Fewer than 100 Rice’s whales remain on Earth. Researchers say sonic blasts from oil exploration are a top threat to the species. See and hear why.

A sesame-seed-sized sea slug discovered in Taiwan is revealing a hidden world of tiny ocean life. A newly identified species of sea slug, so small that it is barely larger than a sesame seed, has been discovered in the coastal waters of Keelung, Taiwan. The tiny marine animal, named Thecacera sesama, features a translucent body [...]

A tiny worm discovered in the Great Salt Lake could help scientists better understand the origins and resilience of life in extreme environments. Its story remains largely a mystery. The Great Salt Lake is famous for brine shrimp, brine flies, and water so salty that few animals can survive in it. Now scientists have added [...]

A newly discovered tiny blue octopus from the Galápagos is a striking reminder that the deep ocean still holds countless secrets. The Galápagos Islands, located off the coast of Ecuador, are famous for their remarkable wildlife. More than a thousand species of plants and animals found there exist nowhere else on Earth, including giant tortoises [...]

Innovative systems to keep ships from hitting North Atlantic right whales are coming into use. The Trump administration is weighing whether they can replace a bedrock protection.

Innovative systems to keep ships from hitting North Atlantic right whales are coming into use. The Trump administration is weighing whether they can replace a bedrock protection.

© Sophie Park for The New York Times

The Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly hasn’t been seen in the wild since 2022. The caterpillar was the last individual in human care.

© Diana Cervantes for The New York Times

The finding effectively paves the way for continued use of atrazine, a widely used herbicide that has been linked to birth defects and cancer in humans.

© Julie Ingwersen/Reuters