Biology

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

Latest in Biology

small fish in a net being rescued

After a devastating wildfire, rescued fish make a triumphant return to Malibu After a devastating wildfire, rescued fish make a triumphant return to Malibu

By Margherita Bassi

Koala female with her baby at the Perth Zoo in Australia.

Secret koala population discovered near Australian city Secret koala population discovered near Australian city

By Margherita Bassi

a beige and brown moth on a stone

Migrating moths can read the stars Migrating moths can read the stars

By Lauren Leffer

illustration of a large lizard with a bulging head carrying a large egg

Bones of a raccoon-sized prehistoric lizard sat in a jar for 20 years Bones of a raccoon-sized prehistoric lizard sat in a jar for 20 years

By Laura Baisas

a long black amphibian with feathered gills called an axolotl swims in a fish tank

Axolotl mucus peptides attack breast cancer cells and MRSA Axolotl mucus peptides attack breast cancer cells and MRSA

By Laura Baisas

A Guatemalan tiger rump tarantula (Davus pentaloris) in a terrarium with reflections.

Tarantulas adapt their running style after losing legs Tarantulas adapt their running style after losing legs

By Laura Baisas

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