These invasive spiders are weaving their way across the US

Most invasive species are spread accidentally by human activity

In the Florida Everglades, Burmese pythons were only found as pets in the 1980s, but their escapes and releases since then have led to a population of hundreds of thousands as of 2024. The spotted lanternfly—native to Asia—was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014 and has since spread to about 20 states by hitchhiking.

There's a booming community of jumping spider pet owners

Jumping spiders have become hugely popular pets, especially amongst women, and they can cost up to $100. Some get them in an attempt to overcome their fear of spiders, while others just find them adorable. The practice has led many people to appreciate the complexity of the animal that some would consider a pest.

How Guam became an island of snakes and spiders

The US territory of Guam has 40 times the number of spiders of nearby islands, and a voracious collection of snakes which has nearly emptied it of any native birds. Researchers took it upon themselves to count the species and determine what turned the island into such a haunt of arachnids and serpents, where walking into the woods can mean navigating endless layers of spider webs. Find out more here.

From 1970 to 2017, invasive species have caused $1.28T in damage globally

The costliest species were the Asian tiger and yellow fever mosquitoes ($149B), which arrived in the US from Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, respectively. The bulk of their damage came from their transmission of diseases such as Zika, chikungunya, and dengue. (Some readers may experience a paywall.)

Rare Jurassic-era insect found outside Arkansas Walmart

An entomologist on his way to buy milk sighted a giant lacewing, a rare insect not seen in the US for fifty years. The species has been present on earth for at least 160 million years, but has become incredibly rare in North America.

Two invasive termite species are threatening Florida homes

Asian subterranean and Formosan subterranean termites have been found in northern and coastal counties, respectively. About half of all structures in the urban South Florida metropolitan area could be at risk of infestation by one or both species by 2040.

Robins are a major host for West Nile in North America

Explore this interactive with key details and interesting facts about the disease, including that Culex genus mosquitoes are the main US vector for its spread, and that certain species—American crows and blue jays—are quite infectious with the disease, while American robins—despite being a significant host for the virus in North America—are less infectious.

The American cockroach is actually from Africa—an apparent hitchhiker aboard ships carrying enslaved people—with evidence suggesting it may have arrived in the New World as early as the 1600s

This podcast delves into the history of Periplaneta americana and explores why the bugs elicit such fear, disgust, and, at times, shame. The bug likely climbed aboard the slave ships because they had both unprotected food sources and places to hide during their journey.

Ticks are extremely hard to kill

These arachnids can transmit more than a dozen diseases to humans, and they're very resilient: Some can survive extreme heat and cold, live for years without a blood meal, and even survive multiple days underwater.

Mapping the spread of a dangerous fungus growing in US healthcare facilities

Explore the data showing how the fungus C. auris has spread in the US, with more than 10,000 reported cases since 2016. Recommended steps to prevent infections and limit their spread have been successful in some areas, but infection control remains complicated because the fungus is often now multidrug-resistant.

The American cockroach is actually from Africa, an apparent hitchhiker aboard ships carrying enslaved people, with evidence suggesting the bug may have arrived in the New World as early as the 1600s.

10 locally acquired malaria cases were reported in the US in 2023—a surprise

The cases, reported in Florida, Texas, Maryland, and Arkansas, broke a 20-year streak since there had been no reported locally acquired mosquito-transmitted malaria in the country since 2003, when there was a case in Florida.

See these 16 pieces of art evoking phobias of snakes, flying, spiders, and more. 

View the ten deadliest tornadoes in US history.

Visualizing the year in US tornadoes, 2024

Between January and November 2024, over 1,700 tornadoes were documented to have touched down in the US, a relatively high number (and similar to the numbers in 2004, 2008, and 2011). This map shows their location across the country to help capture the number.

Scientists create the first CRISPR-modified spider to enhance its silk proteins

A research group at the University of Bayreuth used CRISPR-Cas9 to genetically modify spiders to produce glowing red silk. Spider silk is five times stronger than steel by weight, and this research paves the way for developing new silk functionalities.

Tracking butterfly migration via the pollen they collect

Trillions of insects migrate around the world each year, but many are too small to track with physical trackers, leaving their migratory routes a mystery. In recent years, scientists have utilized pollen grains collected from butterflies to analyze which plants that pollen originated from—providing substantial data to infer the insect's specific route. Research has shed light on many insects' migrations since, including the Painted Lady butterfly. Read more and see a map here.

Satellite imagery of the massive seaweed blob in the Atlantic

A belt of sargassum seaweed that stretches from the west coast of Africa to the Gulf of Mexico is the largest on record for March.

Infographic illustrates the diverse and fragile Amazon ecosystems

This infographic helps readers better understand the vast rivers, forests, plants, and animals that call the Amazon rainforest home. Home to the largest collection of plant and animal species in the world, the Amazon rainforest has 16 thousand known...

Explore the cost of major viruses and other malware incidents through 2017

The first significant malware was the Morris worm in 1988, which caused an estimated $10,000 to $10M in damage to computers. With $38B in damage caused, Mydoom is the most costly piece of malware in history. Spread via email and, at one point, accounting for about 25% of all messages sent worldwide, the malware infected computers to create a botnet that launched cyberattacks.

Watch how viruses like Ebola can spill over from animals to humans—and vice-versa.

See what regions report new leprosy cases

This graphic shows the burden of leprosy by region for 2023, based on data provided from the World Health Organization, which collates this information. Southeast Asia leads in the number of cases by region. (Some readers may experience a paywall.)

See 16 art pieces that were inspired by or evoke elements of top phobias

CBC News informally polled readers about their fears and then found works of art either inspired by or nodding to those topics.

The true origins of the Western tumbleweed

Tumbleweeds are iconic features of classic American westerns, seen blowing across a desert landscape as a cowboy walks into town. But this species isn't native to the US Southwest. In fact, it was unintentionally imported from Russia. As farmers loosened the ground in the West, they created the perfect breeding ground for the Russian thistle tumbleweed to flourish there. Watch more on its history here.

See how each of the more than two million known species relates to each other—and to common ancestors—in this zoomable tree of life.

Learn about 100+ species of tardigrades found for the NC Biodiversity Project

North Carolina species can be searched for by their scientific name at the top left. Or just type in any letter to see a dropdown list of tardigrades that include it in their name. Clicking “Find” then displays the species’ image, description, distribution, and habitat details.

Invasivorism is a form of ethical eating focused on eating invasive species

The culinary approach helps combat the growth of invasive species populations by increasing demand for dishes made with them, but some suggest that creating a market for these species may help prolong their presence by moderating control. Some diners have expressed reluctance toward consuming more exotic species, such as nutria—raccoon-sized rodents.

Slenderman is the most infamous example of creepypasta

In 2014, two teens playing in the woods at the edge of a suburban park turned on their third friend, stabbing her 19 times in an attack they claimed was compelled by Slenderman, a meme-turned-urban legend.

NOAA's interactive sea level rise viewer

How will rising seas affect you? Launch NOAA's sea level rise viewer and zoom in on impacts to different parts of the United States, or type in your city or address to learn more.

Microplastics 101: What we know about the contaminants invading our bodies

Fifty-one trillion particles of microplastics float in our oceans. Yet there is very little science of how this affects our health. This quick 2-minute video explains the dangers of microplastics.

Poison ivy will likely become both larger and more resilient due to climate change.

'Shogun,' a 1980s TV series, helped popularize sushi in the US by stimulating an American interest in Japanese culture.

Visualize the path of every solar eclipse from 1900 to 2099 and see what each looks like when observed from different locations on Earth.

Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley' is infamous for having some of the highest industrial pollution, toxic air emissions, and cancer risks in the US.

US consumers collectively owe more than $1T to credit card companies—almost as much as they owe in auto loans.

Hurricanes, which rely on air consistently spinning in the same direction, cannot cross the equator because air curves in opposite directions north and south of it.

Take a 3D tour of the Hajj, Islam's annual pilgrimage to Mecca, undertaken by more than 1.5 million Muslims each year.

In 2019, a laptop loaded with six of the worst malware in history and described as 'an exhibit of historical weaponry' sold for $1.3M.

The US first hosted the World Cup in 1994, a tournament that lives in soccer infamy for its poor planning and the murder of Colombian player Andres Escobar, who'd accidentally scored on his own net.

In 2018, 26-year-old missionary John Allen Chau was killed by tribesmen after attempting to reach and evangelize on India's isolated North Sentinel Island

Fireworks-related ER visits are on the rise—in 2024, they increased by 52% as compared to the prior year.

About 2,000 US babies are born annually without some portion of their limbs, potentially leading to a lifetime of pricey prosthetics.

Electrical grids worldwide must double their power delivery capacity by 2050 to meet surging demand from AI and electric vehicles.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is the largest ground war in Europe since World War II in casualties, forces mobilized, and displacement of civilians.

The word 'jazz' evolved from 'jasm,' 19th-century American slang for 'energy'

The power and influence of the American presidency have expanded significantly over time—far beyond what the founders envisioned.

Corals are themselves not coral reefs—the term refers to the tiny marine invertebrates that build the rigid reef.

Learn how to read a prospectus, the juicy document that any company must file with the SEC before going public.

Explore fun facts from the USPS, including unique post office buildings, a stamp that traveled past Pluto, and more.

'Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone,' a work by American painter Thomas Moran, inspired Congress to establish Yellowstone National Park.