The Number of Endangered Species in Each US Stateby…

The Number of Endangered Species in Each US State by u/malxredleader Sources: IUCN, GBIF Tools: R, QGIS Notes: This map depicts the number of endangered species in each US state. The data in this map are based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species which classifies organisms by their …

Certain Spider Species are Becoming Social and Smarter

While most of the world’s 50,000 spider species are overwhelmingly non-social, a new study has identified a few that are living together and sharing resources. Furthermore, the genes of these social and “subsocial” spiders are similar to those found in other social animals. Photo Credit: iStock The study, published in Nature Communications, noted that the …

500,000-Year-Old Tools May Have Belonged To A Species Of Extinct Hominid

The tools, found in a Polish cave, seem to suggest that early humans made their way into central Europe earlier than anyone had previously thought. Experts believe the tools were likely fashioned by Homo heidelbergensis, the last common ancestor of Neanderthals and modern humans. “Peopling of Central Europe by Middle Pleistocene hominids is highly debatable, mainly due …

A major UCLA study says that at least 65 species of animals laugh

This article first appeared on 1.14.22 Laughter is one of the most natural impulses in humans. Most babies start to laugh out loud at around 3 to 4 months, far earlier than they are able to speak or walk. Expressing enjoyment or delight comes naturally to us, but we’re not the only creatures who communicate …

This Newly Discovered Bee Species Has A Very Unique Look

Bees have gotten a total marketing overhaul since humans realized how closely our survival is linked with theirs. People are starting to see how objectively adorable the little insects are, and how fascinating their small societies are, to boot. This new species of bee looks a lot like a dog, which is both how it …