We asked some Neuroparasitologists about the tiny critters that turn animals into zombies
Mindless, wandering creatures whose only remaining purpose in life is to serve their parasitic hosts. No, not the terrifying subject of a new George A. Romero flick, but a genuine natural occurrence caused by fiendish little organisms that have evolved brain-controlling abilities in order to survive. Neuroparasitology is the scientific study of parasites that control … Continued
Animals that go to War
With our unparalleled ability to plan, organise, and wield weaponry, it seems like humans are uniquely gifted in the art of war. However, there’s nothing on our battlefields that Mother Nature didn’t think of first. From insect suicide bombers to violent monkey revolutionaries, our non-human counterparts can sometimes be every bit as strategic, coordinated, and … Continued
Nature’s hardest workers
It’s a tough old world out there for the honeybee, which exhausts itself for 60 hours a week to produce just a thimbleful of honey. Indeed, you’d be surprised how hard some members of the animal kingdom have to work just to survive, and they’re not exactly taking sick days or going on holiday between … Continued
Do you know about nature's strangest symbioses?
Out in the natural world it’s survival of the fittest. Whether that means being the fastest or strongest, the best camouflaged or most poisonous, or perhaps simply the most intelligent—nature has thought of it all. Amongst the most ingenious strategies are symbioses. These are species that have adapted, through chance, to rely on and benefit … Continued
Satisfy your natural curiosity with these awesome new documentaries
No doubt at some point in your life you’ll have been sitting outdoors when you noticed a long line of ants, slowly marching their way across the earthy ground. Where are they going? What are they doing? How do they know where they’re going? Well to satisfy that innate curiosity about these fascinating formicidaes, we’ve got a new … Continued
Ants are the ultimate global conquerors
There are over an estimated 22,000 different species of ants roaming our planet today. They’ve been roaming our planet since about 110 to 130 million years ago, when they evolved from a wasp-like ancestor. And they appear on just about every single landmass on the planet, except the Arctic, a few isolated islands and Antarctica … Continued
Why this unassuming ant is considered a prince among insects
In western culture, insects tend to be viewed as pests. There are exceptions, of course—bees who make our honey and ladybirds who keep our gardens aphid-free—but for the most part, minibeasts like flies, wasps and ants are seen as unwanted guests in our otherwise pristine human-centric environments. Not all cultures around the world are so … Continued
And the world's greatest pack hunters are...
If you thought the world’s greatest ‘pack’ hunters are wolves, technically you’re probably right. But there’s quite a few species that cooperatively hunt like wolves whose social units aren’t called packs, rather basks, drafts, pods, prides, casts, clans, colonies, congregations and troops. While the vast majority of meat-eaters hunt alone, there are a small percentage … Continued
Gardeners of the forest
Have you ever seen anyone digging with their gardening shovel in the forest or a preparing a seedling germination tray in the woods? Who then plants the teeming and endless variety of vegetation? Forests have their own expert gardeners who carry and spread seeds far and wide, keeping it alive and growing. In fact, 95 … Continued