A map of Charles Darwin’s voyage on the HMS Beagle.
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The Voyage of the HMS Beagle

Imagine spending almost five years sailing around the world, living on a boat the whole time! That is what Charles Darwin did from 1831–1836. He was the naturalist (a person who studies plants and animals … Read more

a yellow octopus against yellow seaweed
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How do octopuses blend in?

Octopuses are found in oceans worldwide, from shallow coasts to the darkest depths. The only hard part of their body is their beak, which they use to crack open crabs and clams for lunch. To … Read more

Dr. Jane Goodall interacting with a chimpanzee around 1965.
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Dr. Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall was a scientist who studied chimpanzees. She spent almost 30 years watching chimpanzees in the wild in Africa. She was known for waiting for groups of chimpanzees to get used to her presence. … Read more

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How strong is spider silk?

You see a complicated circular web that glows golden in the sunlight. A golden orb weaving spider has woven another masterpiece. You accidentally walk through it. The strands break and feel sticky. For a horsefly … Read more

Black Mamba snake
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Snake Bites for Science

Snake bites kill up to 138,000 people per year, and they permanently disable even more. Tim Friede was almost one of those people. In fact, the Wisconsin man spent four days in a coma after … Read more

a person holds their hand behind their ear
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Do Humans Have Ear Muscles?

Can you wiggle your ears? About one in five people can. New research shows that even if you can’t, you have ear muscles that automatically kick into action when you are straining to hear sounds. … Read more