As the rather strange and chaotic year 2024 draws to a close, it seems only fitting that the story of animal science that has captured everyone’s imagination is the one that researchers had crafted. why orcas sank expensive boats off the coast of Spain.
But what we’ve amusingly assumed was an “orcanized” crime wave might be something a little less sinister. After all, these animals are a playful bunch when they’re not mercilessly group hunting. This year, there have been reports of sightings of orcas “wearing” salmon on their heads, rekindling a unique fashion trend last spotted in the species. the 1980s.
With many animal science fans at New Atlas, it’s always difficult to narrow the list down to a manageable end-of-year list. So, from tiny insects taking epic journeys to birds riding hurricanes and hippos in flight, here are some of our favorite discoveries of 2024.
They help us all better understand the often amazing and incredibly diverse species with which we share this planet.