Posts by 

Cristina Ortiz

A disabled parrot becomes the alpha male of his group

Bruce the disabled parrot has risen to alpha status among his peers. Bruce does not have an upper beak, yet he excels with a unique beak-jousting tactic.

Small ants clean larger ants in a surprising twist of nature

Small ants clean larger ants, a researcher has discovered. It's the first known case of interspecies grooming between ants.

The tree-kangaroo lives in the hidden world of the treetops

The tree-kangaroo lives high in the rainforest canopy, leaping, climbing and revealing a surprising side of marsupial life few have seen.

Bull sharks choose companions and form lasting bonds

Bull sharks form enduring social bonds, selecting preferred companions and sustaining strong, structured networks in the wild.

A new platypus mystery … hollow hairs like bird feathers!

The platypus keeps amazing scientists: even its hair hides a strange secret that, until now, only birds were known to have.

Snow monkeys bathing in hot springs get health benefits

Snow monkeys stay warm in hot spring baths. These baths also affect their parasites and gut microbes. It's a cozy way to get a health benefit!

NASA helps giant tortoises return to a Galápagos island

Giant tortoises return to Floreana Island in the Galápagos. NASA satellites are guiding their release and helping revive the island’s wild ecosystem.

Queen bumblebees can survive a week underwater

We knew queen bumblebees were mighty. Each queen that survives winter founds a new colony in spring. Now we know they can survive underwater for over a week!

Why do female caribou have antlers unlike other female deer?

A new study says female caribou chew shed antlers to get essential minerals, helping feed their calves and gradually enriching the Arctic ecosystem.

The Winter Triangle stands out in the night sky

The Winter Triangle is a distinct pattern of stars in the night sky formed by 3 of the brightest stars: Sirius, Betelgeuse and Procyon.