Stuart Blackman
Recent articles by Stuart Blackman
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
Can any animals survive wildfires?
There might not be any animals that are actually fireproof - but many species have been able to develop skills to help them survive
Can any animals mate with two partners at once?
Stuart Blackman discusses multiple partners in mating.
Why burrowing desert animals don't inhale sand - like humans would
Just how do burrowing desert animals avoid breathing in sand as they dig? Stuart Blackman explains
Do any snakes hunt in packs? The deadly way one serpent forms a terrifying ‘fence’ to catch and kill their prey
Science writer Stuart Blackman analyses hunting strategies of the slithery kind.
Can you hypnotise a chicken?
Yes you can hypnotise a chicken, says Stuart Blackman, here's how...
It lives in poo and detonates its spores at 90kmh. Meet the exploding fungus 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
Are blue whales and mouse-deers related? These ungulates have more in common than you might think
One is the largest animal known to have existed, and the other could probably fit in your hands. But these two creatures have more in common than you think
Mating is a deadly business for these females, as the males are so desperate to breed they don't care if the females get killed in the process
Why necrophilia is an evolutionary advantage for the Rhinella proboscidea
What's the loudest bird? Meet the strange bird that produces a deafening sound, more like a train horn than a sweet musical bird song
Just which bird has the loudest call? And how do they produce such a peace-shattering sound?
What’s the most common plant in the world? Humans are responsible for the surprising answer
Ever wondered what the most common plant is? Stuart Blackman takes a look at the contenders
What does chlorophyll do? Why this molecule is vital to life on earth – and how it makes plants appear green
We all know it's essential to the carbon cycle, but what exactly is chlorophyll and why is it so important? Stuart Blackman explains more
The animal that can regrow a penis - three times!
Three times is this animal's lucky number