Porcupettes are born with soft, flexible quills that harden within hours, protecting both mother and baby. Baby porcupines are precocial, able to walk almost immediately and begin climbing within days ...

Several animals can pause pregnancy, a strategy called embryonic diapause. This adaptation allows embryos to remain dormant until conditions improve for survival. Kangaroos and bears are among the ...

Eggs helped animals conquer land—but most mammals stopped laying them. Why is that? Why do most animals lay eggs, while humans and most mammals give birth to live young? In this episode of Big Ideas ...

Rare footage of a sperm whale giving birth has offered scientists a window into the behavior of these large, elusive mammals. The video taken in 2023 shows female whales from two family lines working ...

Something occurred to me recently that I'd never thought of before: porcupine birth. Yeah. Ouch, right? Covered head to tail in sharp quills—that's gotta pose a serious problem in the delivery room.