Snails have shells the moment they're born, but it's kind of hard to tell. In fact, it's hard to even see a baby snail. Some are nearly microscopic, such as Angustopila psammion, whose adult-sized ...

In hydrothermal vent fields, a small snail evolved an iron-reinforced shell. Here’s how it challenges assumptions about nature’s toughest composites. A snail might seem an unlikely contender for the ...

Two tree-snail species change color in the rain to blend with wet bark (left). Water enters microscopic shell pores to reveal a dark layer underneath (right) — a power-free trick inspiring future ...