Stuart Blackman
Recent articles by Stuart Blackman
"Bites result in grotesque swellings - medical amputations of digits and limbs are not uncommon…" 10 deadliest snakes in Africa
The long-and-short and thick-and-thin of Africa’s deadliest snakes.
"Imagine a small chipolata sausage to which some joker has tastelessly attached a mole cricket" 12 weirdest insects on the planet
The insect world is definitely a weird one - and there are some that are even weirder than the others. Discover some of the world's strangest and bizarrest insects
They might look like splodges of bird poop, but these white blotches are actually living animals – and they can’t move
Why do some animals have weird slit-shaped pupils and humans big round ones?
Why some animals have slit-shaped pupils in their eye, while others - like humans - have round
Do any animals mate with two partners at once?
Stuart Blackman discusses multiple partners in mating.
Do male birds have penises? The surprisingly bizarre way birds have sex
Just how do birds mate and reproduce? Stuart Blackman explains the intricacies of bird sex and why males don't have penises
"He was seen convulsing at the surface – before sinking out of sight…" 10 most dangerous, deadliest animals in the Andes, including one that causes 10,000 deaths a year
The longest continental mountain range in the world is naturally full of predators - here are the deadliest...
It lives in poop, detonates at 90kph and dubbed the 'dung cannon'
Fungi aren’t generally known for their speed, yet one group is quicker off the mark than perhaps any other organism on the planet, the Pilobolus crystallinus
What is the oldest known DNA, and is Jurassic Park still theoretically possible?
And do we even need to find ancient DNA to reconstruct dinosaur genetic sequences?
"Its ribs stretch the skin to the point that they burst right through it, producing a row of barbs that inject poison into any predator"
The Spanish ribbed newt has one of the most spectacular defence mechanisms out there. Find out how it fights back...
"His notes make harrowing reading: Bleeding of mucous membranes began about 5.30pm, urination at 12.20am, mostly blood, a good deal of abdominal pain"
Karl P Schmidt documented his harrowing symptoms from a deadly snake bite as his condition deteriorated
How do animals survive life on the equator? The astonishing tricks rainforest creatures use to survive the world’s hottest, wettest forests
Whether it's hot and humid or cold and dry, there are many challenging environments along the Equator. So how have animals adapted to it?
Are smarter animals better at crossing roads?
Can animals learn to be street-wise? Stuart Blackman takes a look at the evidence
They should be enemies… but what these 2 animals do for each other has amazed experts and left them speechless
Research reveals cross-species co-operation between warthogs and mongooses.
Can you get albino plants, like you can albino animals?
Most people associate albinism with animals, but albino plants do exist says Stuart Blackman
They form a terrifying, deadly ‘fence’ to catch and kill their prey
Science writer Stuart Blackman analyses hunting strategies of the slithery kind.
It’s covered in terrifying quills so, what could possibly eat a porcupine?
Surely a porcupine's prickly quills would put off a hungry predator? Not necessarily says Stuart Blackman
"At 8 times their body length, this flexible appendage is at risk of being snapped off." Which animal has the biggest penis? (It's probably not what you think)
Penises come in a remarkable range of shapes and sizes, says Stuart Blackman, as he investigates which animal has the biggest
It's a terrifying, ruthless, 3-metre long, deep-sea predator that can slice its prey in half – and its venom can 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
"Its deadly poison contains heart-toxins, which are potent enough to kill elephants." The 10 deadliest rodents on the planets – including a poisonous rat
Stuart Blackman investigates the 10 deadliest rodents, including human eating hamsters and poisonous rats
“It’s effectively ripping apart the water.” It's only an inch long but this creature creates shockwaves of over 200 decibels
Despite its size, the pistol shrimp boasts one of the best (and loudest) weapons in the ocean.
Think you’re seeing a giant, humongous spider? Think again… as all is not what it appears
Meet the puppet master...
Are false widow spiders really a danger to children?
False widow spiders are one of the few spiders in the UK capable of delivering a venomous bite to human, but does that justify all the scaremongering? Matt Shardlow from Buglife explains.
