Science / Video

Meet the Strangest Pigs in the World

Separated from the mainland, the babirusa pigs of Sulawesi have evolved in total isolation. This has resulted in some pretty dramatic differences from regular pigs—especially in their appearance.

This Salt Lick Doubles as a Reunion Spot for Elephants

A herd of migrating elephants are acquiring necessary minerals like calcium and potassium from a burnt wood clearing. It’s also an impromptu reunion spot for all traveling elephant herds.

Orangutans Need to Learn to Fear Snakes

In primates, recognition of snakes is instinctive, but fear of snakes is learned. Today, caretakers of the jungle school set about teaching them.

Stunning Footage of Two Bears Duking It Out for Dominance

The dominant bear in the swamp is fending off another challenge to his authority by an intruder. It’s a clash of titans with mating rights on the line.

The First Job Bees Have in Spring Is Grim

As spring begins, the surviving bees in the hive pick up their first task of the new year: dumping the corpses of the bees that died over winter.

This ‘Health Mirror’ Teaches Proper Handwashing

The smart tool gives users step-by-step instructions based on WHO’s handwashing protocol

Young Lions Try to Cross Crocodile-Infested Waters

A trio of teenage lions are desperate to cross the shallows of the Luangwa River, in order to reunite with their pride. One problem: The river is infested with crocodiles, …

This German Explorer Held Electric Eels in His Bare Hands

Alexander von Humboldt was intrigued by deadly electric eels. He was so determined to learn more about them, that in Los Llanos, he’d hold them in his hands to test …

Humboldt’s Journey to Cumana Was Packed With Discovery

In 1799, Alexander von Humboldt set foot in the jungles of Cumana, in present-day Venezuela. What ensued was a detailed scientific mission to learn more about the natural world.

A Leopard Risks Her Life to Steal Food

A female leopard is risking life and limb by trying to steal food from another male leopard. One wrong move and the male, a third bigger than she is, could …

How Smithsonian Researchers Are Studying Elephant Behavior

See how researchers at Smithsonian’s National Zoo are trying to glean insight into elephant foraging behavior and more.

The Vesuvius Eruption May Have Been a Gradual Process

One common misconception about the eruption of Vesuvius is that it happened suddenly and was over in an instant. But some experts suggest the events could have taken as long …

The Wildlife at Leopard Rocks Is as Impressive as the Terrain

The Leopard Rocks—giant boulders spread out over hundreds of square miles—impress. But it’s the area’s wildlife that really catches the eye: from leopards to peacocks to gray langurs.

This Icelandic Volcano Recreates Early Conditions on Earth

In 1963, an Iceland volcano by the name of Surtsey began an eruption that would last for four years. To scientists, it’s become an invaluable opportunity to observe an environment …

This Group Protested America’s Bid to Put a Man on the Moon

On the eve of the moon mission, NASA faced a protest by a group known as the Poor People’s Campaign. Their objection: $3 billion was spent on the Apollo mission, …

Ed Dwight Jr. Was Set to Become America’s First Black Astronaut

Edward Dwight Jr. was an ace combat pilot with a top aeronautics degree and 2,000 flying hours under his belt. In 1962, he was announced as a candidate to become …

A Cheetah Changes His Hunting Strategy in a Surprising Way

At Kafue National Park, one cheetah has adapted his hunting strategy to find more prey: He hunts in the forest, instead of the open plains. This flexibility is good news …

This Man Was Tried in Tennessee for Teaching Evolution

In July 1925, a young science teacher named John Scopes was in court, accused of contravening the Butler Act—a Tennessee law that prohibited the teaching of evolution in schools.

Warthogs Have the Tools to Survive in a Drought

Of all the herbivores of the Luangwa, warthogs are best equipped to deal with a drought: They’re natural born diggers, with snouts like trowels, that help them reach buried roots …

Scientists Didn’t Know Much About Earthquakes Before 1933

On March 10, 1933, a major earthquake caught the Los Angeles area by surprise. The devastation was of sufficient scale to spur scientific interest in earthquakes—and how to predict them.

A Herd of Elephants Interrupt a Feasting Lion Pride

A powerful group of lions, the Nsefu pride, are busy digging into a recent buffalo kill when they are disturbed by a herd of elephants. Both sides immediately switch to …

This Is the Largest Mammal Migration in the World

Fruit bats, nicknamed flying foxes, don’t do things in half measures: 10 million of them migrate to Zambia, during which time they will devour over a billion waterberries.

How This School Prepares Orphan Orangutans for the Wild

In Borneo, orphan orangutans are sent to a unique school in Kalimantan. There, they’ll be cared for in the early years of their life, and then later trained for a …

A 600-Mile Journey Across Alaska Saves the Town of Nome

In 1925, an Alaskan adventurer and his trusted Siberian husky completed a grueling 600-mile journey across the frozen plains. Their exploits would end up saving the lives of 2,000 people.

Casey Anderson’s Wild Tracks: Wolves on the Hunt

Wolves are elite hunters of the American wilderness. They can smell their unsuspecting prey from a mile away and hear them from a distance 10 times as far. Join explorer …

A Biologist Studies a New Species of Baboon

An American biologist sets out to study the little-known Kinda baboon species—and this involves getting close to them in their natural habitat. Everything is of interest, from their fur patterns …

This Volunteer Program Helps Green Sea Turtles Stay Alive

At Tortugranja, located on the island of Isla Mujeres, volunteers watch over green turtle hatchlings to help ensure their survival. At the same time, they play a role in educating …

What’s Causing Millions of North American Bats to Die?

Bats in North America are dying by the millions, and Dr. DeeAnn Reeder is leading scientists into the caves to find out why.

This Young Woman Will Stop at Nothing to End Shark Finning

Madison Stewart is a shark conservationist, determined to protect the depleting Great Barrier Reef and the magnificent predators she grew up with. Here’s how she confronts the shark fin soup …

The Invisible Enemy Wiping Out Entire Species of Frogs

To save a species from extinction, scientists scour the Panamanian jungle for the few remaining frogs. But will they be too late?

A Leopard’s Carefully Planned Ambush Is Ruined by a Hyena

A female leopard uses her superior night vision to get closer to a herd of grazing impala. Just as she’s about to pounce, a hyena shows up revealing her position …

These Two Types of Whales Are Drawn to the Sea of Okhotsk

In the sea of Okhotsk, off Russia’s eastern coast, two types of whales are making a comeback: humpback whales and orcas. Both are drawn here in the summer to feast …