Beki Hooper
Writer
Beki has a PhD in cognitive evolution and a double master's degree in evolutionary biology. She writes about human and animal evolutionary biology, genetics and genomics, psychology, cognition, conservation and animal ethics.
Recent articles by Beki Hooper
"Its teeth are serrated – like a steak knife. This lets them easily tear their prey into bitesize chunks…" 9 deadliest, sharpest teeth on the planet
When it comes to teeth there's a whole array of ways they can kill their prey
Some animals give each other names, like humans do. Now scientists know why…
From elephants and parrots to dolphins and marmosets, there are plenty of creatures who use naming systems
Can baby birds ‘talk’ to one another inside their eggs?
Newly-hatched chicks make plenty of noises once they’ve hatched, but can they communicate within their eggs?
“It swam a colossal 3km to get there” – Surprising creature spotted on Alcatraz
In 2026, an unexpected animal swam from Angel Island to Alcatraz
"Their aim is incredibly accurate - if this venom gets into your eyes, it leads to extreme pain and blindness..." 6 deadliest snakes in India
India is home to around 300 snake species, more than 60 of which are venomous - but which ones are the deadliest?
This is why lemurs adopt yoga-like poses. And no, it’s not to become more flexible…
Just how do furry, woolly and feathered animals get vitamin D?
"It kills prey by wrapping around its body and squeezing until the victim has a heart attack…" The 10 most dangerous, deadliest animals in Borneo
While some of these animals are famously dangerous, others might be a bit of a surprise...
"Symptoms develop quickly and its venom can cause paralysis, respiratory failure and death. "6 most dangerous, deadliest sea snakes on the planet
"That’s the length of a double decker bus!" 10 metre monster tops biggest snakes in the world list
Discover the biggest snakes in the world including the reticulated python and green anaconda
Scientists drop recorders into Amazon stream – and catch predators hunting like orcas
Electric eels 'switch off' their electronic pulses to sneak up on prey – a hunting strategy similar to that of orcas using (and not using) echolocation.
“More than 60% of females gave birth on the same night.” Why do some animals give birth en masse?
This smart reproductive trick can overwhelm predators – or cause a headache for expectant mothers
Could a human have a blood transfusion from a chimpanzee?
If animals have different blood types, then can they be used in blood transfusions?
“It’s classic wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Meet the most cunning and deceptive animals and plants that are masters of deadly disguises
As it turns out, the natural world is full of mischievous mimics...
It’s not a pig and it’s not from Guinea – and it’s bolder, riskier and more sociable than your childhood pet
Guinea pigs do exist in the wild – but they're not like the ones you might have looked after at home...
This microstate borders one of Europe’s most biodiverse mountain ranges but is the least biodiverse country in the world – here’s why
San Marino is a mountainous microstate measuring just 61km2
Breed vs species: what's the difference between these two terms?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but they actually mean different things
9 animals that decapitate their prey in the most gruesome ways – nature at its most brutal
From powerful birds of prey to tiny songbirds, and blind snakes to miniscule flies, an impressive range of species have converged on a single method of killing: decapitation.
Villagers in Mozambique talk to birds to help them hunt. How they do it is amazing
In an astonishing parallel to how human language evolves, communities in Mozambique use different ‘dialects’ to coordinate cooperation with wild birds.
Whales need fresh water to survive. Here’s how these ocean giants manage to drink
How do whales take in enough fresh water while in the sea?
Rats have amazingly vivid dreams – and scientists now know what they’re about
Dreams aren't unique to humans – rats, monkeys and even octopuses might be able to dream
What's the rarest fish on the planet? And can they be saved?
Despite just around 38 left scientists are hopeful these beautiful vibrant blue fish can be saved from extinction
Elephants have 'conveyor belt’ teeth, dolphins grow theirs in layers like trees, while sharks have a never-ending supply - so why are we stuck with just 2 sets?
From baby teeth to ‘conveyor belt’ molars, here’s why humans—and other mammals –grow and replace their teeth in such fascinatingly different ways
Do all gulls live by the sea?
Do animals ever eavesdrop on each other – like us humans do?
How it can be useful for some species to listen into messages from other animals...
