Biology

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

Latest in Biology

Striated frogfish (Antennarius striatus), also known as the hairy frogfish.

Anglerfish use ‘extremely rare’ mechanism to control their lures Anglerfish use ‘extremely rare’ mechanism to control their lures

red brain neurons

Why is deep sleep so important to memory? It’s about time. Why is deep sleep so important to memory? It’s about time.

By Laura Baisas

A juvenile Nile crocodile. It is small with pointed teeth

Why are crocodiles so bumpy? A dermatological mystery has been solved Why are crocodiles so bumpy? A dermatological mystery has been solved

By Laura Baisas

a new shrimp-like crustacean. it is white with two protruding tusk-like appendages at its head, at least 8 legs, and two tail-like appendages at the back

New predator uncovered 25,000+ feet under the Pacific New predator uncovered 25,000+ feet under the Pacific

By Laura Baisas

a microscopic zooplankton

Microscopic ‘eating and pooping machines’ are great at sucking up carbon Microscopic ‘eating and pooping machines’ are great at sucking up carbon

By Laura Baisas

Frozen surface of Lake Enigma

Life discovered lurking under Antarctica’s frozen Lake Enigma Life discovered lurking under Antarctica’s frozen Lake Enigma

Two views of a slingshot spider (Theridiosoma gemmosum) web. The right image shows the web’s cone shape with a spider at the tip.

Watch a slingshot spider deploy a perfectly-timed trap Watch a slingshot spider deploy a perfectly-timed trap

By Laura Baisas

a siberian husky sits in the snow. it has piercing blue eyes and its ears are perked up

Humans gave dogs treats 12,000 years ago, new archeological evidence suggests Humans gave dogs treats 12,000 years ago, new archeological evidence suggests

By Laura Baisas

The anglerfish species Lophius piscatorius.

Anglerfish are so much more than just their dangly bioluminescent lures Anglerfish are so much more than just their dangly bioluminescent lures

By Laura Baisas

brain scans in pink, blue, and yellow

Humans may have big brains thanks to our gut Humans may have big brains thanks to our gut

By Laura Baisas

old photo of man with text

The man who lived with no brain The man who lived with no brain

By Popular Science Team

an orca whale dorsal fin coming out of the water

Orcas observed preying on massive whale sharks Orcas observed preying on massive whale sharks

By Laura Baisas

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel in grass, Leelanau State Park, Michigan.

How hibernating squirrels go more than six months without water—and don’t get thirsty How hibernating squirrels go more than six months without water—and don’t get thirsty

By Lauren Leffer

a long piece of fossilized dinosaur poop on the ground

200-million-year-old dinosaur poop and vomit reveal a lost Jurassic world 200-million-year-old dinosaur poop and vomit reveal a lost Jurassic world

By Laura Baisas

a more colorful dominant male fish next to a more muted subordinate fish

Stress is warping these fish brains Stress is warping these fish brains

By Laura Baisas

A still showing the jet ejected from a squirting cucumber, which carries its seeds distances of up to 32 feet away from the mother plant.

High-speed camera catches cucumber squirting seeds at 65 feet-per-second High-speed camera catches cucumber squirting seeds at 65 feet-per-second

By Laura Baisas

An illustration of the amygdala, shown in red. It is a part of the brain’s limbic system and plays a key role in processing emotions.

‘Was I awkward?’ What overthinking after a party has to do with your ‘lizard brain’ ‘Was I awkward?’ What overthinking after a party has to do with your ‘lizard brain’

By Laura Baisas

a body on a morgue table with only the feet showing and a toe tag on the big toe

What happens when you donate your body to science? What happens when you donate your body to science?

By RJ Mackenzie

a scan of a zebrafish with its eye highlighted in green and other parts of its anatomy stained red and blue

Mapping the shifting gaze of ‘fishlets’ Mapping the shifting gaze of ‘fishlets’

By Laura Baisas

A mother and calf West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in Crystal River, Florida.

Florida’s famous manatees were originally tourists Florida’s famous manatees were originally tourists

By Laura Baisas