National Geographic
National Geographic
Articles from National Geographic
nationalgeographic.comMy sleepless night in a chimpanzee nest
Unraveling the mystery of human evolution, thirty-five feet in the air.
Male octopus has ‘sex arm’ that can mate in the dark
Scientists found that the male’s hectocotylus, the specialized arm for mating, is lined with receptors that can sense hormones from the female.
Atlantic puffins are returning to shore. Here’s how to see the fleeting spring spectacle.
After months at sea, the orange-beaked birds are gathering along coastal cliffs in a short but sensational migration. Atlantic puffins pair stand outside a nest burrow on Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire, Wales, United Kingdom. Puffins return to coastal breeding colonies in early-to-mid April.
Secrets of the bees: Revealing the sneaky genius of nature's brightest thinkers
New science is showing that nature’s vital pollinators are smarter than we ever imagined. Here’s why that discovery should change what we think about one of the world’s most important animals.
Scientists recorded a sperm whale birth up close for the first time. They discovered something extraordinary.
The marine mammals act like midwives, supporting mothers and their calves through delivery.
A mystery pod of orcas surprised Seattle whale watchers
Three unidentified orcas have been spotted in the Salish Sea in March 2026. Tamara Kelley, Orca Conservancy It’s rare for unknown adult whales to show up in this region, where orca populations are closely monitored.
How a deadly fungus could decimate North America’s salamanders
An insidious disease has eliminated dozens of the world’s frog species. Scientists fear a similar plague could be coming for North America’s salamanders.
These nest cams offer a rare glimpse of bald eagles and their hatchlings
Discover the best locations across the country to see bald eagle nests and roosts up close this season. Bald eagles roost in a tree against dark clouds in Alaska.
Meet the ‘firefighting’ donkeys of Spain
Known as Doñana’s Firefighting Donkey Battalion, this unit is responsible for preventing wildfires in parts of Spain—all thanks to their seemingly bottomless appetites.
Is the bird nest of the future 3D-printed and made of mushrooms?
As ancient, hollowed trees disappear in England, one researcher and his team are engineering prosthetic nests to provide an alternative home for endangered birds. Filipe Salbany, conservation lead at Blenheim place, positions a 3D-printed bird nest, left, next to a conventional version.
‘Rescuing’ baby animals may amount to kidnapping
Each spring, wildlife rescuers get pummeled with well-meaning people bringing in baby animals who appear lost but are really just waiting for their mothers to return.
This fish has cloned itself for 100,000 years. Scientists just figured out how.
Amazon mollies don't need a man, and never will. A new study finds they can purge and repair genetic mutations that would otherwise plague a self-cloning species. All Amazon mollies ( Poecilia formosa ) are female and reproduce exclusively asexually, giving live birth to clones of themselves.
Half a million sandhill cranes are about to take to the skies—here’s how to see them
Birdwatchers have a rare chance to witness thousands of the towering birds gather in wetlands and fields of the Platte River Valley. Sandhill Cranes take flight at sunrise.
These frog mating calls may also serve as weather reports
Scientists suggest female frogs listen for changes in the male calls as a signal for when it's warm enough to mate. A Pacific tree frog ( Pseudacris regilla ) male calls at Washington state's Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Why do gulls steal our food? Scientists experimented with French fries to find out.
Gulls are often seen as intruders in our daily lives. But researchers are discovering what really motivates them—and strategies to keep them away from your lunch. Herring gulls ( Larus argentatus ) feeding on discarded chips in Blackpool, United Kingdom.
Will humans and animals ever be able to converse? Here’s what science says.
In the movie Hoppers, scientists “hop” human consciousness into animal-like robots to talk to other species. We asked the experts their thoughts on how conceivable the plot is.
Giant salamanders are about to take a once-in-a-year midnight trek
For just one or two nights each spring, spotted salamanders emerge from underground and go in search of vernal mating pools.
Air pollution distracts insects from pollination and sex
Even at levels safe for humans, air pollution can disrupt the way some insects communicate with plants, and with each other.
You can clone your pet—but it won't have the same personality
Lived experiences shape everyone, animal companions included.
Shark discovered in Antarctic waters has survival superpowers
Sleeper sharks live extraordinarily long lives and can thrive in near-freezing ocean temperatures near Earth's poles. Scientists with the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre captured footage of a sleeper shark, one of the ocean's rare and mysterious long-lived species.
Why does sound startle these caterpillars even though they don't have ears?
Tobacco hornworm caterpillars have no organs that resemble ears. Yet, scientists were able to figure out how they hear—and it could inspire next generation microphones.
Meet Tatu and Loulis—the last of the 'talking' chimpanzees
Lazing outside her home in the Montréal suburb of Carignan on a breezy day in June, Tatu the chimpanzee notices she has visitors. She slowly ambles over, peers downward at the onlookers, and draws her right index finger across her forehead.
How do you rescue a 410-pound manatee from a Florida storm drain?
The manatee was discovered by chance when city surveyors were conducting routine work. Brevard County Fire Rescue and Public Works rescue personnel collaborated with other groups to help save a manatee in Melbourne Beach, Florida, on Feb. 9, 2026.
How elephants pass on crucial survival skills to next generations
Scientists are finding elephant youths respond differently to danger if they grew up without elders. An elephant matriarch leads her group across a river at Samburu National Reserve, Kenya.
Romeo, once the last known frog of his kind, died. But this story isn't a tragedy.
Even though the famous frog and his "Juliet" failed to mate, a new discovery raises hope for their species. Romeo was once known as the "loneliest frog in the world," until herpetologists found five additional Sehuencas water frogs during an expedition in 2019.
My sleepless night in a chimpanzee nest
Unraveling the mystery of human evolution, thirty-five feet in the air.
Male octopus has ‘sex arm’ that can mate in the dark
Scientists found that the male’s hectocotylus, the specialized arm for mating, is lined with receptors that can sense hormones from the female.
Atlantic puffins are returning to shore. Here’s how to see the fleeting spring spectacle.
After months at sea, the orange-beaked birds are gathering along coastal cliffs in a short but sensational migration. Atlantic puffins pair stand outside a nest burrow on Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire, Wales, United Kingdom. Puffins return to coastal breeding colonies in early-to-mid April.
Secrets of the bees: Revealing the sneaky genius of nature's brightest thinkers
New science is showing that nature’s vital pollinators are smarter than we ever imagined. Here’s why that discovery should change what we think about one of the world’s most important animals.
Scientists recorded a sperm whale birth up close for the first time. They discovered something extraordinary.
The marine mammals act like midwives, supporting mothers and their calves through delivery.
A mystery pod of orcas surprised Seattle whale watchers
Three unidentified orcas have been spotted in the Salish Sea in March 2026. Tamara Kelley, Orca Conservancy It’s rare for unknown adult whales to show up in this region, where orca populations are closely monitored.
How a deadly fungus could decimate North America’s salamanders
An insidious disease has eliminated dozens of the world’s frog species. Scientists fear a similar plague could be coming for North America’s salamanders.
These nest cams offer a rare glimpse of bald eagles and their hatchlings
Discover the best locations across the country to see bald eagle nests and roosts up close this season. Bald eagles roost in a tree against dark clouds in Alaska.
Meet the ‘firefighting’ donkeys of Spain
Known as Doñana’s Firefighting Donkey Battalion, this unit is responsible for preventing wildfires in parts of Spain—all thanks to their seemingly bottomless appetites.
Is the bird nest of the future 3D-printed and made of mushrooms?
As ancient, hollowed trees disappear in England, one researcher and his team are engineering prosthetic nests to provide an alternative home for endangered birds. Filipe Salbany, conservation lead at Blenheim place, positions a 3D-printed bird nest, left, next to a conventional version.
‘Rescuing’ baby animals may amount to kidnapping
Each spring, wildlife rescuers get pummeled with well-meaning people bringing in baby animals who appear lost but are really just waiting for their mothers to return.
This fish has cloned itself for 100,000 years. Scientists just figured out how.
Amazon mollies don't need a man, and never will. A new study finds they can purge and repair genetic mutations that would otherwise plague a self-cloning species. All Amazon mollies ( Poecilia formosa ) are female and reproduce exclusively asexually, giving live birth to clones of themselves.
Half a million sandhill cranes are about to take to the skies—here’s how to see them
Birdwatchers have a rare chance to witness thousands of the towering birds gather in wetlands and fields of the Platte River Valley. Sandhill Cranes take flight at sunrise.
These frog mating calls may also serve as weather reports
Scientists suggest female frogs listen for changes in the male calls as a signal for when it's warm enough to mate. A Pacific tree frog ( Pseudacris regilla ) male calls at Washington state's Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Why do gulls steal our food? Scientists experimented with French fries to find out.
Gulls are often seen as intruders in our daily lives. But researchers are discovering what really motivates them—and strategies to keep them away from your lunch. Herring gulls ( Larus argentatus ) feeding on discarded chips in Blackpool, United Kingdom.
Will humans and animals ever be able to converse? Here’s what science says.
In the movie Hoppers, scientists “hop” human consciousness into animal-like robots to talk to other species. We asked the experts their thoughts on how conceivable the plot is.
Giant salamanders are about to take a once-in-a-year midnight trek
For just one or two nights each spring, spotted salamanders emerge from underground and go in search of vernal mating pools.
Air pollution distracts insects from pollination and sex
Even at levels safe for humans, air pollution can disrupt the way some insects communicate with plants, and with each other.
You can clone your pet—but it won't have the same personality
Lived experiences shape everyone, animal companions included.
Shark discovered in Antarctic waters has survival superpowers
Sleeper sharks live extraordinarily long lives and can thrive in near-freezing ocean temperatures near Earth's poles. Scientists with the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre captured footage of a sleeper shark, one of the ocean's rare and mysterious long-lived species.
Why does sound startle these caterpillars even though they don't have ears?
Tobacco hornworm caterpillars have no organs that resemble ears. Yet, scientists were able to figure out how they hear—and it could inspire next generation microphones.
Meet Tatu and Loulis—the last of the 'talking' chimpanzees
Lazing outside her home in the Montréal suburb of Carignan on a breezy day in June, Tatu the chimpanzee notices she has visitors. She slowly ambles over, peers downward at the onlookers, and draws her right index finger across her forehead.
How do you rescue a 410-pound manatee from a Florida storm drain?
The manatee was discovered by chance when city surveyors were conducting routine work. Brevard County Fire Rescue and Public Works rescue personnel collaborated with other groups to help save a manatee in Melbourne Beach, Florida, on Feb. 9, 2026.
How elephants pass on crucial survival skills to next generations
Scientists are finding elephant youths respond differently to danger if they grew up without elders. An elephant matriarch leads her group across a river at Samburu National Reserve, Kenya.
Romeo, once the last known frog of his kind, died. But this story isn't a tragedy.
Even though the famous frog and his "Juliet" failed to mate, a new discovery raises hope for their species. Romeo was once known as the "loneliest frog in the world," until herpetologists found five additional Sehuencas water frogs during an expedition in 2019.
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