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The largest fossil spider uncovered to date once ensnared prey back in the age of dinosaurs, scientists find. The spider, named Nephila jurassica, was discovered buried in ancient volcanic ash in Inner Mongolia, China. Tufts of hairlike fibers seen on its legs showed this 165-million-year-old arachnid to be the oldest known species of the largest web-weaving spiders alive today — the golden orb-weavers, or Nephila, which are big enough to catch birds and bats, and use silk that shines like gold in the sunlight. The fossil was about as large as its modern relatives, with a body one inch (2.5...

WILLS POINT — Entomologists are debating the origin and rarity of a sprawling spider web that blankets several trees, shrubs and the ground along a 200-yard stretch of trail in a North Texas park. Officials at Lake Tawakoni State Park say the massive mosquito trap is a big attraction for some visitors, while others won't go anywhere near it. "At first, it was so white it looked like fairyland," said Donna Garde, superintendent of the park about 45 miles east of Dallas. "Now it's filled with so many mosquitoes that it's turned a little brown. There are times you can...

Helen Thomas returned to her front and center seat at the WH press briefings with Ari. Her hair is now a dark brown and she was wearing two inch long red Lee press on nails. But Ari didn't apply the "only real reporters" rule for questions today and took a few from Helen, although he did not call on her first. Here is the exchange, where Helen tag teamed with fluffy headed Terry Moran to make their case: SOCK PUPPET: If the President bombs Iraq, which he apparently plans to do, it will be in defiance of a U.N. vote,...