Birds sing in the morning primarily to mark their territory: by singing at dawn, they remind their neighbors which areas are already taken, in order...
Plankton is a true floating cafeteria, freely drifting in the oceans and nourishing a multitude of marine organisms. It plays a major role as the...
Algae are champions at producing oxygen through photosynthesis. Like terrestrial plants, they capture sunlight using their pigments (notably chlorophyll), and then take in carbon dioxide...
Leafcutter ants often carry fragments much larger than themselves, sometimes up to 50 times their own weight. Why this seemingly exhausting choice? In reality, hauling...
Recycling paper allows for the production of new products without constantly tapping into natural resources, which greatly helps to reduce the demand for virgin wood. Essentially, the...
During an oil spill, the oil forms a thick sticky layer on the surface that can suffocate marine animals. This oily mass prevents seabirds from...
Even though the water of a mountain stream appears as clear as crystal, it can host invisible but dangerous pollutants. Sometimes, there are agricultural chemicals, including traces...
In fireflies, light production comes from chemical reactions in their abdomen. This is called bioluminescence. Specifically, a molecule called luciferin reacts with oxygen under the...
Top predators, also known as super predators, prevent certain species from becoming dominant and overly reducing the populations of other animals or plants. For example, by limiting...
Every year, monarch butterflies embark on a true aerial marathon of nearly 4,000 kilometers. Incredible but true, these fragile insects, weighing just a few grams, can fly...