Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. A trapdoor spider, known only as “Number 16,” was first ...

In western Australia, in a patch of ancient forest undisturbed by people, researchers set up pitfall traps with the goal of collecting elusive spiders. Their survey yielded two rare female specimens ...

For centuries, spiders have intrigued scientists with their architectural webs, venom systems, and remarkable adaptability. Yet few discoveries have startled the scientific community quite like that ...