The Butterflies of Marinduque: Small Wings, Big Changes

National Geographic Society & TNC extern Dustin Francisco shares how butterfly farming in Marinduque reveals the fragile balance between livelihood, culture, and conservation.

Dustin Francisco

Meet the Mole Crab, a Common and Surprising Beach Creature

Get up close with a fascinating crustacean you can find (and catch) on your next trip to the beach.

Matthew L. Miller

These Carnivorous Snails Slurp Earthworms Like Spaghetti

Meet the powelliphanta snail, a weird and wonderful New Zealand endemic that slurps earthworms like pasta.

Justine E. Hausheer

Freshwater Mussels: The Livers of the River

A snorkeling outing on a creek brings the author up close with often overlooked and unappreciated freshwater mussels.

Keith Williams

Blue Mussels & Water Pollution: Protecting Wales’s River Conwy

TNC & National Geographic Society extern Evy Mansat Gros shares her experience studying blue mussels & water pollution in Wales.

Evy Mansat Gros

Can Listening to Oyster Reefs Help Us Assess Their Health?

University of Texas PhD candidate Philip Souza is using acoustic monitoring to eavesdrop on oyster reefs.

Jenny Rogers

When Sea Cucumbers Spawn, Where Do Their Larvae Go?

New research on sea cucumber genetics indicates that locally managed marine areas are a good way to protect this fishery for communities.

Justine E. Hausheer

Story type: TNC Science Brief

Meet the World’s Largest Freshwater Crayfish

National Geographic Society & TNC extern Zoe Starke shares her experience studying the 13-pound Tasmanian giant crayfish.

Zoe Starke

How An Invasive Ant Affects East Africa’s Iconic Wildlife

Invasive ants are having an outsized effect on savanna ecology, impacting even the largest mammals.

Matthew L. Miller

Want Resilient Coral Reefs? Bring Back Seabirds

Eradicating rats and restoring seabird populations could increase coral reef resilience to climate disturbances.

Justine E. Hausheer

Story type: TNC Science Brief

Moths With 11-Inch Tongues?

A look at moths, caterpillars and their intricate relationships with plants.

Christine Peterson

What Happens When You Expose an Oyster to Crab Pee?

To build stronger oyster reefs, scientists are scaring them with one of their fiercest predators: blue crabs.

Jenny Rogers