Genes link birdsong and human speech

Humans and vocal birds like parrots use essentially the same genes to speak.

Probing the Big Bang of bird evolution

Big bird news! A consortium of 200 scientists in 20 countries has released its first results on the origins and diversity of birds. Overview plus video here.

Chickens and turkeys closer to dinos than other birds

Songbirds and other birds sprang from dinosaurs, too. But new work indicates that chickens and turkeys are genetically closest to their dino ancestors.

Video: Best storm footage ever?

High plains storms. The opening is brilliant .... the end is awesome. (You'll like the rest too.) Video by Nicolaus Wegner.

Video: Moonlight skating in Sweden

"Nights like these are almost to good to be true." See this touching, just-released video.

Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count starts December 14

Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count starts December 14 and runs through January 5. It’s free and anyone can participate, but you have to sign up in advance. Here's how.

Is El Nino here? Not quite yet, scientists say

Despite warm waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, the latest update from NOAA explains why El Nino has still not fully developed.

Incredible video of dense fog over Dallas

Video capture by a drone of dense fog with zero visibility on Tuesday, December 9, in Dallas, Texas. Amazing visuals!

Killing rats to save birds as glaciers recede

Glacier melt means rats can reach bird nests on South Georgia, an island north of Antarctica and east of the Falklands. What to do? Send in helicopters!

The yin-yang of sea ice at Earth’s poles

Arctic sea ice is decreasing. Antarctic sea ice is at an all-time high. How can that be? This 3-minute video offers an explanation.