New fossils from Ethiopia reveal a surprising human ancestor that lived alongside Lucy, climbed trees with ease, and relied on forest foods. The discovery reshapes our view of early human evolution and uncovers a hidden branch in our ancient family...

kept invisible for generations. For more than a century, the diverse populations of small, spotted felines roaming the forests of South and Central America have been lumped together under a single, simplified classification. Now, a comprehensive genetic...

toxic trap for eagles and bears. Over nine metric tons of toxic lead fragments have been left scattered across Swedish forests over the past 86 years from big game hunting gut piles, creating an ongoing environmental trap for vulnerable wildlife...

of seedless vascular plants that gave rise to seed plants, and lycopsids, ancient tree‑like plants common in Devonian forests, have both been reported from the Hujiersite Formation. Without direct plant tissue alongside the amber, however, a definitive...

tropical streams depend heavily on surrounding tree cover to regulate water temperatures and solar exposure. When riparian forests are cleared for agriculture, cattle ranching, or urbanization, sunlight floods the stream channels. This loss of canopy...

reassessment is critical for ecological management, as these insects can occasionally trigger large-scale foliage loss in forests and agricultural regions, making precise identification essential for addressing future outbreaks. Refining the Taxonomy...

years. Archaeologists have uncovered a massive, previously undocumented Maya city hidden in plain sight within the dense forests of Campeche, Mexico. Situated mere minutes from a major highway and surrounded by farmland worked for generations, the...

Error bars represent the standard error. Credit: Fiona Corominas et al. / PeerJ Can Mass Trapping Save Defoliated Forests? Mass trapping using male-attracting funnel pheromone traps deployed at a density of 100 traps per hectare yielded more modest...

unquantified. Light drives marine primary production, fueling organisms from microscopic phytoplankton to expansive kelp forests, seagrass meadows and coral habitats. Marine scientist François Thoral notes that while the significance of underwater...

species of ancient planthopper has shed light on a remarkable, forgotten feeding strategy that dominated Cretaceous forests nearly 100 million years ago. Named Cretodorus noonoo—a nod to the flexible-hosed vacuum character from the children’s show...

Researchers have discovered a mysterious fungus in Yunnan’s forests that disguised itself as strange white lumps, completely defying typical mushroom traits. Researchers exploring the dense forests of Yunnan, China, have identified a colossal new...

Mathematical models show that reintroduced wild cats need much larger groups and active migration corridors to escape long-term inbreeding. Vulnerable Eurasian lynx populations scattered across Central Europe fall far short of genetic stability goals...

is expanding its diet to the Japanese zelkova, a tree once thought to be safe from elm-specific pests, threatening urban forests and nurseries. Nature rarely works in perfect geometric patterns, so when residents in the Eastern United States and Canada...

Ancient volcanic ash fossils expose 16 extinct species and a million‑year‑old evolutionary mystery. Deep inside a limestone cavern on New Zealand’s North Island, scientists have uncovered a hidden layer of sediment that bridges a million‑year gap in...

levels. Afterwards, participants were randomly assigned to watch one of six ten‑minute videos: two showcasing tranquil forests or flowing streams, and four depicting bustling urban settings such as crowded sidewalks and traffic. Emotional responses were...

is a powerful reminder that pieces of the early solar system are still falling to Earth and sometimes lie hidden in quiet forests and fields. For the general public and science lovers, it offers several key takeaways: Our Planet Is Constantly...

Praia do Telheiro, two locales that preserve evidence of Neanderthal presence within a landscape once dominated by dunes, forests and coastal habitats. Unlike stone tools or animal bones, footprints provide a fleeting snapshot of where people actually...

Scientists uncover 16 extinct species in a sealed New Zealand cave, exposing a million‑year‑old extinction event hidden beneath volcanic ash. A hidden cave on New Zealand’s North Island, sealed beneath volcanic ash for more than a million years, has...

Scientists discover a secret monkey species in Congo’s remote forest, revealing a previously unknown primate hidden from modern science. Researchers have officially added a striking new primate to science’s roster: Colobus congoensis, a monkey...

across shared landscapes. In many parts of North America, wolves and cougars live side by side. They move through the same forests, hunt the same animals, and often follow the same seasonal rhythms of prey. At first glance, this overlap suggests...