The males of the species prepare for mating season by excavating nests for the approval of the females — and even other birds and animals.

Researchers discover how woodpecker skull geometry keeps powerful pecks stable, allowing the birds to hammer wood thousands of times safely.

Woodpeckers peck trees up to 20 times a second. Experts once believed they had built-in shock absorbers. New research reveals their skulls do not absorb shock. Instead, their heads move as a single ...

The arrival of Valentine’s Day tends to direct our attention to that certain special someone in our life that stands out as being particularly important in the realm of amore. For me, that certain ...

For just a moment I had no idea what was happening. It was warm for a winter day, and I was enjoying the peace and quiet as I meandered through withered summer grass at the edge of the dense woods of ...

This is Roald Tweet on Rock Island. Do you remember that outrageous cartoon woodpecker named Woody? With his pointy red topknot, his insane cackle, and his ability to buzzsaw through a tree in three ...

Kendra Pierre-Louis: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Kendra Pierre-Louis, in for Rachel Feltman. You’re listening to our weekly science news roundup. First up, if it feels like almost ...

Beyond being pleasant ways to pass the time, hobbies are increasingly recognized for giving the brain something it often lacks in modern life: sustained engagement without pressure, performance ...

Woodpeckers operate at an extreme level, boring through solid wood with forces more than 30 times their own weight and drilling up to 13 times a second. How do they never miss a beat while head ...

In case you've faced some hurdles solving the clue, Pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth, for brain freeze, we've got the answer for you. Crossword puzzles offer a fantastic opportunity ...

As winter temperatures drop, a familiar childhood warning resurfaces: Don’t stick your tongue on a frozen metal pole. The moment was made famous in the holiday classic “A Christmas Story” when a ...

Share on Pinterest Our brains may only reach adulthood in our 30s, a recent study says. Image credit: Johner Images/Getty Images The brain develops through distinct phases over the course of a ...