Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
8285 results for "spider discovery"
A scientist cleaning a fossil after a long teaching day discovered the oldest known ancestor of spiders and scorpions, pushing their evolutionary history back 20 million years. The discovery shows that the complex body plan of modern spiders was already emerging during Earth's most explosive period of evolution.
A Harvard scientist spotted a tiny claw where an antenna should be and discovered the oldest spider ancestor ever found. The fossil pushes back the origin of spiders, scorpions, and horseshoe crabs by 20 million years.
University of Idaho scientists stumbled upon a brand new spider species while surveying forests near Kooskia, and this nickel-sized arachnid appears to live exclusively in the Gem State. The discovery could make Hexura vandal Idaho's official state spider.
Researchers in Ecuador discovered a spider that perfectly disguises itself as a deadly fungus that infects spiders. The find shows nature's creativity and highlights how citizen scientists are helping discover hidden wonders in rainforests.
Scientists in Australia discovered a spider that builds spring-loaded traps to launch aggressive ants at forces five times what fighter pilots endure. The ballista spider's hunting method has never been seen before and could unlock secrets about extreme force survival.
Scientists in Australia discovered a spider that uses a silk catapult to fling aggressive tree ants into its web with forces 15 times stronger than fighter pilots experience. The ballista spider's medieval weapon-inspired hunting technique is one of the most specialized prey-capture systems ever documented in nature.
Scientists just discovered a tiny spider in India's Western Himalayas that literally wears a smile on its back. The new species showcases nature's creativity with 32 different cheerful color patterns.
Scientists discovered spiders in Peru, the Philippines, and Madagascar crafting spider-shaped sculptures from debris to protect themselves from predators. Some even shake their webs to make the decoys move like larger, more intimidating spiders.
Scientists discovered that jumping spiders, with brains the size of poppy seeds, can dream during sleep and remember individual spiders they've met before. These coin-sized creatures are proving that intelligence doesn't require a big brain.
Scientists in Ecuador discovered a spider that perfectly mimics a parasitic fungus, fooling even researchers at first glance. This first-of-its-kind discovery shows nature's creativity and highlights how citizen scientists are helping unlock rainforest secrets.
A groundbreaking study of over 750 Nobel Prize and major discoveries reveals that new tools and methods, not just funding or theory, drive most scientific breakthroughs. The findings could help us predict and accelerate future discoveries across all fields of science.
Scientists discovered a spider smaller than a grain of rice that catches ants six times its size while living quietly in urban wall crevices. The tiny hunter might be helping control mosquito and fly populations in cities without anyone noticing.
Scientists in Ecuador discovered a spider that mimics a parasitic fungus growing on its own kind. This unprecedented camouflage strategy has never been documented in spiders before.
Scientists in Far North Queensland discovered a spider that catapults aggressive ants 30 centimeters into the air using a spring-loaded web trap. The tiny hunter uses a pheromone lure and Roman ballista-inspired technique to safely catch one of nature's most dangerous prey.
A curious boy on a remote Australian island found a tiny spider that stumped experts and turned out to be a species new to science. Scientists honored Murphy Widdowson by naming the spider Artoriopsis murphyi after him.
A tiny jumping spider in East Africa targets blood-filled mosquitoes with remarkable precision. Scientists discovered these spiders are attracted to human scent and could help control disease-carrying insects.
Two scientists hunting for ants in the Himalayas accidentally discovered a new spider species with a grinning face on its back. The twist? It evolved the same happy pattern as a spider in Hawaii, 7,000 miles away.
Scientists discovered tiny pincers on a 500 million year old fossil that could rewrite the entire evolutionary history of spiders. This ancient creature is helping researchers understand how one of Earth's most successful animal groups came to be.
Scientists in Thailand discovered that spider webs naturally trap living fungi, including species never before catalogued. This simple method could revolutionize how researchers track fungal diversity in farmland and beyond.
Researchers discovered 90% of North American insects and spiders have zero conservation protections, even though they're essential for healthy ecosystems. A new study is rallying support to protect these forgotten creatures before pest populations spiral out of control.
Showing 20 of 8285