It’s a classic science fiction trope: Astronauts on an interstellar journey are kept in sleek, refrigerated pods in a state of suspended animation. Although such pods remain purely fictional, scientists have pursued research into inducing a hibernation-like state in humans to lessen the damage caused by medical conditions such as heart attacks and stroke, and to reduce the stress and costs of future long-distance space sojourns.

The day a cyprinodont challenges you to hold your breath for as long as possible, run away. Inhabiting hot springs in California's Death Valley, this tiny bubbler is able to go without oxygen for nearly five hours, according to a new, forthcoming study.

Despite being located in the hot and dry Mojave Desert, Nevada is home to 52 fish species found nowhere else in the world.

The "Game of Thrones" series ended last week.

No fantasy world is complete without fire-breathing dragons . But if dragons were real, how could they get that kind of fiery breath?

It's not just ordinary sleep, it's a biological/natural wonder and a bear's miracle.

Some bears hibernate in hollowed out tree-trunks. Some take a months-long rest beneath thick brambles and brush. Others dig into the hills to forge snug dens. And still others discover caves to hide away from the biting winter chill.

Fire-breathing dragons really capture the imagination — leading many writers to ponder just how such a creature might spew forth a torrent of flame. How do we square such a fantastic adaptation with real-life biology?