Topic

Animals in Culture

A collection of 40 issues

The Misunderstood Mosquito: Why Only Females Are to Blame for Your Itch

Only female mosquitoes are responsible for itchy bites, as they require protein and iron from blood to develop their eggs. Male mosquitoes have a completely different diet, feeding on nectar much like bees, making them harmless to humans and other animals.

The Fungal Puppeteer: Inside the World of Real-Life Zombie Ants

The Ophiocordyceps fungus infects carpenter ants, controlling their bodies to find an ideal location for spore dispersal. After a final "death grip," the fungus consumes the host and erupts from its head, a chillingly precise cycle of parasitic replication.

The Sinner's Supper: Uncovering the Secret Ritual of the Ortolan Bunting

The ortolan bunting, a tiny songbird, is the centerpiece of a controversial and illegal French gastronomic ritual. This clandestine tradition involves force-feeding the bird, drowning it in Armagnac, and eating it whole under a napkin to hide the act from God or to savor the intense aroma.

A Prehistoric Masquerade: The Strange Case of the Trilobite Beetle

The Trilobite Beetle, found in Southeast Asian rainforests, is a living fossil with a 47-million-year-old lineage. It displays extreme sexual dimorphism: males are typical beetles, but the much larger females retain their larval, trilobite-like form for life, a rare trait called neoteny.

Grounded Titans: The Square-Cube Law and the Surprising Reason Ants Can't Fly

Ants can lift objects many times their weight due to the square-cube law, where strength scales differently than mass at small sizes. However, this incredible strength isn't the same as the ability to fly. Flight requires generating lift, a force that lifting another ant simply can't create.

Beyond Locomotion: Meet the Centipede's Surprising 'Ultimate Legs'

Centipedes are known for their many legs, but the rearmost pair, aptly named 'ultimate legs,' aren't for walking. These specialized appendages are multi-purpose tools used for defense, grasping prey, and even as sensory organs, revealing a hidden complexity in this familiar arthropod.

Meet Hyalinobatrachium dianae: The Real-Life Kermit Frog and Its Transparent Truth

Discovered in Costa Rica, Hyalinobatrachium dianae charmed the world with its striking resemblance to Kermit the Frog. Beyond its pop culture appeal, this glass frog offers a rare window into biology with its translucent skin, revealing its organs—a living lesson in nature's ingenuity.

The Legally Protected Gypsy Chickens of Key West: How Feral Fowl Became a Cultural Treasure

In the quirky island city of Key West, Florida, a feral chicken population, descended from birds brought by immigrants for food and sport, enjoys unique legal protection. These 'gypsy chickens' are considered a historical treasure, making it illegal to harm them as they roam the streets freely.

Feel, Don't Tap: The Hidden Sensitivity of a Tortoise's Shell

Contrary to popular belief, a tortoise's shell is not an inanimate object. It's a living, sensitive part of its body, fused to its skeleton and filled with nerve endings. This means tortoises can feel every tap, scratch, and change in temperature directly through their protective armor.