Australian Curiosity · Wildlife
Why a kangaroo's tail behaves like a powerful fifth leg
At a slow walk, a kangaroo plants its tail like a limb. Force measurements show it can push the animal forward as powerfully as all four legs combined.
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Remarkable animals, landscapes and natural systems, with the real mechanism behind each surprise.
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World Explained · Wildlife
Why one leg can be the easier option for a resting flamingo
A flamingo can become more stable as it relaxes on one leg. Experiments reveal how gravity supports the pose, while other studies show why temperature may influence when birds use it.
Australian Curiosity · Wildlife
How a platypus hunts with its eyes, ears and nostrils closed
Underwater, a platypus closes its eyes, ears and nostrils and lets thousands of touch and electrical receptors in its bill guide the hunt.
Australian Curiosity · Wildlife
Why wombats leave cube-shaped clues behind
Wombat droppings really do develop flat faces and corners. Experiments show that the shape is moulded inside the final part of the intestine.
Australian Curiosity · Wildlife
How the Tasmanian devil earned its fierce name
The Tasmanian devil's scream, toothy gape and night-time habits inspired a frightening name, but its behaviour and conservation story are more complicated.
World Explained · Ocean science
Why an octopus has blue blood and three hearts
Octopus blood turns blue because copper-based hemocyanin carries oxygen. Two hearts serve the gills, a third serves the body, and cold water complicates the whole system.
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