Science

No. Polar bears are classified as Vulnerable, not Critically Endangered, on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s global Red List. That classification does not mean they are safe: their future is closely tied to Arctic sea ice, which is shrinking as the climate warms. What the conservation categories mean The IUCN Red List sorts […]

Boxelder bugs are generally not harmful to people, pets, or buildings. They do not bite, sting, or damage household materials, but large groups can be a nuisance, and crushed bugs may leave stains or an unpleasant odor. What Boxelder Bugs Are Boxelder bugs are insects named for the boxelder tree, one of their principal food

Some whales live in Arctic waters year-round, but many do not: seasonal sea ice, shifting food supplies, and the demands of breeding and migration make the region better habitat at certain times than others. The Arctic is not a single, permanently frozen sea, and whale species differ greatly in where they feed, reproduce, and travel.

Weird names for groups of birds include a murder of crows, a parliament of owls, a flamboyance of flamingos, and a pandemonium of parrots. These memorable terms are collective nouns: some are traditional, some are playful, and many are used more for color than as strict scientific labels. What Are Bird Group Names? A collective

The major types of insects include beetles, butterflies and moths, flies, bees and wasps, ants, true bugs, grasshoppers and crickets, dragonflies, and several smaller groups. Insects are classified by shared body structures and evolutionary relationships, not simply by whether they fly, bite, or live near people. What Makes an Animal an Insect? Insects belong to

Primary consumers are organisms that get energy by eating producers, such as plants or algae, and they are usually herbivores. Examples include caterpillars feeding on leaves, rabbits eating grasses, and zooplankton consuming microscopic algae; these organisms pass energy from producers to higher levels in a food chain. What “primary consumer” means The term comes from

Nonvascular plants are plants that lack the specialized water- and food-conducting tissues called xylem and phloem. This group includes mosses, liverworts, and hornworts; they are generally small and rely on moist surroundings and direct movement of water to carry out essential life processes. What “nonvascular” means In vascular plants, xylem moves water and dissolved minerals

Bean plant growth depends on light, temperature, water, soil, nutrients, space, and the plant’s variety and health. These factors work together: a bean in suitable soil can still grow poorly if it is shaded, waterlogged, or exposed to temperatures outside its preferred range. How bean plants grow Beans are legumes, a plant family that includes

Yes, toads live mostly on land, especially as adults, but they still depend on water and damp places. Like other amphibians, they usually return to water to reproduce, and their young develop there before becoming land-dwelling juveniles. What “Toad” Means “Toad” is a common name rather than a precise biological category that separates every toad

Yes. Snapping turtles have claws on all four feet, and the claws help them grip, dig, and move across uneven ground. Their feet are not flippers: they are sturdy, clawed limbs built for life in and around freshwater habitats. What snapping turtle claws look like A snapping turtle’s claws are pointed keratin structures at the