Spiders and snakes may be the two most common zoological phobias, but most people wouldn't consider a battle between the two much of a contest. However, a redback in north-western Victoria has taken down a snake many times its size, giving arachnophobes one more reason to never sleep again.

The now-viral image of a weasel clinging to the back of a woodpecker is not photoshopped, according to wildlife experts and Martin Le-May, the photographer of the picture-perfect moment.

Mr. Le-May was talking a stroll with his wife Ann when he caught sight of the bird squawking in distress. “I soon realized it was a woodpecker with some kind of small mammal on its back," said Le-May to BBC News.

Nearly all living organisms on Earth have water-based structures around their cells called phospholipid bilayers. These keep water in (or out), and they shelter the insides of our cells from the rest of the world. Now, according to a study based entirely on computer modeling, small molecules in oxygen-free environments may be capable of forming compartments that resemble these lipid membranes.

The first archaeological expedition to a lost ancient city in eastern Honduras has returned with exciting new discoveries. The explorers have come back with a treasure trove of images, yet have barely scratched the surface of what the city has to reveal about a culture so forgotten it lacks even a name.

Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) have been categorized by the IUCN Red List as endangered since 1990. Conservation efforts to boost panda population levels have been met with a number of challenges and making meaningful gains has been slow. However, some good news has come at last, following the release of the fourth National Giant Panda Survey from China. The number of wild giant pandas has increased significantly, along with an increase in the animals’ geographical range as well.