Biology(Page 13)

A guide to life, on Earth and beyond, including the top news about plants, animals, and physiology.

Latest in Biology

A group of mice eats a scone.

Forget black coffee—a hormone shot helped tipsy rodents sober up Forget black coffee—a hormone shot helped tipsy rodents sober up

By Laura Baisas

A worm at the bottom of a shot glass of Mezcal.

What kind of worm is in your mezcal? What kind of worm is in your mezcal?

By Laura Baisas

Three honeybees fly near a crocus in a field.

Like the first flying humans, honeybees use linear landmarks to navigate Like the first flying humans, honeybees use linear landmarks to navigate

By Laura Baisas

Two orca whales, one with it's head and flukes above the water and the other with its nose out of the water.

Toothed whales turned their vocal fry into a hunting superpower Toothed whales turned their vocal fry into a hunting superpower

By Laura Baisas

A giant lacewing as seen under a microscope. The insect is a moth relative with large wings.

A bug expert went shopping at Walmart—and made a historic insect discovery A bug expert went shopping at Walmart—and made a historic insect discovery

By Laura Baisas

The partner of one Caribbean flamingo helps it out in an argument with another pair.

Flamingoes have big personalities—and their friendships prove it Flamingoes have big personalities—and their friendships prove it

By Laura Baisas

A white-bellied woodstar hummingbird flying. Their colorful throat feathers are believed to help them find a mate.

This hybrid hummingbird’s colorful feathers are a genetic puzzle This hybrid hummingbird’s colorful feathers are a genetic puzzle

By Laura Baisas

Gloved hands placing computer microchip on underneath microscope lens.

Scientists eye lab-grown brains to replace silicon-based computer chips Scientists eye lab-grown brains to replace silicon-based computer chips

A glassy-winged sharpshooter rests on a leaf.

Watch these tiny bugs catapult urine with their butts Watch these tiny bugs catapult urine with their butts

By Laura Baisas

the spotify app on a phone screen

Spotify wants to understand your body on music Spotify wants to understand your body on music

By Charlotte Hu

A moniker fairy lantern plant detonates, with its petals unfurling.

Scientists just rediscovered a rare, fungi-eating ‘fairy lantern’ Scientists just rediscovered a rare, fungi-eating ‘fairy lantern’

By Laura Baisas

Purple sea urchins clumped together in an urchin barren.

These urchin-eating sea stars might be helping us reduce carbon levels These urchin-eating sea stars might be helping us reduce carbon levels

An illustration of Hyneria udlezinye, a large, predatory fish, with smaller fish in the Waterloo Farm ecosystem in South Africa about 360 million years ago.

A gator-faced fish shaped like a torpedo stalked rivers 360 million years ago A gator-faced fish shaped like a torpedo stalked rivers 360 million years ago

By Laura Baisas

Several European spruce bark beetles on a dry piece of wood.

These beetles sniff out fungus-infected trees to find their next target These beetles sniff out fungus-infected trees to find their next target

By Laura Baisas

A European hedgehog on a road with a yellow flower.

Why Danish citizen scientists were on a quest to find the oldest European hedgehog Why Danish citizen scientists were on a quest to find the oldest European hedgehog

By Laura Baisas

A mother chimpanzee with her offspring, which she may teach her style of handclasping.

Popular chimpanzees set hand-holding trends for the whole group Popular chimpanzees set hand-holding trends for the whole group

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Studying fighter pilot physiology could help us understand astronaut brains

Studying fighter pilot physiology could help us understand astronaut brains Studying fighter pilot physiology could help us understand astronaut brains

By Laura Baisas

Singapore’s new plan to fight mosquito-borne diseases: bug-infecting bacteria

Singapore’s new plan to fight mosquito-borne diseases: bug-infecting bacteria Singapore’s new plan to fight mosquito-borne diseases: bug-infecting bacteria

By Marta Zaraska / Undark

A woma pythron, a large, nocturnal species of snake on the ground by a piece of wood.

Snakes can actually hear really well Snakes can actually hear really well

By Laura Baisas

An artist’s impression of two theropod species discovered by scientists at the University of Southampton in 2021, Ceratosuchops inferodios and Riparovenator milnerae.

What was going on inside of this spinosaur’s brain? What was going on inside of this spinosaur’s brain?

By Laura Baisas

A Eurasian lynch perches in a fallen tree in a forest.

The endangered Eurasian lynx might never recover fully in France The endangered Eurasian lynx might never recover fully in France

By Laura Baisas

Lion's mane mushrooms on a table.

Lion’s mane mushroom shows promise in boosting brain cell growth Lion’s mane mushroom shows promise in boosting brain cell growth

By Laura Baisas

Fossil hippo skeleton and associated Oldowan artifacts at the Nyayanga site in July 2016.

2.9 million-year-old tools found in Kenya stir up a ‘fascinating whodunnit’ 2.9 million-year-old tools found in Kenya stir up a ‘fascinating whodunnit’

By Laura Baisas

A woman in a field observes a plant.

Citizen science is another great form of nature therapy Citizen science is another great form of nature therapy

By Laura Baisas

Two giraffes on a sunny day with one looking directly at the viewer.

Why giraffe sex is a tall order and hinges on pee Why giraffe sex is a tall order and hinges on pee

By Laura Baisas

Two orca whales swim in the ocean with mountains in the distance.

Raising male offspring comes at a high price for orca mothers Raising male offspring comes at a high price for orca mothers

By Laura Baisas

A beefsteak fungus growing in a forest.

Bacteria and fungi are the first to start rebuilding charred forests Bacteria and fungi are the first to start rebuilding charred forests

By Laura Baisas

An uncooked brown crab sitting among among seaweed and water.

Neanderthals caught and cooked crabs 90,000 years ago Neanderthals caught and cooked crabs 90,000 years ago

By Laura Baisas

A wolf-like puppy surrounded by other puppies tries howling.

Do domesticated dogs howl back at wolves? Do domesticated dogs howl back at wolves?

By Laura Baisas

A scan of a mastodon skeleton with an arrow pointing to the trajectory of the spear.

Ancient humans used mastodon bones to hunt the giant beasts Ancient humans used mastodon bones to hunt the giant beasts

By Laura Baisas

A fossilized fish brain alongside of a penny for size comparison.

Scientists find 319-million-year-old fossilized fish brain Scientists find 319-million-year-old fossilized fish brain

By Laura Baisas

The racist history behind using biology in criminology

The racist history behind using biology in criminology The racist history behind using biology in criminology

By Michael Schulson/Undark

Two small prairie voles.

These fuzzy burrowers don’t need oxytocin to fall in love These fuzzy burrowers don’t need oxytocin to fall in love

By Laura Baisas

Brown cat and white cat fighting and playing in a sunny room

Fun or feud? These are the tell-tail signs that a catfight has gone sour. Fun or feud? These are the tell-tail signs that a catfight has gone sour.

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A seaweed farm underwater near an island in Indonesia.

Why seaweed farming could be the next big thing in sustainability Why seaweed farming could be the next big thing in sustainability

By Laura Baisas

Artist's reconstruction of Ignacius dawsonae surviving six months of winter darkness in the extinct warm temperate ecosystem of Ellesmere Island, Arctic Canada.

These primate ancestors were totally chill with a colder climate These primate ancestors were totally chill with a colder climate

By Laura Baisas

Two long, dark, Koh Tao worm salamanders on a swampy soil

One wormy Triassic fossil could fill a hole in the evolutionary story of amphibians One wormy Triassic fossil could fill a hole in the evolutionary story of amphibians

By Laura Baisas

When wind turbines kill bats and birds, these scientists want the carcasses

When wind turbines kill bats and birds, these scientists want the carcasses When wind turbines kill bats and birds, these scientists want the carcasses

By Emma Foehringer Merchant / Undark

A chimpanzee holding out its hand.

Adolescent chimpanzees might be less impulsive than human teens Adolescent chimpanzees might be less impulsive than human teens

By Laura Baisas

Stowaway mice carry DNA evidence of an ancient black market fur trade

Stowaway mice carry DNA evidence of an ancient black market fur trade Stowaway mice carry DNA evidence of an ancient black market fur trade

By Gemma Conroy / Hakai Magazine

A group of oyster mushrooms growing.

Oyster mushrooms release nerve gas to kill worms before eviscerating them Oyster mushrooms release nerve gas to kill worms before eviscerating them

By Laura Baisas

Newly found titanosaur eggs reveal dino nurseries once teemed with baby giants

Newly found titanosaur eggs reveal dino nurseries once teemed with baby giants Newly found titanosaur eggs reveal dino nurseries once teemed with baby giants

By Laura Baisas

An overview of mummified crocodiles during an excavation.

Ancient Egyptians had a unique way of mummifying crocodiles Ancient Egyptians had a unique way of mummifying crocodiles

By Laura Baisas

Adult zebra shark swims in a tank at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago

A virgin birth in Shedd Aquarium’s shark tank is baffling biologists A virgin birth in Shedd Aquarium’s shark tank is baffling biologists

By Laura Baisas

Five fossil specimens including extinct trilobites.

Trilobites may have jousted with head ‘tridents’ to win mates Trilobites may have jousted with head ‘tridents’ to win mates

By Laura Baisas

an orange spotted fish with a white line that stretches across its body

What rockfish genes can teach humans about living past 100 What rockfish genes can teach humans about living past 100

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A look at how cancer cells move and metastatize could help doctors stop them from spreading

A look at how cancer cells move and metastatize could help doctors stop them from spreading A look at how cancer cells move and metastatize could help doctors stop them from spreading

By Yizeng Li / The Conversation

A small lizard called the Puerto Rican crested anole sits on a human-made fence.

When these reptiles became city lizards, it changed their genes When these reptiles became city lizards, it changed their genes

By Laura Baisas

Geologists collecting Permian fossils on a Tibetan plateau

UV radiation might be behind the planet’s biggest mass extinction UV radiation might be behind the planet’s biggest mass extinction

The Jewel Damselfish on off of a rat-free island.

Invasive rats are making some reef fish more peaceful, and that’s bad, actually Invasive rats are making some reef fish more peaceful, and that’s bad, actually

By Laura Baisas

A pig looking up from a muddy field.

A new synthetic material could help fix broken penises—at least in pigs A new synthetic material could help fix broken penises—at least in pigs

By Laura Baisas

A lush green fjord in Norway with a wooden longship.

Some modern-day Scandinavians lack the ancestral diversity of Vikings Some modern-day Scandinavians lack the ancestral diversity of Vikings

By Laura Baisas

Yellow chlorovirus particles infecting microscopic green algae

These microbes could be the first lifeforms to munch on infectious viruses These microbes could be the first lifeforms to munch on infectious viruses

By Laura Baisas

The National Institutes of Health is studying dogs to learn more about aging and genetics in people

The National Institutes of Health is studying dogs to learn more about aging and genetics in people The National Institutes of Health is studying dogs to learn more about aging and genetics in people

By Helen Bradshaw

College textbooks aren’t keeping up with the severity of the global climate crisis

College textbooks aren’t keeping up with the severity of the global climate crisis College textbooks aren’t keeping up with the severity of the global climate crisis

By Carla Delgado

‘Snowball Earth’ was crushing and cold. What animals could survive it?

‘Snowball Earth’ was crushing and cold. What animals could survive it? ‘Snowball Earth’ was crushing and cold. What animals could survive it?

By Chris Baraniuk / Hakai Magazine

A pink iguana in green grass at Galápagos National Park in Ecuador.

Pink Iguana hatchlings spotted for the first time on the Galápagos in decades Pink Iguana hatchlings spotted for the first time on the Galápagos in decades

By Laura Baisas

It’s easier than ever to make DNA from scratch—but what are the risks?

It’s easier than ever to make DNA from scratch—but what are the risks? It’s easier than ever to make DNA from scratch—but what are the risks?

By Michael Schulson/Undark

Zebrafish swimming in an aquarium.

A primitive part of the zebrafish brain helps them find their way home A primitive part of the zebrafish brain helps them find their way home

By Laura Baisas

A young orangutan in a tree.

Why do humans talk? Tree-dwelling orangutans might hold the answer. Why do humans talk? Tree-dwelling orangutans might hold the answer.

By Laura Baisas

An illustration of adult and young of the ichthyosaur species (Shonisaurus popularis) chasing ammonoid prey 230 million years ago, in what is now Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park in Nevada.

Millions of years ago, marine reptiles may have used Nevada as a birthing ground Millions of years ago, marine reptiles may have used Nevada as a birthing ground

By Laura Baisas

Giant gray cat snuggling a child with black hair in an orange sweater to show their cat-human bond. Illustration.

Your cat is probably more attached to you than you think Your cat is probably more attached to you than you think

By Brandon Keim

What’s in a genome? The quest to decipher human difference

What’s in a genome? The quest to decipher human difference What’s in a genome? The quest to decipher human difference

By Michael Schulson/Undark

a young male chimp eating in a tree

Foraging in trees might have pushed human ancestors to walk on two feet Foraging in trees might have pushed human ancestors to walk on two feet

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

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