
Microplastics found in testicles, kidneys, livers, placentas, and even a toddler's poo... how worried should we be worried?
Are microplastics actually in our brains, and how worried should we be about it?

"The cones are as big as a rugby ball and weigh up to 40 pounds, more than heavy enough to kill…”
You don’t want to get too close to this tree – it’s not toxic, but it’s still deadly.

It looks like a wolf, acts like a wolf – but don't be fooled this is no wolf...
All you ever needed to know about the coyote

The 3-metre, 200kg torpedo with bullet-deflecting scales and a fiery reputation that can deliver quite a punch to humans

6 dangerous, deadly fish you'll never see – UNTIL it's too late... "Their danger predominantly lies in their ability to totally disguise themselves on the seabed"
Nature is full of oddballs – including these peculiar-looking fish that have adapted to their environments

Huge, often carnivorous and formidable predators: 10 biggest lizards in the world
Lizards are found on all continents apart from Antarctica and the largest ones are huge monsters. Here are ten of the biggest lizards

It has spindly legs, massive ears and bulging eyes – and it buzzes and whistles. Meet the bizarre-looking gerenuk
It looks adorable and very delicate – but is anything but. Here's our beginner's guide to the giraffe gazelle, or gerenuk.

Do birds pee as well as poo?
When it comes to excretions, birds do a two-for-one deal

"its enormous jaws can expand dramatically, creating a balloon-like head..." 10 weirdest, eeriest eels on the planet, including one that generates a deadly 600 volts
Eels are among the ocean's most mysterious inhabitants, with more than 1,000 species found in habitats ranging from tropical coral reefs to the depths of the deep sea.

"They hide close to where you sleep and feed when the opportunity arises. Once it reaches skin, it uses piercing, sucking mouthparts to draw blood"
All you ever needed to know about the infamous bed bug

Birds

8 astonishing close-up photos of the world’s most beautiful pheasant
Resplendent in red, gold and blue, the male of this spectacular species sports a crest like a barrister’s wig – even if it leaves him with massive blind spots

What is a chicken wishbone – and why on Earth do people fight over it?
Just how useful is a wishbone to a chicken? Find out with our expert guide

These tiny birds are doubling in size on remote Scottish islands – and are on their way to “becoming a new species”
Isolated on remote Scottish islands, tiny wrens have recently been discovered to be a fascinating case of island gigantism.
Do any birds have teeth?
Why don't birds have teeth? And did they ever have teeth? Stuart Blackman explains
What's the world's biggest parrot? There are two contenders: one has a massive 1m wingspan and the other weighs a whopping 3kg
Meet two giant birds fighting for the title of world's biggest parrot.
Bat vs bird: what's the difference between these two winged animals?
What are the actual anatomical differences between bats and birds?
How to identify wildlife

Red squirrel vs grey squirrel: Think you know how they differ? Think again as the differences between these two squirrels will surprise you
We take a look at how the red squirrel differs to its American grey cousin

Brown rat or water vole: How to tell the difference between these two lookalike-rodents
When all you've seen is a flash of brown fur, it can be hard to know whether it was a water vole or rat. Though the two species tend to live in different habitats, there are areas where they overlap, potentially leading to cases of mistaken identity. So how do you tell rats and water voles apart?

Mink or otter? What's the difference between these two slippery, semiaquatic lookalikes?
How do you tell the difference between otters and mink?

LRPs, PG Tips and Jizz: Cracking the secret language of birders
You’re sitting in a hide and overhear other birders talking. The conversation ranges from ‘LRPs’ and ‘roosting Leos’ and you scratch your chin as you try to decipher their code – welcome to the world of birding jargon.

It's the fastest animal in the world and its deadly claws can catch prey mid-air: Meet one of the world's most incredible birds of prey
Peregrines are the ultimate urban predator. Learn all about them, including how to spot them ‘stooping’ to catch prey

Save 30% when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine, plus receive Simon Barnes’ latest release, Spring is the Only Season
Save 30% when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine, plus receive Simon Barnes’ latest release, Spring is the Only Season
Plants

“An agonising way to die: it causes whole body convulsions, and the victim is painfully and horribly aware…”
Also called the Asian vomit button tree, the strychnine tree contains one of nature’s deadliest poisons, famously featured in many mystery novels.

The ocean's hidden, deadly killer: Why thriving seas can suddenly die and turn into mass underwater graveyards
Suffocated ecosystems, seizures and death: how deadly algae can wreak havoc on beaches around the world – and what can be done to prevent it

It spans nearly 5 acres, grows on competitors and has a habit of strangling its host
Seeds of the banyan tree are small and unlikely to survive on the ground – but it’s found a way to thrive anyway.

One of England’s oldest trees – which loomed over the Sherwood Forest for over 1,000 years – has died. Here’s why
The tree is perhaps best known for its link to Robin Hood’s story – as legend has it, him and his Merry Men used it as shelter for years.
