Biology(Page 15)

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

Latest in Biology

Fossil frog skeleton in rock from German swamp

A swamp orgy went terribly wrong for these prehistoric frogs A swamp orgy went terribly wrong for these prehistoric frogs

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

a sperm whale swimming under water

Megalodons liked to snack on sperm whale snouts Megalodons liked to snack on sperm whale snouts

By Rachel Feltman

A winged insect fossil in rock is about 300 million years old, a fossil example of an early animal to take flight.

When insects got wings, evolution really took off When insects got wings, evolution really took off

a siberian husky in the snow howls

Ancient wolf DNA is being used to sniff out where our love story with dogs began Ancient wolf DNA is being used to sniff out where our love story with dogs began

By Kate Baggaley

a large black stick bug isolated on a black background

Macro portraits reveal the glamor and peril of endangered insects Macro portraits reveal the glamor and peril of endangered insects

By Lauren J. Young

a close up of a face mite poking out of a skin pore

The mites that breed on our faces are getting clingier by the day The mites that breed on our faces are getting clingier by the day

By Lauren J. Young

a turtle with a bit of moss on its face

Could reptiles and amphibians hold the key to the fountain of youth? Could reptiles and amphibians hold the key to the fountain of youth?

By Kate Baggaley

x-ray of impacted wisdom tooth

We finally know why we grow wisdom teeth as adults We finally know why we grow wisdom teeth as adults

By Sara Chodosh

What an ancient jawbone reveals about polar bear evolution

What an ancient jawbone reveals about polar bear evolution What an ancient jawbone reveals about polar bear evolution

By Philip Kiefer

Images from the May 1963 issue of Popular Science.

From the archives: The discovery of DNA’s structure explained how life ‘knows’ what to do From the archives: The discovery of DNA’s structure explained how life ‘knows’ what to do

By Bill Gourgey

Faafafine individual at Auckland, New Zealand pride parade

Sex and gender binaries don’t tell the entire story of life Sex and gender binaries don’t tell the entire story of life

By Rachel Feltman

The 1918 flu outbreak, in which patients were kept in quarantine wards like this, was one of the world's deadliest pandemics.

A viral descendent of the deadly 1918 flu is probably still going around A viral descendent of the deadly 1918 flu is probably still going around

husky staring at you intently

The biggest myth about dog breeds The biggest myth about dog breeds

Early meteors impacting Earth.

Meteorites older than the solar system contain key ingredients for life Meteorites older than the solar system contain key ingredients for life

By Tatyana Woodall

Two crows attacking a feeding bald eagle along the water

Crows and ravens flexed smarts and strength for world dominance Crows and ravens flexed smarts and strength for world dominance

Shifting ancient climates shaped human evolution

Shifting ancient climates shaped human evolution Shifting ancient climates shaped human evolution

By Philip Kiefer

fluorescent view of an archerfish's skeleton and anatomy

An archerfish family tree is the best shot yet at the evolution of sniper fish An archerfish family tree is the best shot yet at the evolution of sniper fish

Dogs know exactly what they’re doing when they give you the ‘puppy eyes’

Dogs know exactly what they’re doing when they give you the ‘puppy eyes’ Dogs know exactly what they’re doing when they give you the ‘puppy eyes’

By Lauren J. Young

Eight brightly colored birds from a museum specimens collection laid out on their backs on white

Songbirds near the equator really are hotter, color-wise Songbirds near the equator really are hotter, color-wise

By Kate Baggaley

small delicate, partially translucent mushrooms growing on a log

This South Pacific island could help us understand how fungi evolve This South Pacific island could help us understand how fungi evolve

By Lauren J. Young

Two mid-sized brown owls sitting on a branch in daylight with horses, rhinos, and soaring birds in the background in an illustration

Meet the ancient owl that embraced daylight Meet the ancient owl that embraced daylight

By Purbita Saha

How vampire bats evolved to get the most out of their bloody diets How vampire bats evolved to get the most out of their bloody diets

By Kate Baggaley

diver take a photo video upon colorful coral kapoposang indonesia scuba diving

Why ocean researchers want to create a global library of undersea sounds Why ocean researchers want to create a global library of undersea sounds

By Charlotte Hu

A galloping horse.

Ancient sea creatures pioneered the gallop Ancient sea creatures pioneered the gallop

By Kate Baggaley

Prehistoric vampire squid swimming in the Paleozoic ocean in an illustration

Slap another cephalopod on the vampire squid’s family tree Slap another cephalopod on the vampire squid’s family tree

By Lauren J. Young

Proteus underwater lab design mockup

Jacques Cousteau’s grandson is building a network of ocean floor research stations Jacques Cousteau’s grandson is building a network of ocean floor research stations

By Charlotte Hu

An orange starfish on a rock.

Classifying invertebrates is hard. Butts can help. Classifying invertebrates is hard. Butts can help.

By Philip Kiefer

E.O. Wilson in his Harvard evolutionary biology office in a black and white photo

A closer look at E.O. Wilson’s archives reveals support for racist research A closer look at E.O. Wilson’s archives reveals support for racist research

By Michael Schulson/Undark

Thale cress plant leaf shown with defenses and regeneration against a black background

A chemical tweak could help plants bounce back from damage faster A chemical tweak could help plants bounce back from damage faster

a brown bat in flight

The secret to these bats’ hunting prowess is deep within their ears The secret to these bats’ hunting prowess is deep within their ears

By Kate Baggaley

A fossil with a series of diagonal slashes cut into one corner.

Eating meat may not have been as crucial to human evolution as we thought Eating meat may not have been as crucial to human evolution as we thought

By Philip Kiefer

a graphic rendering of a orange-colored cancer cell being attacked by a gray immune cell

Scientists discover how a cell may cheat its own death Scientists discover how a cell may cheat its own death

Paleontological researchers on a volcanic mound in Ethiopia's Kibish Formation, where some of the oldest Homo sapiens have been discovered

Eastern Africa’s oldest human fossils are more ancient than we realized Eastern Africa’s oldest human fossils are more ancient than we realized

By Kate Baggaley

A crab with huge eyes on the front of its face swimming after a shrimp with a big head.

This 90-million-year-old crab had the eyes of a hunter This 90-million-year-old crab had the eyes of a hunter

By Philip Kiefer

half of a circle with concentric rings of brown, gold, and amber radiating outwards

These sophisticated bacteria communities assemble in tie-dye formation These sophisticated bacteria communities assemble in tie-dye formation

By Maggie Galloway

E. coli bacteria on a green background to show germ theory vs. terrain theory

This pseudoscience movement wants to wipe germs from existence This pseudoscience movement wants to wipe germs from existence

By Isobel Whitcomb

Asteroid that killed the dinosaurs striking Earth. Illustration.

If that asteroid had been 30 seconds late, dinosaurs might rule the world and humans probably wouldn’t exist If that asteroid had been 30 seconds late, dinosaurs might rule the world and humans probably wouldn’t exist

By Sara Chodosh

an illustration of a marine reptile

These ancient marine reptiles got very big, very fast These ancient marine reptiles got very big, very fast

By Kate Baggaley

a color illustration of a brown and white bird in a lush forest

This 120-million-year-old bird could stick out its tongue This 120-million-year-old bird could stick out its tongue

By Kate Baggaley

Fish sounds tell us about underwater reefs—but we need better tech to really listen Fish sounds tell us about underwater reefs—but we need better tech to really listen

By Charlotte Hu

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a ‘raft of life’ for animals in the open ocean

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a ‘raft of life’ for animals in the open ocean The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a ‘raft of life’ for animals in the open ocean

By Kate Baggaley

Red, yellow, and black cartoon character depicting overeating during the holidays and specifically Thanksgiving

The extreme consequences of stuffing yourselves during the holidays The extreme consequences of stuffing yourselves during the holidays

By Christina Agapakis

A young harbor seal looking at the camera

Baby seals sing bass notes when they want attention Baby seals sing bass notes when they want attention

By Philip Kiefer

Baltimore checkerspot caterpillar curled up in a black and orange ball

Inflatable tentacles and silk hats: See how caterpillars trick predators to survive Inflatable tentacles and silk hats: See how caterpillars trick predators to survive

By Erin Fennessy

an illustration of two human ancestors in africa

Is it time to change the way we talk about human evolution? Is it time to change the way we talk about human evolution?

By Kate Baggaley

Scientists discovered an extremely rare tardigrade fossil trapped in Dominican amber

Scientists discovered an extremely rare tardigrade fossil trapped in Dominican amber Scientists discovered an extremely rare tardigrade fossil trapped in Dominican amber

Researchers are using gassy, explosive bacteria to destroy cancer cells

Researchers are using gassy, explosive bacteria to destroy cancer cells Researchers are using gassy, explosive bacteria to destroy cancer cells

Night owls can become early birds. Here’s how.

Night owls can become early birds. Here’s how. Night owls can become early birds. Here’s how.

By Isobel Whitcomb

These female hummingbirds don flashy male feathers to avoid unwanted harassment

These female hummingbirds don flashy male feathers to avoid unwanted harassment These female hummingbirds don flashy male feathers to avoid unwanted harassment

Here’s how hagfish slime gets 10,000 times bigger in 0.4 seconds Here’s how hagfish slime gets 10,000 times bigger in 0.4 seconds

By Sara Chodosh

tetrapod fossil

Our four-legged ancestors evolved from sea to land astonishingly quickly Our four-legged ancestors evolved from sea to land astonishingly quickly

By Philip Kiefer

Salty ridged potato chips on yellow background

What happens if you eat too much salt? What happens if you eat too much salt?

By Alexandra Ossola

Both bats and humans test out talking as infants

Both bats and humans test out talking as infants Both bats and humans test out talking as infants

The weirdest things we learned this week: Falcon sex hats and buying human skulls on Instagram

The weirdest things we learned this week: Falcon sex hats and buying human skulls on Instagram The weirdest things we learned this week: Falcon sex hats and buying human skulls on Instagram

By Rachel Feltman

Scientists genetically engineered prehistoric proteins to detect diseases

Scientists genetically engineered prehistoric proteins to detect diseases Scientists genetically engineered prehistoric proteins to detect diseases

an illustration of a melting planet earth covered in lush trees and leaves

An ancient era of global warming could hint at our scorching future An ancient era of global warming could hint at our scorching future

Soldier termites marching

These photos are proof that evolution is wild and wondrous These photos are proof that evolution is wild and wondrous

By Popular Science Team

a colorful illustration of long-tailed gray rodents carrying assorted objects such as buttons, bones, bugs, and flowers

What’s in a packrat’s petrified pee? Just a few thousand years of secrets. What’s in a packrat’s petrified pee? Just a few thousand years of secrets.

By Jason Bittel

We have now seen our sense of smell in action

We have now seen our sense of smell in action We have now seen our sense of smell in action

By Philip Kiefer

an adult giraffe stands in the grass with a young giraffe

Giraffe grandmas help keep herds going Giraffe grandmas help keep herds going

Mother and baby killer whale swimming in ocean with mountains in the background.

These killer whales go through menopause These killer whales go through menopause

Your Nose Is Bad At Warming Air Your Nose Is Bad At Warming Air

By Alexandra Ossola

corn cob blue background

The bizarre botany that makes corn a fruit, a grain, and also (kind of) a vegetable The bizarre botany that makes corn a fruit, a grain, and also (kind of) a vegetable

By Sara Chodosh

Elizabeth Kolbert On The Vanishing Of Species

Elizabeth Kolbert On The Vanishing Of Species Elizabeth Kolbert On The Vanishing Of Species