Scared of spiders? Some former arachnophobes now are keeping jumping spiders as pets The jumping spider pet market is booming, particularly with women. And for many, the journey to spider enthusiast began as an arachnophobe. Alina Hartounian
Fat Bear Week is here early, and the bears are fat and playful The famous bears of Alaska's Katmai National Park are enjoying an abundance of salmon, and even some playtime, as they pack on pounds to prepare for the winter. Bill Chappell
Eight arms, endless skills: New study finds an octopus' arms can do it all Researchers studied octopuses in the wild to learn whether they favor one of their eight arms over the others for certain jobs, but found the creatures give new meaning to ambidextrous. Nell Greenfieldboyce
Australia approves vaccine to protect koalas from chlamydia Chlamydia in koalas can cause blindness, infertility and even death. Chandelis Duster
Insect populations drop even without direct human interference, a new study finds Research published this month found that even in pristine, untouched areas, insect populations are still on the decline. Climate change is a likely culprit. Alana Wise
Male tarantulas are moving and wooing their way across Colorado These hairy spiders spend almost all of their lives underground. But when it's time to mate, they must brave the great outdoors before they perish. Ayana Archie
By listening to these birds for decades, scientists track signs of a changing forest Scientists tracking the birds in an experimental forest in New Hampshire have also tracked changes in the forest ecosystem over decades. Ari Daniel
Greetings from Guhagar, India, where newly hatched turtles get some help into the sea Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world. Diaa Hadid
How New Zealand wildlife sanctuaries are working to protect the country's unique birds New Zealand has some of the most unique birds in the world. Many are endangered, so the country has a nationwide project to save them. It's trying to eradicate invasive animals that are harming them. Lauren Sommer
A spine-tingling discovery: This dinosaur had spiked body armor In a new paper, researchers describe a bizarre dinosaur with thorny spines along its neck and back that made its home in Africa more than 165 million years ago. Alana Wise
