With 23 short essays on creatures ranging from the wombat to the spider, Katherine Rundell's new book is essential reading for anyone whose wonder could use a jumpstart.

500 million years ago, the world was a very different place. During this period of time, known as the Cambrian period, basically all life was in the water. The ocean was brimming with animals that looked pretty different from the ones we recognize today — including a group of predatory worms with a throat covered in teeth and spines.

Researchers thought these tiny terrors died out at the end of the Cambrian period. But a paper published recently in the journal Biology Letters showed examples of a new species of this worm in the fossil record 25 million years after scientists thought they'd vanished from the Earth. One of the authors of the paper, Karma Nanglu, tells us how this finding may change how scientists understand the boundaries of time.

Curious about other weird wonders of the ancient Earth? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

An unmanned lunar spacecraft has captured and transmitted data analyzing lunar rocks, an achievement that could help provide clues about the origin of the moon, a Japan space agency official said

Our view of the constellations has changed since they were first mapped thousands of years ago. That new perspective could also mess with your astrological horoscope in the new year.

Our view of the constellations has changed since they were first mapped thousands of years ago. That new perspective could also mess with your horoscope.

The asteroid 2023 DZ2 will pass at a distance of over 100,000 miles, less than half the distance between the Earth and the moon. It's about 160 feet long — about the size of an airplane.

Scientists are pondering how to tell time on other celestial bodies. It's a lot harder than you might think.

In the wee hours of Tuesday morning, the moon fell completely into Earth's shadow and turned a shade of red — either an astronomical delight or Election Day omen, depending on who you ask.

Supermoons in general appear 17% bigger and 30% brighter than when the moon is at its farthest point away from Earth, according to NASA.

The latest estimate from various forecast centers around the world say the planet is approaching a warming threshold international agreements are trying to prevent.

NASA and the European Space Agency are gearing up to bring home a pristine sample of Martian rock. But given the small chance of life on the red planet, they have to grapple with safety questions.

NASA and the European Space Agency are gearing up to bring home a pristine sample of Martian rock. But given the small chance of life on the red planet, they have to grapple with safety questions.

During a partial solar eclipse, the moon is not perfectly aligned with the Earth and sun, so it will not completely cover the sun.

A NASA mission to a potentially dangerous asteroid has let researchers map out its future trajectory like never before.

Some unusual meteorites suggest that Earth got its water at its start, rather than forming dry and being watered by comets later on.