Gaboon vipers don't have the fastest strike in the snake world--but they don't need to be faster than other snakes, just their prey. In this case, a passing bird stands no chance.

Incredible: A Gaboon Viper Strikes a Bird in Slo-Mo (2:27)

A puff adder has just bitten a rat, injecting it with enough venom to finish it off. The next step is to swallow it whole--an act that's as mesmerizing as it is gruesome.

A Puff Adder Swallowing a Rat Is Something You Can't Unsee (2:01)

A Komodo dragon's strongest sensory organ is its deeply forked tongue. It acts as a meal detector that samples the air for dead or dying animals.

Komodo Dragons Can Taste Their Prey From Miles Away (1:07)

As a nectar feeder, the lesser long-nosed bat follows the trail of cactus blooms between Mexico and the U.S. One of the plants it also plays a major role in pollinating is agave, which gives us tequila.

The Strange Link Between Bats and Tequila (2:02)

Not only is the Komodo dragon the largest lizard in the world, its powerful claws, tail, and bite make it one of the deadliest.

Here's What Makes Komodo Dragons So Powerful (1:13)

A puff adder's bite can do serious damage, even to an animal with skin as thick as a rhino's. The photographic evidence we have is not pretty.

What Can a Puff Adder Snake Bite Do to a Rhino? (1:48)

From spitting on the Christian cross to strange sexual acts, the Knights Templar's secret rituals were controversial. But were they using these ceremonies to praise a different religion entirely?

Why the Templar Secret Rituals Were So Controversial (2:07)

As a nectar feeder, the lesser long-nosed bat follows the trail of cactus blooms between Mexico and the U.S. One of the plants it also plays a major role in pollinating is agave, which gives us tequila.

The Strange Link Between Bats and Tequila (2:41)

After a group of pilgrims were murdered in 1119, nine crusaders formed a pact to protect any others like them from harm. This pact is now famously remembered as the Knights Templar.

How the Knights Templar Came to Be (1:50)

It's unclear if the Knights Templar created the secret tunnel in Acre, Israel, as an escape route or a way to secretly export valuable items. One thing is certain: It's a remarkable showcase of their engineering.

Was This Hidden Tunnel Used by the Knights Templar? (1:18)

The BBC's request to air Queen Elizabeth II's coronation on TV was quickly dismissed by a royal court anxious to maintain decorum. Here's why the Queen herself overruled them.

Why Queen Elizabeth II Decided to Televise Her Coronation (2:05)

The scuba spider is the only arachnid to live exclusively underwater, despite lacking gills. Its secret, like its name suggests, is a makeshift oxygen supply.

Incredible: This Underwater Spider Has an Actual Scuba Tank (1:34)

In 1992, a fierce backlash about the repair cost of a fire-damaged Windsor Castle led to a startling royal decision: For the first time ever, Buckingham Palace would be opened to the public, to raise money for the renovation.

How a Fire Opened Buckingham Palace Up to the Public (2:29)

The relationship between some Native American tribes and the American buffalo was a sacred one. Not only did it provide the former with food, clothing, and weapons, it also played a central role in their spiritual life.

Native Americans Saw Buffalo as More Than Just Food (2:29)

After a long winter in their den, a polar bear mother and her cubs emerge at the first signs of spring. It's a magical moment when the youngins experience the world for the first time--and photographers are there to capture it.

Incredibly Cute Polar Bear Cubs See the World for First Time (1:50)

A lion ventures into an area of the river that's part of a hippo bull's territory. The enraged hippo wastes no time in asserting his dominance.

An Angry Hippo Charges a Trespassing Lion (2:27)

For Erin Greene, walking up to a polar bear requires even more courage than most of us can imagine. After all, it's been just a year since she survived a near-fatal attack by one.

The Risky Way a Polar Bear Attack Victim Confronts Her Fear (2:20)

In 1882, General Philip Sheridan's expedition to the protected buffalo haven in Yellowstone National Park revealed a gruesome reality: Poachers were continuing to slaughter the last remnants of America's big-game icon.

Why the U.S. Army Guarded the 23 Remaining American Buffalo (2:40)

After mating takes place, a female polar bear will prepare for her impending pregnancy by eating voraciously. In all, she will pack on more than 400 pounds, to sustain her during winter.

A Fertile Polar Bear's Hard Journey From Mating to Motherhood (3:01)

A car horn outside Churchill, Manitoba, causes a curious polar bear mom and her cub to scurry in opposite directions. They find themselves farther apart than they've ever been before.

Polar Bear Mom and Cub Accidentally Separated by a Car (1:32)