Biology

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

Latest in Biology

Plane cabin lighting simulating sunset

Aviation

Simulated sunrises and sunsets in planes may reduce jet lag Simulated sunrises and sunsets in planes may reduce jet lag

five chimpanzeess sitting in tall, green grass

Animals

Chimp conversations can take on human-like chaos Chimp conversations can take on human-like chaos

By Laura Baisas

Polymetallic nodules scattered across bottom of the ocean floor

Biology

‘Dark oxygen’ on ocean floor may rewrite Earth’s origins of life ‘Dark oxygen’ on ocean floor may rewrite Earth’s origins of life

a brown dog looks up with a longing expression

Animals

Your dog can probably smell your stress Your dog can probably smell your stress

By Laura Baisas

a bee kicks away an ant

Animals

Ant gets bee-slapped, and other strange bug moments Ant gets bee-slapped, and other strange bug moments

By Laura Baisas

a baby crocodile hatches from an egg, surrounded by other eggs.

Animals

106 critically endangered Siamese crocodile eggs spotted in Cambodia 106 critically endangered Siamese crocodile eggs spotted in Cambodia

By Laura Baisas

a long, dark brown millipede crawling on brown and green leaves

Animals

Expedition finds a 10-inch long millipede lost to science for 126 years Expedition finds a 10-inch long millipede lost to science for 126 years

By Laura Baisas

several snakes entwined together on a rock

Animals

Ssssso many snakes: Watch a ‘mega-den’ of rattlesnakes in real time Ssssso many snakes: Watch a ‘mega-den’ of rattlesnakes in real time

By Laura Baisas

An illustration of newly discovered crocodile relative named Benggwigwishingasuchus eremicarminis on the coast of an ancient ocean called Panthalassa.

Animals

Say hello to the surprising crocodile relative Benggwigwishingasuchus eremicarminis Say hello to the surprising crocodile relative Benggwigwishingasuchus eremicarminis

By Laura Baisas

a thick mammoth foot preserved in permafrost. it is round and dark brown

Animals

Woolly mammoth ‘jerky’ preserves 52,000-year-old fossil chromosomes Woolly mammoth ‘jerky’ preserves 52,000-year-old fossil chromosomes

By Laura Baisas

Located in the foothills of a rock emerging from a green field

Agriculture

Iron Age plant remains tell new agricultural story in east Africa Iron Age plant remains tell new agricultural story in east Africa

By Laura Baisas

circles of red, blue, and green bacteria

Biology

‘Bacterial glitter’ shimmers without pigments ‘Bacterial glitter’ shimmers without pigments

By Laura Baisas

an illustration of a large shark jumping out of the water and eating a winged dinosaur

Animals

When the ocean got hot, the sharks bulked up When the ocean got hot, the sharks bulked up

By Laura Baisas

a nearly complete skeleton of a salamander-like creature that lived 300 million years ago. it's head is round and shaped like a toilet seat

Animals

This giant tetrapod sucked in prey with its ‘toilet seat-shaped’ head This giant tetrapod sucked in prey with its ‘toilet seat-shaped’ head

By Laura Baisas

Close up of human brain neuron

AI

Lab-grown human brain tissue used to control robot Lab-grown human brain tissue used to control robot

a small grey and black reef fish swims

Animals

Fish in Earth’s hottest water defy the odds Fish in Earth’s hottest water defy the odds

By Laura Baisas

green and red grapes

Biology

If dinosaurs hadn’t gone extinct, we may not have delicious grapes If dinosaurs hadn’t gone extinct, we may not have delicious grapes

By Laura Baisas

Five of the comb jelly species featured in a new study on how their cells adapt to water pressures. Red coloration as seen in the two specimens at right is common among deep-sea animals.

Animals

Comb jellies won’t give into the extreme pressures of deep-sea life Comb jellies won’t give into the extreme pressures of deep-sea life

By Laura Baisas

a marine biologist and an actor fist bump while sitting on a dive boat in the ocean

Animals

Actor Anthony Mackie and marine biologist Jasmin Graham talk sharks Actor Anthony Mackie and marine biologist Jasmin Graham talk sharks

By Laura Baisas

Illustration of woolly mammoth walking icy plain

Animals

The last woolly mammoths were impressively inbred—but that’s not what killed them The last woolly mammoths were impressively inbred—but that’s not what killed them