Biology

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

Latest in Biology

A harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) on the beach during the summer premoult stage.
Environment

When wily sea lions and determined wildlife officials sparred in Seattle

By Alix Morris

The acoustic parasitoid fly Ormia ochracea and its host cricket.
Environment

This parasitic fly gives birth inside of crickets

By Laura Baisas

a black cat sits in leaves
Science

Pet cat helps discover a new virus

By Laura Baisas

several small fish with colorful organa and blue scales
Environment

Orange male guppies are hornier

By Laura Baisas

a team of greenland sled dog puppies with white fur pulls a sled
Environment

Oldest known dog breed reveals hidden human history

By Lauren Leffer

a yellow crab on a beach
Environment

Australia’s ghost crabs decapitate baby sea turtles

By Laura Baisas

A pseudoscorpion from the genus Nipponogarypus in South Korea.
Environment

New pseudoscorpions with dragon-like jaws discovered in a South Korea cave

By Laura Baisas

Burmese python on ground
Environment

Pythons can devour bones thanks to unique stomach cells

By Andrew Paul

An artist’s reconstruction of the fossilized landscape, plants, and animals found preserved in a remote bonebed in Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. The newly described pterosaur Eotephradactylus mcintireae is seen eating an ancient ray-finned fish alongside an early species of turtle and an early frog species, with the skeleton of an armored crocodile relative lying on the ground and a palm-like plant growing in the background.
Science

North American pterosaur could sit on your shoulder

By Laura Baisas

A close up of a mosquito biting human skin
Environment

A mosquito killer may lurk in a Mediterranean bacteria

By Laura Baisas

a yellowtail parrotfish swims by a coral reef
Environment

Real Coral Reefs of Miami: A Q&A with the marine biologist behind a popular livestream

By Laura Baisas

five goats eating vegetation in a park
Environment

G.O.A.T. will be crowned in first-ever professional eating competition for goats

By Margherita Bassi

An illustration of a microscopic neural network in the brain.
Health

Even old brains can make new neurons, study suggests

By Lauren Leffer

a close up of a hermit crab, with brown coloring and dark eyes
Environment

What makes a hermit crab more bold? Hairy claws.

By Laura Baisas

A jumping spider devours a hoverfly. The hoverfly has evolved to look like a wasp, but in this case the resemblance is not sufficient to deter a spider from attacking it.
Environment

Flies disguised as wasps can’t fool birds

By Lauren Leffer

Eryops megacephalus’ (left) skull alongside Rex from the film “Toy Story” (right).
Science

Skull that looks like a ‘Toy Story’ character unearthed in Texas

By Laura Baisas

An artistic reconstruction of Swaindelphys. it has black fur, pointy pink ears, and pointy nose, and very large brown eyes
Environment

Shockingly large extinct possum uncovered in Texas

By Margherita Bassi

eight chipmunk specimens with tags on them in a museum collection
Science

City living is changing rodent skulls in Chicago

By Laura Baisas

Cissy, a Sumatran orangutan mother, is taking a nap in her day nest.
Environment

Orangutans sacrifice sleep to socialize–but naps can help

By Lauren Leffer

A turtle basking with its legs outstretched on a rock. This activity is normal and beneficial to turtles.
Environment

Why do turtles do the ‘Superman pose’?

By Laura Baisas