From Cosmos, origins of animals: The humble sea sponge has a surprisingly intricate genome including the blueprint for complex vertebrates — and it’s not even a true animal; and animal pharm: Transgenic animals are poised to become pharmaceutical factories, churning out everything from natural insulin to cancer treatments. Travis the Menace: He was the most famous ape in America — but to really understand a chimp, you have to know his mother. Arctic roamers: Ed Struzik on the move of southern species into far north. Can you hear me now? Animals all over the world are finding interesting ways to get around the human din. A review of Life in a Shell: A Physiologist's View of a Turtle by Donald C. Jackson. Rebirth of the guinea hens: Mark Bowden's fowl defy the blogosphere and stage a comeback. On photography and how it's changed our perception of animals: An interview with Matthew Brower, author of Developing Animals: Wildlife and Early American Photography. Everything you wanted to know about dinosaur sex: By studying dinosaurs' closest living relatives, we are able to uncover their secret mating habits and rituals. A kinder, gentler, bisexual great ape: An article on Dominique Morel’s quest to save the bonobo. The history of lice and men is a long, itchy story that intertwines co-evolution not only with these blood-sucking little parasites but also with the microbes they carry. The Mind of a Police Dog: How misconceptions about dogs can lead to abuse of humans.
