Articles for author: Suhail Ahmed

three Edison pendant lamps

The Best UVB Bulbs for Different Types of Pet Reptiles

Suhail Ahmed

Proper lighting is one of the most crucial aspects of reptile care, with UVB exposure being particularly essential for many species. UVB rays enable reptiles to synthesize vitamin D3, which is necessary for calcium absorption and preventing devastating conditions like metabolic bone disease. However, not all reptiles require the same intensity or duration of UVB ...

brown dried leaves on persons hand

The Animal That Moves the Most Earth – A True Natural Engineer

Suhail Ahmed

Beneath our feet, a silent revolution reshapes the very ground we walk on, yet few of us recognize the chief architect behind this massive earthmoving operation. The humble earthworm, despite its diminutive size and simple appearance, holds the astonishing title of Earth’s most prolific soil engineer. These unassuming creatures collectively move more soil than all ...

brown and black mountain under white clouds

How Close Are You to a Supervolcano Right Now?

Suhail Ahmed

Picture a sleeping giant under a national park, a ski town, or a quiet bay – and then imagine its breath, once in many lifetimes, drifting as a gray veil across a continent. The question of how close you are to a supervolcano isn’t just about miles on a map; it’s about wind, ash, water, ...

How the Kiwi Bird Evolved Into a Feathered Potato With a Super-Snout

Suhail Ahmed

New Zealand’s most unlikely icon looks like a plush toy that wandered off the assembly line: rounded body, shaggy feathers, and a bill so long it seems to point to another postcode. Yet behind the charm is a scientific detective story about how a bird traded flight for feel, sight for smell, and wings for ...

brown bison eating grass

The Historic Slaughter of Bison and How Their Populations Are Recovering

Suhail Ahmed

In the vast landscapes of North America, few stories are as poignant as that of the American bison. Once numbering in the tens of millions, these magnificent creatures roamed freely across the Great Plains, serving as a keystone species that shaped ecosystems and sustained Indigenous cultures for thousands of years. Yet in just a few ...

A herd of walrus standing on top of a rocky hillside

Narwhals, Unicorns, and the Ocean Tusk Trade That Fueled European Myths

Suhail Ahmed

For centuries, polished “unicorn horns” were paraded through European cathedrals and palaces, hailed as talismans against poison and proof that wonder walked the earth. The mystery behind those spiraled trophies turns out to be far wilder and colder: a whale’s tooth from seas locked in winter dark. Now, a new synthesis of archaeology, museum records, ...

Stunning aerial view of diverse rock formations in Chagan-Uzun, Altai Region, Russia.

Why Is Earth the Only Known Planet With Plate Tectonics?

Suhail Ahmed

It’s the cosmic riddle hiding beneath our feet: why does Earth’s crust crack, collide, and dive, while our neighbors wear a single, rigid shell? The mystery isn’t just academic – it’s the engine behind mountains, oceans, and the climate stability that let life flourish. Scientists are chasing the answer across lava fields, inside diamond-anvil presses, ...

A small lizard sitting on top of a black surface

The Role of Rescue Centers in Saving Exotic Pets From Neglect

Suhail Ahmed

In the shadows of the exotic pet trade, a growing network of specialized rescue centers has emerged as a critical lifeline for animals facing neglect, abandonment, and abuse. These sanctuaries represent the intersection of animal welfare, conservation ethics, and human responsibility. While the allure of owning exotic animals—from pythons and parrots to monkeys and big ...

a close up of an old fashioned typewriter

This 1970s AI Could Write Poems – Sort Of

Suhail Ahmed

In a decade better known for synthesizers, space probes, and shag carpets, a handful of researchers tried something stranger: they taught small, rule-bound programs to write verse. The outputs were clumsy but oddly moving – like messages washed ashore from a machine mind learning to speak. Behind the scenes, early algorithms stitched words using probability ...

Spit, Slime, and Snares: Animals That Weaponize Their Mouths

Suhail Ahmed

Across rainforests, rivers, and reefs, a surprising arms race plays out at the edge of the lips. Hunters and escape artists have turned mouths into cannons, nets, suction drills, and glue guns, rewriting what a “bite” can be. For scientists, these are not curiosities but blueprints, hinting at new adhesives, surgical tools, and soft-robotic grippers. ...