Biology

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

Latest in Biology

Fuzzy beetle on red flower

Most bugs can’t see red—but these beetles can Most bugs can’t see red—but these beetles can

A great hammerhead shark swimming close to the surface in Bimini, Bahamas, Caribbean Sea.

Young hammerhead sharks love Biscayne Bay. Leave them alone, humans. Young hammerhead sharks love Biscayne Bay. Leave them alone, humans.

By Laura Baisas

an anaconda coiled sitting on straw

Q&A: How anacondas, chickens, and locals may be able to coexist in the Amazon Q&A: How anacondas, chickens, and locals may be able to coexist in the Amazon

a weedy seadragon swimming. they have long snouts and raised backs

Weedy seadragons in the running for nature’s best dads Weedy seadragons in the running for nature’s best dads

By Margherita Bassi

Starving bacteria (cyan) use a microscopic harpoon—called the Type VI secretion system—to stab and kill neighboring cells (magenta).

Bacteria will turn to murder if they get hungry enough Bacteria will turn to murder if they get hungry enough

an adult osprey looks on as the heads of three chicks pop out over a nest

Three osprey chicks hatch in 500-pound steel nest boxes Three osprey chicks hatch in 500-pound steel nest boxes

By Laura Baisas

European Gray Wolf Cubs in a Grass in a Spring Day

Two Ice Age ‘puppies’ weren’t exactly dogs Two Ice Age ‘puppies’ weren’t exactly dogs

an image taken with a microscope that shows a fruit fly approaching a tower made of tiny roundworms

Worm towers are all around us Worm towers are all around us

By Lauren Leffer

an illustration of an extinct marsupial with brown and white fur and a small trunk-like nose

Australia’s giant extinct marsupials may be ID’d using tiny bone bits Australia’s giant extinct marsupials may be ID’d using tiny bone bits

Dead coral sit on the ocean bed in the Straits of Florida near Key Largo, Florida, on September 23, 2021. The coral is very gray and white

Probiotics can help heal ravaged coral reefs Probiotics can help heal ravaged coral reefs

By Laura Baisas

a small rod-shaped bacteria seen under a microscope. several individual bacterium are moving along a blue surface

Watch bacteria ‘hitchhike’ and zoom around Watch bacteria ‘hitchhike’ and zoom around

By Laura Baisas

A female Anopheles mosquito is sitting on a green vine of the forest a

Scientists engineer mosquito STD to combat malaria Scientists engineer mosquito STD to combat malaria

By Laura Baisas

Well-preserved dinosaur skull belongs to new sauropod species Well-preserved dinosaur skull belongs to new sauropod species

a female student with gloves on working with fungi in a lab

College student discovers mysterious fungus that eluded LSD’s inventor College student discovers mysterious fungus that eluded LSD’s inventor

By Laura Baisas

orange and yellow flames on a black background

Can humans spontaneously combust? The baffling cases explained. Can humans spontaneously combust? The baffling cases explained.

By Lauren Leffer

Close up of fruit fly head on orange background

Researchers genetically altered fruit flies to crave cocaine Researchers genetically altered fruit flies to crave cocaine

a small frog on a road, with a person's bright sneakers in the background

Wildlife underpass reduces squished amphibians by 80% Wildlife underpass reduces squished amphibians by 80%

By Laura Baisas

A harbor seal viewing a simulation of the seabed rushing beneath him, with a red ball target either side of his head to touch, to indicate which direction he appeared to be moving in.

Seals playing a video game reveal how they find their way Seals playing a video game reveal how they find their way

By Laura Baisas

A wildfire frontline with emergency services nearby, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada.

Are we in a sixth mass extinction? Are we in a sixth mass extinction?

By Lauren Leffer

A female oceanic whitetip shark seen feeding on the carcass.

Sharks surprise scientists by sharing a meal Sharks surprise scientists by sharing a meal

By Laura Baisas