Meet the Endoterrestrials
They live thousands of feet below the Earth’s surface. They eat hydrogen and exhale methane. And they may shape our world more profoundly than we can imagine.
Life Up Close
Traveling the world to see microbes, plants, and animals in oceans, grasslands, forests, deserts, the icy poles—and wherever else they may be.
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Life Up Close is a project of The Atlantic, supported by the HHMI Department of Science Education.
When Conservationists Kill Lots (and Lots) of Animals
Invasive species are sometimes trapped, poisoned, and shot in large numbers to save native species from extinction. Some scientists say the bloodshed isn’t worth it.
Mysterious Glowing Clams Could Help Save the Planet
The world’s largest mollusks are experts at turning sunshine and algae into fuel.
Are Cities Making Animals Smarter?
A mysterious wildcat in Sri Lanka may hold a clue.
It’s Tough Being a Right Whale These Days
Life can be hell for giants of the deep—but does it have to be?
South America's Otherworldly Seabird
To save the tiny seabird, scientists are venturing to its secret home in the Atacama Desert—and sticking their noses into a lot of stinky holes in the ground.
Anti-Vaxxers Are Targeting a Vaccine for a Virus Deadlier Than Ebola
The vaccine for Hendra, a virus that can spread from horses to humans, has pitted owners against vets—revealing that science alone can't prevent the next global pandemic.
China Is Genetically Engineering Monkeys With Brain Disorders
A visit to a facility in Guangdong province, where researchers are tinkering with monkey brains in order to understand the most severe forms of autism
Visiting the Mysterious Fairy Circles of the Namib Desert
In the landscape where Mad Max: Fury Road was filmed, a scientist is trying to understand a natural phenomenon that has eluded explanation for decades.
The Jaguar Is Made for the Age of Humans
A writer comes face-to-face with the cat deep in the Amazon jungle and left with a new understanding of its surprising resilience to poaching and habitat loss.