New Scientist

More than 130 years after a fungus-eating orchid species was discovered, the purpose of its mysterious appendage has been revealed

Photographer Luisa Maria Stagno is on a mission to document the most unusual pigeons out there, from a Danish Suabian to a Gimpel

Feedback is delighted by a YouTuber's sterling efforts to make Michael Crichton's velociraptors more accurate – but points out that they're still far too big

The animals' teeth are constantly being worn down due to their tough diet. But rather than losing calcium this way, they could be recycling it to help grow their teeth back up to size

A jawbone found in a Moroccan mine was thought to be a novel species of marine reptile from the Cretaceous period, but other researchers believe it is probably a fake

From 2000 to 2022, the US legally imported almost 30,000 different species of plants and animals, from songbirds to reptiles

A marine crustacean that looks like Darth Vader’s helmet has been recognised as a new species, but it could be under threat from trawling due to its popularity in Vietnamese restaurants

Sabre teeth can be ideal for puncturing the flesh of prey, which may explain why they evolved in different groups of mammals at least five times

Social media is rife with claims that banana skins can have a transformative effect on our houseplants. James Wong unpeels the science behind the trend

Could cultivating wild cocoa help us produce great chocolate ethically? A stirring account reveals the problems of trying to transform an industry

In the centenary of naturalist Gerald Durrell’s birth, a new memoir adds rich new layers to what we know about the man

Two species of marine molluscs dating back about 430 million years have been named Punk and Emo for their outlandish spiky appearance

Male flies have been genetically engineered to produce poisonous proteins in their seminal fluid, a technique that could be employed against pests and disease carriers

Patrícia Medici is a world-leading expert in Brazil's lowland tapirs.  She is using scientific data to protect these animals, which play an essential role in rainforest ecosystems

A velvet ant sting is like “hot oil spilling over your hand” – now, scientists have identified molecules in its venom that let it deliver excruciating pain to a variety of other animals

The teeth of dolphins and other toothed whales are connected to a uniquely thick bundle of nerve fibres, which might play a role in sound detection

A scorpion discovered in South America can spray venom out of its stinger and hit targets up to 35 centimetres away

The songs of male humpback whales seem to become more complex in the months before they look for a mate, suggesting a rehearsal period may be important for good performance

From bee slaps to ant amputations, 2024 has been a fascinating year to learn more about the animal kingdom

A newly described species of giant pitcher plant is one of the biggest ever found, with leaves covered in fur the same colour as orangutans