Fire ants tunnels got excavated efficiently by only a small percentage of the group doing most of the work, thus avoiding pileups in tight spaces. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Daniel Ackerman.

Genetic information from the bones of macaws found in abandoned pueblos suggests they were bred and distributed as a commodity. Christopher Intagliata reports. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Christopher Intagliata.

Milkweed grown with more carbon dioxide in the air supplies fewer toxins to monarch butterflies that need the toxins to fight off gut parasites. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Marissa Shieh.

Crows are what's known as 'partial migrants'—as cold weather approaches some crows fly south, while others stay put. And that behavior appears to be ingrained. Christopher Intagliata... -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Christopher Intagliata.

About 80 percent of Earth's biomass is plant life, with humans about equal to krill way down the heft chart. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Andrea Thompson.

The Michigan Scientific Literacy Survey of 2017 found that last year's total solar eclipse got Americans more interested in celestial science. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Karen Hopkin.

The insects fashion and use "baffles"—sound controllers—made of leaves to produce sound more efficiently. Jason G. Goldman reports. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Jason G. Goldman.

Researchers programmed a computer to compare structures and toxic effects of different chemicals, making it possible to then predict the toxicity of new chemicals based on their structural similarity... -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Deboki Chakravarti.

Both men and women tended to pursue mates just 25 percent more desirable than themselves—suggesting they are "optimistic realists." Christopher Intagliata reports. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Christopher Intagliata.

Whale ancestors probably never had teeth and baleen at the same time, and only developed baleen after trying toothlessness and sucking in prey. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Annie Sneed.

A variety of corn from Oaxaca, Mexico, has aerial roots that harbor nitrogen-fixing bacteria, allowing the corn to suck nitrogen straight from the air. Christopher Intagliata reports. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Christopher Intagliata.

Birds become good at avoiding danger by eavesdropping on the alarm calls of other birds—and the learning occurs without even seeing their peers or predators. Christopher Intagliata... -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Christopher Intagliata.

An analysis of the Hong Kong metro found microbes, including some with antibiotic resistance genes, freshly disperse throughout the system each day. Christopher Intagliata reports. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Christopher Intagliata.

Different people have differing aptitudes for observing small changes and particular features. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Simon Makin.

About 5 percent of crows will attempt to copulate with other crows that have joined the choir invisible. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Jason G. Goldman.

Certain proteins that coordinate the healing response are present at higher levels in oral tissue—meaning wounds in the mouth fix faster. Christopher Intagliata reports. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Christopher Intagliata.

More than 2,500 scientists signed a letter saying that an expanded U.S.–Mexico border wall would threaten both biodiversity and scientific research. Christopher Intagliata reports. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Christopher Intagliata.

Researchers used a couple of hundred dollars worth of materials to turn a wall into a giant touch screen -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Prachi Patel.

By analyzing the proteins in ancient dental plaque, archaeologists determined that British menus almost three millennia ago featured milk, oats and peas. Christopher Intagliata reports. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Christopher Intagliata.

Chemicals designed to simulate honeybee alarm pheromones could deter elephants from farmers’ crops, easing conflicts with humans. Annie Sneed reports. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Annie Sneed.

Extreme sea level rise could swamp internet cabling and hubs by 2033—and coastal cities like New York, Seattle and Miami are at greatest risk. Christopher Intagliata reports. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Christopher Intagliata.

Shark researchers used a system for recognizing patterns in star field photographs to identify whale sharks, which have individual spot patterns. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Annie Sneed.

A study of human–mammal interaction across the globe found animals are more prone to take to the night around humans. Jason G. Goldman reports. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Jason G. Goldman.

The International Astronomical Union reports that there are now 79 known Jovian moons, with a dozen found last year. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Steve Mirsky.

Some moth species have evolved long wing tails that flutter and twist as the moth flies, which distract hungry bats. Christopher Intagliata reports. -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.comBy Christopher Intagliata.