Nature

Nature

From the tiniest single-celled organisms to the giants that roam the Earth, the animal kingdom is one that fascinates us all. Every day we learn more about the creatures we share the planet with, all 1.5 million-plus of them, and that's just the ones we have discovered so far. Whether we keep them as pets, eat them for food or study them for science, our relationship with animals is complex, but is part of the very nature of what makes us human.

Prehistoric ‘dancefloor’ could reveal how dinosaurs flirted

Everybody walk the dinosaur…?
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Why you're probably stroking your cat completely wrong (and how to do it right)

Fun fact: your cat probably hates the way you're currently petting them.
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Which animal has the sharpest teeth?

This sharp-toothed creature was similar to an eel and lived 500 to 200 million years ago
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What's the most painful insect sting?

Meet the insect with the most painful sting in the world
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10 simple ways to keep your dogs safe and happy during a heatwave

Pro tips to keep your furry friend cool when it’s hot outside.
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Mosquitoes are set to get more dangerous in the UK and US. Here’s why

“It’s not a case of ‘if’, but ‘when’,” says a professor who specialises in pest-borne diseases
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Killer whales filmed using tools for the first time – and scientists are stunned

Fancy a scrub?
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This 80-million-year-old shark species is a biological mystery

Meet the frilled shark, one of nature's weirdest creatures
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What is the deadliest creature in the UK?

Man’s best friend? Yeah, right.
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What makes tardigrades so indestructible?

Scientists are beginning to understand what makes tardigrades (otherwise known as 'water bears') so indestructible
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Can seagulls really get drunk on flying ants?

Gorging on flying ants could make seagulls appear to act drunk, thanks to formic acid - which is toxic to birds
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Polar bears are being poisoned by mercury dumped a century ago

Toxic tides are delivering the dangerous pollutant to animals and people at the top of the world
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This bizarre shrinking frog is breaking nature's biggest rules

How can a frog get smaller as it grows up?
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6 brutal hurricanes could soon hit the US. Here's what that means

Deepening ocean heat, shifting Pacific patterns and atmospheric quirks are lining up to fuel a busy Atlantic storm season – and some of the fiercest hurricanes may strike late in the year
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These extremely rare videos show sharks feeding together

Two different species of shark peacefully nom on their decaying lunch
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Nature's cutest maniac: Why this (very adorable) sea slug eats sunlight for breakfast

Get to know all about the Costasiella kuroshimae - the leaf sheep sea slug
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Scientists finally solve bizarre 40-year-old sea monster mystery

This creature was unlike anything scientists had seen before. Now we know what it was
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The mystery of this 10,000-dinosaur graveyard may have just been solved

Buried in the forests of Alberta, Canada, lies one of the densest dinosaur bone beds ever found
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The top 22 most ugly animals in the world, in pictures

Not all creatures can be beautiful, but they all have interesting stories to tell
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Why is my dog scooting?

Here's what your dog is trying to tell you when it's rubbing its bum across the ground.
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Ginger cats are genetic freaks, confirms science

On top of being certified agents of chaos, orange cats are now officially DNA weirdos
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Billions of cicadas are emerging across the US. Will their pee be a problem?

These hummingbird-sized bugs can spray urine three times faster than a human
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Chimpanzees have been filmed drumming in the wild. And scientists are stunned

Step aside, Phil Collins – these wild chimpanzees have remarkable rhythm, with no drum kit in sight
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Why do dogs dig the carpet before going to sleep?

Spoiler: dogs are domesticated wolves
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