New Scientist

A study estimating humpback whale numbers in the North Pacific Ocean from crowdsourced photos reveals a sharp decline from 2012 to 2021 after decades of slow population growth

Although they are carnivores, black-backed jackals are partial to the melon-like fruits of the !nara plant and help to disperse its seeds across the desert

The hingemouth, an African freshwater fish, can stick out a proboscis for feeding or breathing thanks to the unique arrangement of its jaw anatomy

The drumming sound of the 12-millimetre-long fish Danionella cerebrum can hit 140 decibels – now scientists have figured out how they do it

Ancient and fragile papyrus samples are at risk of being damaged by fungi, but a wasabi-based treatment can disinfect them without damage

It may seem counterintuitive, but trophy hunting leads to a lot of land being protected instead of being used for agriculture or logging – which can ultimately benefit animals

Pigs that have been given genetically engineered immunity to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, a major and costly disease, could be on the market within two years

Since the 1970s, gardening wisdom has written off as useless the old practice of painting a tree’s pruning wounds. James Wong isn’t so sure

The distinctive melodies of baleen whales are produced by pushing air against a fatty cushion on one side of the larynx, and a sac lets them recycle air back into the lungs

The yellow-crested helmetshrike was considered lost after going unseen for nearly 20 years – now an expedition has rediscovered what appears to be a healthy population in central Africa

A deadly flower kills the gnats that pollinate it but may help the insects’ offspring in return, which indicates that plant-pollinator relationships may be more complex than previously thought

Diving seabirds, a tiny octopus and a close encounter with a grey whale feature in breathtaking entries for the 2024 Underwater Photographer of the Year competition

Markers of biological ageing in polar bear tissue samples reveal that stress associated with climate change appears to be taking a toll

Changing the microbial community on the roots of tea plants can improve the flavour and nutritional content of the leaves, leading to a better-tasting cuppa

Different species of poison frogs tap their toes when feeding to create vibrations that cause flies to move closer to them

Taken in the Svalbard archipelago, Nima Sarikhani's image has scooped the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award

Scientists have grown cow muscle cells inside grains of rice to create a new food product that could supply protein with a lower carbon footprint than beef

During courtship rituals, female scorpions appear to willingly let males sting them, which may be a way for them to evaluate prospective mates

Chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and gorillas frequently toy with their peers by poking, tickling or stealing from them, perhaps showing behaviours that were prerequisites for human joking

Some pet dogs retain their baby teeth, creating two rows that resemble the mouth of a shark. A new analysis shows that the condition is more prevalent in smaller breeds and obese dogs