Biology

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

Latest in Biology

The new microraptor dinosaur Jian changmaensis (left) attacks the early bird Gansus yumenensis (right) in what is now the Changma Basin of northwestern China approximately 120 million years ago. Credits: illustration by Lewis LaRosa, colorized by Jão Canola.

Velociraptor’s cousin flew like a flying squirrel

two large eaglets in a nest at sunrise

Eaglets Sandy and Luna spend their first night alone on the nest

By Laura Baisas

an illustration of a large scorpion standing on a marsh

World’s biggest scorpions were the size of baseball bats

By Laura Baisas

At the start and after three days: the top images show the uninjured spinal cord of a zebrafish; those in the middle show the injured spinal cord; and those at the bottom illustrate how the nerve cells grow thanks to the microrobots. (Image: ETH Zurich)

Injectable nanorobots may help heal spinal injuries

a brown beetle with long antennae

A ‘mystery beetle’ is devouring North Carolina’s precious blueberries

By Laura Baisas

a green insect with a wind that looks like a leaf stands on a stick

Big wings and sweet songs: The mating lives of Panama’s katydids

By Laura Baisas

an orangutan mother and child stare down at researchers from a tree

Orangutan poop holds surprising clues about how long they breastfeed

By Margherita Bassi

three birds in a nest

Bald eagle Jackie shoos away Fiona the squirrel

By Popular Science Team

a man on a boat holds a large silver fish

50 million pounds of invasive fish removed from Illinois River

By Laura Baisas

Beautiful female eye in close-up with light blue iris details

Humans have weirdly white eyes. Here’s why.

By Sarah Philip

a green moray eel is examined by veteranrians

Thomas the moray eel goes to the doctor

By Margherita Bassi

a woman in a blue baseball cap holds a turtle on the beach

Rare hybrid sea turtle released back into the ocean after rescue

By Margherita Bassi

a pigeon with grey, green, black, and purple feathers

Pigeons use their livers to sense Earth’s magnetic field

By Margherita Bassi

a mosquito biting human skin

Mosquitoes can learn that DEET means dinner is served

By Laura Baisas

a small horse galloping

Rare Przewalski’s horse born in New York

By Margherita Bassi

two human doctors holding a baby gorilla

Doctors perform rare emergency C-section on a gorilla

By Margherita Bassi

a long and cylindrical orange mushroom growing out of the ground. it has a brown cap that is used to spread spores

This phallic fungus also smells like rotting flesh

By Laura Baisas

a sleeping baby gorilla

Pregnant gorillas undergo ultrasounds and the results might look familiar

By Margherita Bassi

two sea slugs that are transluscent with yellow and black spots

Seed-size sea slug looks like an everything bagel

By Margherita Bassi

Mature woman suffering from hot flashes using hand fan, cooling down at home.

What happens inside your body during a hot flash

By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall