Stuart Blackman
Recent articles by Stuart Blackman
Fraud, thief, cold-blooded killer: Why the famous naturalist and British spy who inspired James Bond was not all he seemed
Discover the man who lied and cheated his way to birding fame
How fast are bears?
Think you can outrun a bear? Find out how fast bears can run, and how that compares to humans.
Who first realised the Earth was very, very old?
How the father of geology - and biology - James Hutton challenged 18th century beliefs
How do crocodiles mate? At times tender, communal, or even not at all – here’s a guide to crocodile sex
Ever wondered how crocodiles mate? Stuart Blackman explains their unique mating rituals – as well as an astonishing virgin birth.
Has Antarctica ever been ice-free? Why the coldest place on Earth hasn't always been blanketed by snow
It's the coldest place on Earth and one of the most hostile continents for wildlife, but has Antartica always been covered in ice?
How do animals make silk? And why is it so strong?
Ever wondered how a spider spins its web, or a caterpillar creates a cocoon? We explain how silk is made
How is a queen bee chosen? And how are they different from worker bees?
A beehive and its worker bees revolve around its queen – but are queen bees made, or born?
Why aren’t pterosaurs classed as dinosaurs? Why this Jurassic Park star isn’t what it seems
Despite popular belief, these 'flying dinosaurs' aren't actually dinosaurs at all. Stuart Blackman explains why.
Do penguins really ‘propose’ with pebbles?
Is it true that penguins exchange stones as marriage proposals? Stuart Blackman investigates the popular belief.
What is the slowest animal?
Stuart Blackman takes a look at the contenders for the slowest animal in the world and just how fast snails actually are
Weirdest sea creatures - meet 15 strange ocean animals, including one that looks a bit like a toast rack
Have you heard of the Johnson's abyssal seadevil? Read about this strange ocean animal and more in our guide to the world's weirdest sea creatures
How does the deadly Venus flytrap snare – and dissolve – its prey?
Once this plant's trap doors close there's no chance of escape...
Which mammal holds its breath the longest? Meet the extreme deep-sea diver that can hold its breath for almost 4 hours
The average human can hold their breath for between 30 to 90 seconds – but what mammal holds its breath for the longest, and for how long?
Is there a name for a group of snakes?
Ever wondered what a group of snakes is called? We asked Stuart Blackman to investigate
Snake Island, the terrifying island off Brazil that only scientists and soldiers can visit
Discover the island where there's a snake for every square metre - including one of the world's deadliest...
This tiny, but intimidating, reptile protects itself by forcing its ribs through its skin to launch poison at predators
The Spanish ribbed newt has one of the most spectacular defence mechanisms out there. Find out how it fights back...
The strange tree whose trunk is a rainbow of colour
Why the eucalyptus tree is a multicoloured piece of art
Which mammal has the biggest litters? Meet the surprisingly small mammal that births plenty of babies
Which mammal has the biggest litter? The answer, as Stuart Blackman explains, may surprise you...
Which plants existed in prehistoric times?
We know plenty about the dinosaurs that roamed the Earth in prehistoric times. But what do we know about the plants that the herbivores ate? Stuart Blackman explains
The terrifying 3 metre, deep sea Bobbit worm can not only cut its prey in half, but is also venomous enough to cause permanent numbness in humans
The Bobbit worm is a fearsome marine predator that burrows into the sand and waits for unsuspecting prey. Stuart Blackman explains all you need to know about this terrifying marine worm
Ostriches vs emus: what’s the difference between these large, striking flightless birds?
Ostriches and emus are both large, flightless birds with slightly comedic reputations – but what's the difference between these two species? Stuart Blackman takes a look
Why do males have nipples?
Are they completely pointless? Or is there a reason behind nipples on male mammals?
Why do coots have such weird feet?
A coot's feet are perfectly designed to cope with a life on both dry land and water, says Stuart Blackman
How do starfish mate?
Just how do starfish reproduce - is there such a thing as starfish sex? Stuart Blackman explains