Why zebras have black and white stripes is a question that has intrigued scientists and spectators for centuries. A research team led by UC Davis, has now examined this riddle (in a very systematic way). Many hypotheses for zebra stripes have been proposed since Alfred Russel Wallace and Charles Darwin debated the problem 120 years … Read more
The trilobite, which became extinct millions of years ago, is commonly known as one of the first complex forms of life on earth. Their fossils can be found in many parts of the world and are often collected for their interesting shapes and varieties. (There’s even a vacuum cleaner designed after this creature…) In fact there are actually 20,000 known varieties of … Read more
Researchers at UC Berkeley are studying the way lizards use their tails for balance. They’re using this information to develop better robots that could be used in search and rescue missions. See how “Tailbot” works →
Octavio Aburto, a Scripps Oceanography research scientist, traveled to a marine reserve in Mexico and took this stunning photo of bigeye jacks swirling like a tornado in front of David Castro, a local naturalist. (And in case you think it’s photoshopped, here’s the behind the scenes video.)
An Animal Planet segment ponders how and why this cat seems to be playing the piano. Animal behaviorist and UC Davis alumna Dr. Sophia Lin says that cats can hear and understand different tones played on instruments such as the piano. Additionally these animals are born imitators and so this cat could very well be … Read more