Natural History Magazine

Features

Updated by modern-day economics and science, the “sport of kings” retains its ancient fascination.

Nature.net

An Internet guide to how muscles work

Samplings

Why would a tunnel-dweller sport flashy skin?

Samplings

Insects coax a plant to heal its wounds.

Samplings

A coral and a brittlestar pair up for life.

Samplings

Grasses make the simplest ratchets.

Samplings

South Asians mastered silk-making independently from the Chinese.

Samplings

Electric fields test the magnetic alignment of cattle and deer.

Samplings

Monkey moms give in to babies’ tantrums with an eye to who’s watching.

Samplings

Bowerbirds’ bachelor pads remain unburned after fires.

Samplings

Rising Atlantic temperatures are caused by a lack of dust in the overlying atmosphere.

Caves are among the predators’ favorite spots.

The brain doesn't much care whether an experience is real.

Humans will never win a sprint against your average quadruped. But our species is well-adapted for the marathon.

Hear author Xiaoming Wang interviewed by Vittorio Maestro, Editor in Chief of Natural History. (MP3, 17 minutes)

June 2009