National Geographic News - Science

VIDEO: Green Dream Machines Debut

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

By turns spacey, electric, and just plain cute, fuel-saving car designs from Ford, Saab, Mini, and others took center stage at the British International Motor Show.

PHOTO IN THE NEWS: "Conjoined" Birds Puzzle Experts

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The twin barn swallows don't show physical features associated with the genetic abnormality, leaving experts unsure how the young birds came to be literally attached at the hip.

Total Solar Eclipse on August 1: Where, How to See It

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The path of totality will sweep across northern Canada into central Russia and Mongolia before ending in China, and experts are urging safe viewing practices among skywatchers.

VIDEO: Solar Eclipse Coming August 1

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Parts of the Northern Hemisphere will soon see a rare total solar eclipse. Find out how it works, where to watch, and more.

Big Brains Arose Separately in Multiple Primate Groups

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The trend toward larger brains relative to body size developed independently in isolated groups of primates, according to a new fossil analysis.

PHOTOS: Noisy Fish Reveal Evolution of Vocalizing

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Toadfish grunts, bird songs, and human speech are all controlled by a common brain circuit that first appeared in animals hundreds of millions of years ago, a new paper says.

Humming Fish Reveal Ancient Origin of Vocalization

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Humans, birds, and other land animals share a brain circuit for vocalizing with toadfish, suggesting that the mechanism first appeared in animals 400 million years ago, a new study says.

SPACE PHOTOS THIS WEEK: Star Mystery, Mars Rift, More

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Signs of water on Mars, "colorful" wildfires, and a massive dust storm over the Mideast join this week's roundup of space-themed pictures.

VIDEO: Sand Swallowing China City

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The "singing" sands of Dunhuang are no longer music to the ears of city residents, who face disappearing rivers, buried farms, dust-choked homes, and other ills.

VIDEO: "Annoying" Bird Mimics Sirens

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Having mastered some of the world's most grating sounds—sirens, cell phone ringtones—a blackbird is irritating Britons with its powers of mimicry.