Science

Hawks are birds of prey, but the name covers several distinct groups rather than one single kind of bird. In North America, the hawks people most often notice are broad-winged buteos, agile forest-dwelling accipiters, and open-country harriers; elsewhere, local names and classifications vary. What Counts as a Hawk? “Hawk” is a common name, not a […]

A cotyledon is the embryonic leaf, or one of the embryonic leaves, inside a seed. Its main function is to help the young plant get established: it may store and supply food, or it may absorb food from the seed’s storage tissue, and in some plants it also becomes an early photosynthetic leaf. What “cotyledon”

Polar bear fur is usually described as white, but the hairs themselves are not white: they are transparent and largely colorless. They scatter and reflect visible light, which makes the coat look white or cream-colored, while the skin beneath it is black. What a Polar Bear’s Coat Looks Like In everyday viewing, a polar bear

Moths are insects in the order Lepidoptera, the same order as butterflies, and they come in many forms, from tiny clothes moths to large hawk moths. There is no single definitive list of “kinds”: scientists classify moths into many families, while everyday names often describe their appearance, habitat, or habits. What Counts as a Moth?

Frogs and toads are both amphibians in the order Anura, so a toad is a kind of frog in the broad scientific sense. In everyday use, “frog” usually means a smoother-skinned animal with long hind legs and a close link to water, while “toad” usually means a stockier, drier-looking animal adapted to spend more time

Many animals have no external tail, and others are born with a very short one or lose it during their lives. The answer depends on what “no tail” means: a frog has no tail as an adult, while a tailless whip scorpion lacks a true tail but has long, tail-like feelers. What counts as a

The bottlenose dolphin is often considered the most intelligent animal in the ocean, especially when intelligence is judged by social learning, communication, problem-solving, and flexible behavior. There is no single scientific test that ranks every marine species, however, and other animals—including whales, octopuses, and some fish—show remarkable abilities of their own. What “intelligent” means in

Tree frogs are frogs adapted for climbing, often living in trees and shrubs, though many also use wetlands, grasslands, or the ground. Their gripping toes, varied calls, and dependence on suitable moisture make them a diverse group of amphibians rather than a single kind of frog. The name is informal: it commonly refers to members

Almonds originate in western and central Asia, where wild almond relatives grew long before people cultivated the trees. Botanists generally place the cultivated almond’s early domestication in a broad region that includes parts of present-day Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and nearby areas; from there, cultivation spread west into the Mediterranean and eventually to other continents. What

Celery is classified botanically as a vegetable: it is the cultivated plant Apium graveolens, grown mainly for its crisp leaf stalks. In everyday cooking, it is treated as a vegetable and an aromatic ingredient, although its botanical family also includes herbs and spices such as parsley, carrots, and cumin. Celery’s Basic Classification Celery belongs to