Meintest du becker?
The future is here! Check out eight of the coolest new bots coming soon to a library, hospital, or home near you!
Whether you’re in need of a back massage, a weather report, or even a pet, robots
While much of the world sleeps, vampire bats emerge from dark caves, mines, tree hollows, and abandoned buildings in Mexico and Central and South America. They glide stealthily through the night air as they search for food. Like the legendary monster from which they get their name, these small mammals drink the blood of other animals for survival. They feed on blood from cows, pigs, horses, and birds. Though uncommon, vampire bats occasionally bite humans for blood. Rather than sucking blood, vampire bats make a small cut with their teeth and then lap up the flowing blood with their tongues. These bats are so light and agile that they are sometimes able to drink blood from an animal for more than 30 minutes without waking it up. The blood sucking does not hurt the animal. Vampire bats have special adaptations to help them with their unique feeding needs. Unlike some other species of bats, vampire bats can walk, run, and jump. They have very strong hind legs and a special thumb that helps them take off after feeding. Also, heat sensors on their noses help them find a good spot on an animal’s body to feed. What happens if vampire bats don’t get their nightly meal? If they can’t find blood for two nights in a row, they will die. Luckily, female bats can be generous. Well-fed bats will often regurgitate blood to share with others in exchange for grooming. Female bats in captivity seem especially friendly toward new mothers. After a baby is born, other bats have been observed feeding the mother for about two weeks after the birth. Are vampire bats really that scary? Even though bat bites themselves aren’t harmful, vampire bats can spread a disease called rabies. This disease hurts farmers‘ livestock, especially cattle herds. However, vampire bats can actually be quite tame, and even friendly to humans. One researcher reported that he had vampire bats that would come to him when he called their names.
Comeback critters See how animal species in trouble have come back from the brink
Native People of the American Southwest
into present-day Arizona, Texas, and northern Mexico, can trace their ancestry back
Check out surprising fact about this holiday (Why DO we wear green, anyway?)
But tales about leprechauns date back to before green was in: The fairies were first
In one corner, swinging in ever so slowly, is the chillest dude himself: Sloth! And making a splash in the other corner is Shark, ready to sink her teeth into this competition! Get ready to rumble in this latest installment of the funny face-off series! Check out a sneak peek of the book and vote for your fave.
upward at a fast sprint, burst out of the water in a leap called a breach, and fall back
Read about the dinosaurs uncovered in this story from Nat Geo Kids.
Rex Ali and Sean travel back 66 million years to get a look at the most famous dinosaur
Learn about the books in the Explorer Academy series
Just as things seem to be going smoothly, a familiar face shocks Cruz back into reality
Easy ways to help
Good thing holey jeans are back in style!
Nigeria is often called the „Giant of Africa.“ This name comes from the vastness of its land, the diversity of its peoples and languages, its huge population (the largest in Africa), and its oil and other natural resources.
HISTORY Although the country of Nigeria is fairly new, the area’s history stretches back
Rainforest habitat facts and photos
water into the atmosphere—something called transpiration—then the water falls back
