<p>We tend to think of animals like snakes, rats and even cockroaches as pests, but in her new book, biologist Marlene Zuk says there's a lot we can learn from these less than desirable creatures, if we just give them a chance.</p><p><br></p><p>PLUS:</p><ul><li>A case of mistaken identity: The truth about the world's 'oldest' octopus fossil</li><li>From the archives: Carl Sagan on the worlds beyond our solar system</li><li>The evolutionary cost of our relationship with fire</li><li>We're not speaking as much as we used to — and scientists are concerned</li></ul>