National Geographic News - Animals, Archaeology and Astronomy

DNA Tests May Confirm IDs of Russian Tsar's Children - I have always been fascinated by mysteries and the question of the Tsar's family is one of them. It appears that the questions have been answered.

Tiny Young Galaxies "Full of Stars" Discovered - I want a starship so I can go exploring! Despite the size difference, both galaxies contain about the same number of stars, a find that has astronomers puzzling over how the tiny, compact galaxies could have formed.

Bats Can Make Calls More Intense Than Rock Concerts - Though out of range of human hearing, the shattering shrieks of tropical bats on the hunt in Panama represent the loudest calls ever recorded from an airborne animal. And check out the cool photo of a greater bulldog bat fishes for prey in Panama's Barro Colorado Island.

VIDEO: Colossal Squid Eyes Are Biggest - Scientists in New Zealand say that a colossal squid caught near Antarctica last year has the biggest eyes of any known creature.

Colossal Squid Revealed in First In-Depth Look - check out these photos of the Colossal Squid.

Cooler Climate May Hit N. America, Europe Next Decade - I have my own doubts about the global warming. Mainly because 30 years ago we were concerned about global cooling. I can't decide if this article is the beginning of back sliding or an admission that it is not possible for scientists to completely figure out the accurate temperature for our planet.

Many Asian Vultures Close to Extinction, Survey Finds - The carrion-eating birds have been on the decline due to exposure to a common livestock drug. Now a survey of vultures in northern and central India has found the birds' populations have plunged to near-extinction levels—one species is down 99.9 percent since surveys began in the 1990s.

Treasure-Laden Shipwreck Found off African Coast - A 500-year-old shipwreck has been found off the coast of southern Africa, laden with tons of copper ingots, elephant tusks, gold coins, and cannons to fend off pirates.

Judging from the notables depicted on the hoard of Spanish and Portuguese coins, and the type of cannons and navigational equipment, the ship went down in the late 1400s or early 1500s, around the time Vasco de Gama and Christopher Columbus were plying the waters of the New World.

I have always thought it would be really cool to be a treasure hunter!

leglesslizard050808.jpg - How can it be legless and a lizard!? It looks like a snake to me. What do you think?

Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten Had "Androgynous" Build - Turns out King Tut's had a feminine appearance caused by a genetic mutation.