Author Stuart Blackman

Stuart Blackman

Recent articles by Stuart Blackman
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"He was seen convulsing at the surface – before sinking out of sight…" 10 most dangerous, deadliest animals in the Andes, including one that causes 10,000 deaths a year

The longest continental mountain range in the world is naturally full of predators - here are the deadliest...
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Pilobolu crystallinus

It lives in poop, detonates at 90kph and dubbed the 'dung cannon'

Fungi aren’t generally known for their speed, yet one group is quicker off the mark than perhaps any other organism on the planet, the Pilobolus crystallinus
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DINOSAUR EXHIBITION IN EDMONTON, CANADA

What is the oldest known DNA, and is Jurassic Park still theoretically possible?

And do we even need to find ancient DNA to reconstruct dinosaur genetic sequences?
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A newt lies flat on a wet surface

"Its ribs stretch the skin to the point that they burst right through it, producing a row of barbs that inject poison into any predator"

The Spanish ribbed newt has one of the most spectacular defence mechanisms out there. Find out how it fights back...
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boomslang snake

"His notes make harrowing reading: Bleeding of mucous membranes began about 5.30pm, urination at 12.20am, mostly blood, a good deal of abdominal pain"

Karl P Schmidt documented his harrowing symptoms from a deadly snake bite as his condition deteriorated
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Rainforest animal Verreaux’s sifakas

How do animals survive life on the equator? The astonishing tricks rainforest creatures use to survive the world’s hottest, wettest forests

Whether it's hot and humid or cold and dry, there are many challenging environments along the Equator. So how have animals adapted to it?
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Are cleverer animals better at crossing roads

Are smarter animals better at crossing roads?

Can animals learn to be street-wise? Stuart Blackman takes a look at the evidence
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Pair Warthogs closeup with tusks showing feeding in grass Uganda

They should be enemies… but what these 2 animals do for each other has amazed experts and left them speechless

Research reveals cross-species co-operation between warthogs and mongooses.
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Are there albino plants?

Can you get albino plants, like you can albino animals?

Most people associate albinism with animals, but albino plants do exist says Stuart Blackman
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They form a terrifying, deadly ‘fence’ to catch and kill their prey

Science writer Stuart Blackman analyses hunting strategies of the slithery kind. 
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Brazilian porcupine

It’s covered in terrifying quills so, what could possibly eat a porcupine?

Surely a porcupine's prickly quills would put off a hungry predator? Not necessarily says Stuart Blackman
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Argentine Blue bill has the biggest penis

"At 8 times their body length, this flexible appendage is at risk of being snapped off." Which animal has the biggest penis? (It's probably not what you think)

Penises come in a remarkable range of shapes and sizes, says Stuart Blackman, as he investigates which animal has the biggest
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Bobbit worm

It's a terrifying, ruthless, 3-metre long, deep-sea predator that can slice its prey in half – and its venom can cause permanent numbness in humans

The Bobbit worm is a fearsome marine predator that burrows into the sand and waits for unsuspecting prey. Stuart Blackman explains all you need to know about this terrifying marine worm
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ImageBROKER/ Kevin Sawford/ Getty Images

"Its deadly poison contains heart-toxins, which are potent enough to kill elephants." The 10 deadliest rodents on the planets – including a poisonous rat

Stuart Blackman investigates the 10 deadliest rodents, including human eating hamsters and poisonous rats
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Snapping shrimp

“It’s effectively ripping apart the water.” It's only an inch long but this creature creates shockwaves of over 200 decibels

Despite its size, the pistol shrimp boasts one of the best (and loudest) weapons in the ocean.
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Orb-web Spider species -probably Cyclosa spec.-, building spider dummies with several legs from plant debris and dead insects to deflect from enemy attacks, Tambopata Nature Reserve, Madre de Dios Region, Peru

Think you’re seeing a giant, humongous spider? Think again… as all is not what it appears

Meet the puppet master...
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First recorded in the UK in 1879, false widow spiders have had a recent surge of media attention. © Alex Hyde/naturepl.com

Are false widow spiders really a danger to children?

False widow spiders are one of the few spiders in the UK capable of delivering a venomous bite to human, but does that justify all the scaremongering? Matt Shardlow from Buglife explains.
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Orient mosquito (Anopheles minimus) engorged with blood, feeding on a human host. © Smith Collection/Gado/Contributor/Getty

Why do some people suffer more bug bites than others?

Striped Pyjama Squid

It spends all day in bed and looks like it's wearing striped pyjamas – but its cuteness conceals a toxic side

Yes this is a real animal - be it a rather sleepy and weird one...
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ACarnography/ Getty Images

The strange reason animals eat their own snot – and it may be more than just a disgusting habit

Primates picking their noses? Here's everything you need to answer that question
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Keiko the killer whale, in his enclosure on Heimaey, one of the Vestmannaeyjar or Westman Islands off the south coast of Iceland, 21st June 1999. Keiko gained fame in 1993 for his role in the film 'Free Willy'. He was eventually released into the wild. (Photo by Colin Davey/Getty Images)

Free Willy: When Hollywood’s most famous killer whale was rescued from captivity he vanished into the ocean – But what happened next?

The White Bellbird is the loudest bird

"It sounds like the two-tone horn of a fast train approaching a station. Unfathomably, females find the noise attractive…"

Just which bird has the loudest call? And how do they produce such a peace-shattering sound?
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Bush viper shedding its skin

Why do snakes shed their skin?

You might have seen a ghostly snake skin left behind on a walk – but have you ever wondered how snakes shed them?
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With deadly, long, lethal jaws that drain their prey dry, this is one of the world’s most spine-chilling animals — and it's known as an assassin

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