Posts by 

Alex Reshanov

Lifeform of the week: Corpse flower

Parasitic flowers of the genus Rafflesia are monstrous in size and diabolical in smell.

Lifeform of the week: Portuguese Man o’ War

Don’t call the Portuguese Man o’ War a jellyfish. And don’t get near its stinging tentacles, even if it’s dead.

Lifeform of the week: From cacao tree to chocolate valentine

Nothing says "I love you" like roasted and pulverized cacao beans, better known as chocolate.

Lifeform of the week: Carnivorous plants

Faced with lousy soil conditions, some plants came up with a novel solution - eating meat.

Lifeform of the week: Woodpeckers

These birds don't need a hammer or a helmet to do some serious woodworking.

Lifeform of the week: Vampires are real!

You might think twice about walking down that dark alley alone after learning about the nefarious habits of the vampire bat, squid and finch.

Lifeform of the week: Fishing cats

Boldly going where few cats have gone before: into the water.

Lifeform of the week: Hoatzin

Physiologically and evolutionarily, the hoatzin is a fascinating bird. Just hold your nose when you're near it.

Lifeform of the week: Brain mushroom

The brain mushroom is that rare species with the distinction of being both edible and poisonous.

Probiotics revisited: How – and if – they work

Stores are full of probiotic products, but are we any closer to understanding if and how they work?