Biology

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

Latest in Biology

Two long, dark, Koh Tao worm salamanders on a swampy soil

Environment

One wormy Triassic fossil could fill a hole in the evolutionary story of amphibians One wormy Triassic fossil could fill a hole in the evolutionary story of amphibians

By Laura Baisas

When wind turbines kill bats and birds, these scientists want the carcasses

Environment

When wind turbines kill bats and birds, these scientists want the carcasses When wind turbines kill bats and birds, these scientists want the carcasses

By Emma Foehringer Merchant / Undark

A chimpanzee holding out its hand.

Environment

Adolescent chimpanzees might be less impulsive than human teens Adolescent chimpanzees might be less impulsive than human teens

By Laura Baisas

Stowaway mice carry DNA evidence of an ancient black market fur trade

Environment

Stowaway mice carry DNA evidence of an ancient black market fur trade Stowaway mice carry DNA evidence of an ancient black market fur trade

By Gemma Conroy / Hakai Magazine

A group of oyster mushrooms growing.

Science

Oyster mushrooms release nerve gas to kill worms before eviscerating them Oyster mushrooms release nerve gas to kill worms before eviscerating them

By Laura Baisas

Newly found titanosaur eggs reveal dino nurseries once teemed with baby giants

Science

Newly found titanosaur eggs reveal dino nurseries once teemed with baby giants Newly found titanosaur eggs reveal dino nurseries once teemed with baby giants

By Laura Baisas

An overview of mummified crocodiles during an excavation.

Science

Ancient Egyptians had a unique way of mummifying crocodiles Ancient Egyptians had a unique way of mummifying crocodiles

By Laura Baisas

Adult zebra shark swims in a tank at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago

Environment

A virgin birth in Shedd Aquarium’s shark tank is baffling biologists A virgin birth in Shedd Aquarium’s shark tank is baffling biologists

By Laura Baisas

Five fossil specimens including extinct trilobites.

Environment

Trilobites may have jousted with head ‘tridents’ to win mates Trilobites may have jousted with head ‘tridents’ to win mates

By Laura Baisas

an orange spotted fish with a white line that stretches across its body

Science

What rockfish genes can teach humans about living past 100 What rockfish genes can teach humans about living past 100

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A look at how cancer cells move and metastatize could help doctors stop them from spreading

Health

A look at how cancer cells move and metastatize could help doctors stop them from spreading A look at how cancer cells move and metastatize could help doctors stop them from spreading

By Yizeng Li / The Conversation

A small lizard called the Puerto Rican crested anole sits on a human-made fence.

Environment

When these reptiles became city lizards, it changed their genes When these reptiles became city lizards, it changed their genes

By Laura Baisas

Geologists collecting Permian fossils on a Tibetan plateau

Environment

UV radiation might be behind the planet’s biggest mass extinction UV radiation might be behind the planet’s biggest mass extinction

The Jewel Damselfish on off of a rat-free island.

Environment

Invasive rats are making some reef fish more peaceful, and that’s bad, actually Invasive rats are making some reef fish more peaceful, and that’s bad, actually

By Laura Baisas

A pig looking up from a muddy field.

Environment

A new synthetic material could help fix broken penises—at least in pigs A new synthetic material could help fix broken penises—at least in pigs

By Laura Baisas

A lush green fjord in Norway with a wooden longship.

Science

Some modern-day Scandinavians lack the ancestral diversity of Vikings Some modern-day Scandinavians lack the ancestral diversity of Vikings

By Laura Baisas

Yellow chlorovirus particles infecting microscopic green algae

Science

These microbes could be the first lifeforms to munch on infectious viruses These microbes could be the first lifeforms to munch on infectious viruses

By Laura Baisas

The National Institutes of Health is studying dogs to learn more about aging and genetics in people

Science

The National Institutes of Health is studying dogs to learn more about aging and genetics in people The National Institutes of Health is studying dogs to learn more about aging and genetics in people

By Helen Bradshaw

College textbooks aren’t keeping up with the severity of the global climate crisis

Environment

College textbooks aren’t keeping up with the severity of the global climate crisis College textbooks aren’t keeping up with the severity of the global climate crisis

By Carla Delgado

‘Snowball Earth’ was crushing and cold. What animals could survive it?

Environment

‘Snowball Earth’ was crushing and cold. What animals could survive it? ‘Snowball Earth’ was crushing and cold. What animals could survive it?

By Chris Baraniuk / Hakai Magazine

A pink iguana in green grass at Galápagos National Park in Ecuador.

Environment

Pink Iguana hatchlings spotted for the first time on the Galápagos in decades Pink Iguana hatchlings spotted for the first time on the Galápagos in decades

By Laura Baisas

It’s easier than ever to make DNA from scratch—but what are the risks?

Health

It’s easier than ever to make DNA from scratch—but what are the risks? It’s easier than ever to make DNA from scratch—but what are the risks?

By Michael Schulson/Undark

Zebrafish swimming in an aquarium.

Environment

A primitive part of the zebrafish brain helps them find their way home A primitive part of the zebrafish brain helps them find their way home

By Laura Baisas

A young orangutan in a tree.

Environment

Why do humans talk? Tree-dwelling orangutans might hold the answer. Why do humans talk? Tree-dwelling orangutans might hold the answer.

By Laura Baisas

An illustration of adult and young of the ichthyosaur species (Shonisaurus popularis) chasing ammonoid prey 230 million years ago, in what is now Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park in Nevada.

Science

Millions of years ago, marine reptiles may have used Nevada as a birthing ground Millions of years ago, marine reptiles may have used Nevada as a birthing ground

By Laura Baisas

Giant gray cat snuggling a child with black hair in an orange sweater to show their cat-human bond. Illustration.

Environment

Your cat is probably more attached to you than you think Your cat is probably more attached to you than you think

By Brandon Keim

What’s in a genome? The quest to decipher human difference

Science

What’s in a genome? The quest to decipher human difference What’s in a genome? The quest to decipher human difference

By Michael Schulson/Undark

a young male chimp eating in a tree

Science

Foraging in trees might have pushed human ancestors to walk on two feet Foraging in trees might have pushed human ancestors to walk on two feet

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Scientists just found out female snakes have two clitorises

Environment

Scientists just found out female snakes have two clitorises Scientists just found out female snakes have two clitorises

By Laura Baisas

A reconstructed image of Ramsayia, alongside a modern day wombat.

Science

Giant wombats the size of small cars once roamed Australia Giant wombats the size of small cars once roamed Australia

By Laura Baisas

Large fossilized fragments of free swimming arthropods

Science

Newly discovered fossils give a whole new meaning to jumbo shrimp Newly discovered fossils give a whole new meaning to jumbo shrimp

By Laura Baisas

a collage of six plates of agar growing colorful bacteria that has been intentionally grown in artistic shapes. some of the plates include representations of jellyfish and neurons. there's also abstract art like two plates representing a connection between mother and child

Science

These intricate ‘living’ paintings are teeming with microscopic organisms These intricate ‘living’ paintings are teeming with microscopic organisms

A Labrador and a terrier play with a rope toy.

Environment

How breeding dogs for certain traits may have altered their brains How breeding dogs for certain traits may have altered their brains

By Laura Baisas

Woolly mammoths in forests in Greenland after eDNA reconstruction. The scene is an illustration.

Environment

Oldest DNA ever sampled paints a lush portrait of a lost Arctic world Oldest DNA ever sampled paints a lush portrait of a lost Arctic world

The last Tasmanian tiger’s remains were finally found—in a cupboard

Environment

The last Tasmanian tiger’s remains were finally found—in a cupboard The last Tasmanian tiger’s remains were finally found—in a cupboard

By Laura Baisas

Brightly colored tropical fish in a coral reef

Environment

To save coral reefs, color the larvae To save coral reefs, color the larvae

By Laura Baisas

The tortoise, the myth, the legend: Jonathan turns 190

Environment

The tortoise, the myth, the legend: Jonathan turns 190 The tortoise, the myth, the legend: Jonathan turns 190

By Laura Baisas

This dinosaur dove like a duck

Science

This dinosaur dove like a duck This dinosaur dove like a duck

By Laura Baisas

Plastic bottles and fishing nets and other trash on sea beach

Environment

Plastic microfibers in the Mediterranean Sea are keeping bacteria afloat Plastic microfibers in the Mediterranean Sea are keeping bacteria afloat

By Lauren J. Young

Artist’s impression of Cryptovaranoides when it was alive

Science

A key to lizard evolution was buried in a museum cupboard for 70 years A key to lizard evolution was buried in a museum cupboard for 70 years

By Laura Baisas

The newest member of the T. rex family has piercing eyes

Science

The newest member of the T. rex family has piercing eyes The newest member of the T. rex family has piercing eyes

By Laura Baisas

Steller's Sea Cow

Environment

Meet the extinct sea cow that cultivated Pacific kelp forests Meet the extinct sea cow that cultivated Pacific kelp forests

By Laura Baisas

Ancient army ant

Environment

Eyeless army ants chomped their way through Europe millions of years ago Eyeless army ants chomped their way through Europe millions of years ago

By Laura Baisas

Kimberella fossil

Science

Oldest evidence of digested plants in a roughly 575-million-year-old creature’s gut Oldest evidence of digested plants in a roughly 575-million-year-old creature’s gut

By Laura Baisas

A giant prehistoric salamander

Science

These pleasantly plump salamanders dominated the Cretaceous period These pleasantly plump salamanders dominated the Cretaceous period

By Laura Baisas

Big ancient turtle

Science

Gigantic fossils hint at super-sized 7,000-pound sea turtle Gigantic fossils hint at super-sized 7,000-pound sea turtle

By Laura Baisas

This 18-foot python’s last meal was a whole alligator

Environment

This 18-foot python’s last meal was a whole alligator This 18-foot python’s last meal was a whole alligator

By Dac Collins / Outdoor Life

Children raising their hands in a classroom.

Science

Kids learn faster than adults. This neurotransmitter could explain why. Kids learn faster than adults. This neurotransmitter could explain why.

By Laura Baisas

Monkeys with close friends have friendlier gut bacteria

Environment

Monkeys with close friends have friendlier gut bacteria Monkeys with close friends have friendlier gut bacteria

By Laura Baisas

Nine patients with paralysis walking again with aides in various environments after electrode therapy. Black and white.

Health

The slow, but promising progress of electrode therapy for paralysis The slow, but promising progress of electrode therapy for paralysis

a fuzzy bumblebee settles on a pink flower

Science

Bees can sense a flower’s electric field—unless fertilizer messes with the buzz Bees can sense a flower’s electric field—unless fertilizer messes with the buzz

By Lauren J. Young

A woman in a long sleeve white shirt reaches from bed to turn off her alarm clock.

Science

The science behind our circadian rhythms, and why time changes mess them up The science behind our circadian rhythms, and why time changes mess them up

By Helen Bradshaw

Sex, not violence, could’ve sealed the fate of the Neanderthals

Science

Sex, not violence, could’ve sealed the fate of the Neanderthals Sex, not violence, could’ve sealed the fate of the Neanderthals

By Laura Baisas

protein structure 3D

Technology

Meta’s AI could shake up how we study protein structures Meta’s AI could shake up how we study protein structures

By Charlotte Hu

A jaybird snacks

Environment

Eurasian jays show masterful intelligence in human psychology test Eurasian jays show masterful intelligence in human psychology test

By Laura Baisas

A hellbender peers out with its blue eye from a rock

Science

Hellbender salamanders may look scary, but the real fright is extinction Hellbender salamanders may look scary, but the real fright is extinction

By Helen Bradshaw

Bellairsia gracilis

Science

A Scottish fossil is helping scientists fill the gaps in the lizard family tree A Scottish fossil is helping scientists fill the gaps in the lizard family tree

By Laura Baisas

varying sizes of argonaut egg cases are lined up

Science

Argonaut octopuses are enigmatic—down to their self-made ‘shells’ Argonaut octopuses are enigmatic—down to their self-made ‘shells’

By Helen Bradshaw

a lioness with a mane

Science

The rare case of a lioness with a mane The rare case of a lioness with a mane

By Lauren J. Young

Rhododendrons blooming.

Science

Multiple species of Rhododendron thrive by taking turns to bloom Multiple species of Rhododendron thrive by taking turns to bloom

By Laura Baisas

a closeup of honeybees on honeycomb

Science

The first honeybee vaccine could protect the entire hive, starting with the queen The first honeybee vaccine could protect the entire hive, starting with the queen

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

The hand of a day gecko, showing bones, tissues, and cells.

Science

9 stunning pictures of the microscopic realm 9 stunning pictures of the microscopic realm

By Popular Science Team

A compound derived from the Cordyceps fungus may have antiviral or antitumor properties.

Science

An insect-eating fungus could help us fight viruses—and now we know how to grow it An insect-eating fungus could help us fight viruses—and now we know how to grow it

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

brilliant-10-2022

Science

The Brilliant 10: The top up-and-coming minds in science The Brilliant 10: The top up-and-coming minds in science

By Mara Grunbaum, Yasmin Tayag