Charging elephants don’t run
Asian elephants can charge up to 20 km/h, a quick pace for animals of their size. But despite appearances, they don’t technically run, say scientists from Belgium, Italy and Thailand.
Aboriginal arrival in Australia did not increase fire activity
Despite the widely held belief that the arrival of aboriginal people in Australia caused an increase in fire activity, a comprehensive study of 223 sites by an international team of scientists suggests that…
Travel feature: Bears and the Bering Sea
A landscape of remote, icy islands, ice-clad volcanoes, and lush green valleys winding through jagged mountain ranges — the Russian Coast is a remarkably diverse and inspiring wilderness.
New species of lemur discovered in Madagascar
It’s cute with a long tongue and big feet and it’s not much bigger than a squirrel. Scientists from Conservation International have announced the discovery of a potentially new species of lemur in…
Copenhagen enforces green roof policy
Denmark’s capital is set to become a city of sky gardens, with the passing of a mandatory green roof law for new buildings.
Born to climb: Tashi Tenzing on Everest
More than half a century after his grandfather became one of the first men in the world to summit Everest, the spirit of adventure lives on in Tashi Tenzing.
Green your home: cutting waste down to zero
Household rubbish isn’t all about the kitchen bin. From chemical refuse to garage junk, most unwanted objects can take on a new life somewhere else, as long as you know where to put…
Unicorn flies discovered in amber
A hundred million years ago, flies with horns on the top of their heads were buzzing around modern-day Myanmar (formerly Burma).
Toucan’s giant beak explained
The toucan’s large beak makes up about a third of the bird’s body length and as much as 40 per cent of the bird’s total surface area.
Backyard bugs: Meet the Blue Banded Bee
For a long time people thought that blue banded bees were only attracted to blue and purple flowers. While it is true that they have a particular fondness for blue things (and not…
