S. Gulf Coast. Video.
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Ball Lightning May Be All in Your Head
May 14, 2010
The mysterious floating orbs might simply be hallucinations caused by brains overstimulated by magnetism, a new study suggests.
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Colossal Squid a Soft, Sluggish Drifter
May 12, 2010
Perseus would have nothing to fear from this kraken-like sea beast: The squid's energy needs suggest it's just a slow, aimless drifter.
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Pictures: Rare Bees Make Flower-Mud "Sandwiches"
May 10, 2010
Colorful "flower sandwiches" of mud and petals provide havens for rare solitary bee larvae, a new study says.
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Glowing Sea Beasts: Photos Shed Light on Bioluminescence
May 7, 2010
A new report reviews why, for sea species, bioluminescence can be a very healthy glow—and how so many creatures evolved it in so many ways.
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"City of Gonads" Jellyfish Discovered
May 6, 2010
Unlike every other known jellyfish, Csiromedusa medeopolis—the new underwater wonder from down under—keeps its gonads on display.
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Why Deep-Sea Creatures Glow
May 6, 2010
Most of the animals in the deep sea naturally emit light known as bioluminescence, a trait that presents many mysteries to scientists. Video.
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Pictures: Ancient Egypt Crocodile Mummies Revealed
April 30, 2010
A crocodile's last meal and an ancient fishhook are among "exciting" details revealed by new CT scans of the 2,000-year-old mummies.
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Please DO Feed the Bears, Biologist Says
April 28, 2010
Giving bears snacks may keep the animals away from homes and campsites, one biologist says. Others warn the practice is ineffective—possibly dangerous.
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Noah's Ark Found in Turkey?
April 28, 2010
Explorers are "99.9 percent" sure they've found Noah's ark in Turkey. Others say the claim is all wet.
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Sperm Recognize "Brothers," Team Up for Speed
April 21, 2010
In promiscuous mouse species, sperm from the same male team up like Tour de France racers to give themselves an edge in the dash for the egg, a new study finds.
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Tiny New Sea Species Discovered—First Ever Video
April 16, 2010
Recent ocean expeditions have uncovered some of the world's smallest species—in spectacular abundance.
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"Tyrant King" Leech Discovered, Attacks Orifices
April 16, 2010
The new "tyrant king" leech has extremely large teeth, which it uses on mammals' orifices, a new study says.
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"Major," Green Meteor Lights Midwest Night Sky
April 15, 2010
See the huge, greenish fireball that turned night to day before likely landing in Wisconsin—and get the science behind the sky show.
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Prehistoric Mummies Poisoned
April 12, 2010
Arsenic-laced drinking water caused the demise of some of the world's oldest mummies, found in the harsh northern deserts of Chile, a new study says.
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Octopus vs. Sea Lion—First Ever Video
April 9, 2010
It's a first. Outfitted with a Crittercam, an Australian sea lion has filmed itself hunting, and eating, a large octopus. Video.
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New Giant Lizard Discovery "an Unprecedented Surprise"
April 7, 2010
It has a double penis, lives on a crowded island, and is as long as a man. So how did Varanus bitatawa go unidentified till now?
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Bulging Mutant Trout Created: More Muscle, More Meat
March 29, 2010
The genetically engineered fish boast at least 15 percent more flesh for eating—but is that good?
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Goliath Tiger Fish: "Evolution on Steroids" in Congo
March 29, 2010
On an unprecedented Congo River run, scientists and kayakers have found potential new species, the spike-toothed goliath tiger fish, and evidence that the African river may be the world's deepest.
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First Amphibious Insects Found in Hawaii
March 23, 2010
Twelve new caterpillar species are at home on land or underwater, although scientists are baffled about how the submerged bugs breathe.
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Mutant All-Black Penguin Found
March 16, 2010
An all-black king penguin—a very rare mutant—was spotted and filmed on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. Video.
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First Proof Gorillas Eat Monkeys?
March 5, 2010
Monkey DNA has been found in gorilla feces—suggesting that maybe, just maybe, the big apes eat meat after all.
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Atlantic Octopus Mimics Flounders—A First
March 4, 2010
An octopus in the Caribbean can mimic not only the shape of a flounder, but also the fish's color and swimming style, most likely in an attempt to avoid predators, researchers say.
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Glowing Animals: Pictures of Beasts Shining for Science
March 3, 2010
Dogs, cats, monkeys, worms, fish: all now glow in the dark, thanks to one jellyfish and a whole lot of research. In this photo round-up of glowing animals (and the odd plant), see the gamut of what science has done with a few fluorescent proteins.
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Weed Killer Makes Male Frogs Lay Eggs
March 1, 2010
One of the most common weed-killers in the United States can transform male frogs into fully functional females, a new study says.
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Sharks vs. Pig Carcass: Experiments Surprise Scientists
February 26, 2010
After dropping dead pigs into the sea and watching via Webcams, researchers were "very surprised" to see marine scavengers risk low-oxygen waters for a meal.
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"Drunk" Bats Fly Right--Discovery Surprises Scientists
February 9, 2010
Some bat species can fly and communicate just as well while inebriated as while sober—even with blood alcohol levels that would exceed legal limits in humans.
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Groundhog Day Pictures: Punxsutawney Phil, Now and Then
February 2, 2010
The groundhog has spoken, predicting six more weeks of winter in 2010. See Punxsutawney Phil through the years—plus Groundhog Day origins and a wild woodchuck.
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"Sex Puppeteers" Force Sex Change, Virgin Birth in Bugs via Genes
January 26, 2010
Fast-spreading parasites are forcing victims into sex changes, inducing virgin births, and turning animals into "gross monsters"—all via genetic sabotage, a new study finds.
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Pictures: Dinosaur "Death Pits" May Be Fossil Footprints
January 19, 2010
Following in a giant dinosaur's footsteps could be fatal—but not for the reasons you might suspect. A new study suggests that death traps filled with rare raptor fossils may have been created when a behemoth strolled across ashy mud.
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Surprise! Radioactive Water Jugs Not as Healthy as Advertised
January 16, 2010
Think you know why an early-20th century drinking-water jar lined with uranium ore was a serious health risk? Surprisingly, radioactivity was only a minor part of the problem, a new study says.
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Cell Phone Use May Fight Alzheimer's, Mouse Study Says
January 6, 2010
cell-phones-alzheimers-disease-mice
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APOCALYPSE PICTURES: 10 Failed Doomsday Prophecies
January 6, 2010
Just as some people today believe a Maya calendar pinpoints 2012 as the end of the world as we know it, people through centuries and across cultures have long forecast our collective doom.
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Rabbits Milked for Human Protein; Drug Soon for Sale?
January 6, 2010
Rabbits Milked for Human Protein; Drug Soon for Sale?
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Venomous Dinosaur Discovered--Shocked Prey Like Snake?
December 22, 2009
Jurassic Park may have had it partly right. Some raptors did have venom, though it was more stupefying than lethal, a new study suggests.
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Bears Go Bald at Zoo; Experts Stumped
December 8, 2009
Three spectacled bears at Germany's Leipzig Zoo have mysteriously lost their fur, and no one knows why they developed the non-life-threatening condition.
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Abstaining Boobies Get "Sexier"
December 8, 2009
Male blue-footed boobies that take a yearlong sex sabbatical get a brighter shade of blue in their feet the following year, which makes them more attractive to females, a new study says.
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Top New Species of 2009: Nat Geo News's Most Viewed
December 7, 2009
Strange beasts—including a giant rat, a lungless worm, and a vegetarian spider—dominated National Geographic News's most popular new-species coverage of 2009.
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Giant Cave Pictures: World's Biggest Found in Vietnam
July 24, 2009
The recently explored Son Doong cave, filled with poisonous centipedes and towering stalagmites, beats out the previous world-record holder for the largest single cave passage ever found, British explorers report. <br />
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First Photos: Weird Fish With Transparent Head
February 23, 2009
With a head like a fighter-plane cockpit, a Pacific barreleye fish shows off its transparent head and barrel-like eyes in the first specimen ever found alive.
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