The Magic of the Microscopic World
A biologist and teacher uses photography to reveal the unseen beauty around us
Biology9638 articles archived since 1845
Scent of Death: Honeybees Use Odors to Clean Out Deceased Broods
Understanding this mechanism could help scientists breed healthier colonies
Bees Have a Goldilocks Lawn Mow Schedule
Lawns mowed every two weeks hosted more bees than lawns mowed every three weeks. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Traffic Deaths Increase after 4:20 P.M. on 4/20
A look at a database of fatal traffic accidents found a 12 percent increase on the informal marijuana holiday 4/20 after 4:20 P.M. compared with nearby dates.
NYC Mice Are Packed with Pathogens
Mice trapped in New York City apartment buildings harbored disease-causing bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Bold and Aggressive Behavior Means Birds Thrive in Cities
Birds living in urban areas rarely get any peace and must cope with almost constant disturbance from both humans and their pets
Oil- and Gas-Drilling Noise Stresses Birds
Animals that nest near the loud equipment show PTSD-like physiology and have more stunted offspring
Evolution Research Could Revolutionize Cancer Therapy
Evolutionary studies indicate that the genetic changes enabling a cancer to develop arise shockingly early within the primary tumor. This discovery points to a promising new approach to therapy
Otter Poop Helps Scientists Track Pollution at a Superfund Site
In a contaminated Seattle river, what the mammals leave behind may be a good gauge of cleanup efforts
Planting Milkweed for Monarchs? Make Sure It's Native
Non-native milkweed species planted in the southern U.S. could harm monarch butterflies as temperatures rise. Jason G. Goldman reports.
Plants "Eavesdrop" on Slimy Snails
Tomato plants detect snail slime and mount preemptive defenses
Trees Sweat to Keep Cool
During extreme heat waves, one species of eucalyptus copes by releasing water
Reptiles Are Concentrated in Specific Locations, Often Unprotected
Lizards, snakes and turtles are concentrated in largely unprotected areas
Right Whales Seem to Think before They Speak
Rather than always making the same call in response to the same stimuli, North Atlantic right whales are capable of changing their vocalizations.
Orangutans Use Plant Extracts to Treat Pain
Humans aren’t the only animals that have discovered medicinal products in nature
IDs for Bees: Tracking Bumble Bee Behavior
ID tags for bumble bees allow a computer to track the behavior of individual bees, revealing insights into their daily routines and decisions. This video was reproduced with permission and was first published on April 3, 2018. It is a Nature Video production.
Neandertal Face Shape Was All Over the Air
The jutting midface of Neandertals seems to have evolved to help get large volumes of air into an active body that needed lots of oxygen.
Rev Up Photosynthesis to Boost Crop Yields
Photosynthesis actually is an inefficient process, but a biological chemist is trying to crank it up.
The Future of Sexual Reproduction
Could scientists one day use blood and skin cells to replace sperm and eggs?
Rotting Flesh Offers Insight on Fossilization
To learn more about decay and fossilization, researchers conduct unorthodox experiments—like dissecting decomposing animals in the lab. Christopher Intagliata reports.
