Plants
See the Largest Flower Ever Found Encased in Amber
A rare flower encased in amber is the largest one ever found and dates from around 40 million years ago
Latest Biology Stories
Genetics
Ancient Americans Crossed Back into Siberia in a Two-Way Migration, New Evidence Shows
Scientists have long known that ancient people living in Siberia made their way into what is now North America. Mounting DNA evidence suggests migration also happened in the opposite direction...
Epidemiology
Why COVID’s XBB.1.5 ‘Kraken’ Variant Is So Contagious
A new variant of the virus that causes COVID has mutations that make it more transmissible, but vaccines are still likely to protect against severe disease
Genetics
Aging Is Linked to More Activity in Short Genes Than in Long Genes
A detailed examination of gene activity in various organisms, including humans, reveals a new hallmark of the aging process
Microbiology
Electric Countdown Tells Sleeping Spores When to Wake Up
Do sleeping spores dream of electric sheep?
Animals
Your Cats Can Tell When You’re Speaking to Them
Felines recognize their owners’ cat-directed baby talk
Physiology
New Human Metabolism Research Upends Conventional Wisdom about How We Burn Calories
Metabolism studies reveal surprising insights into how we burn calories—and how cooperative food production helped Homo sapiens flourish
Animals
Storm-Chasing Seabirds Ride Out Hurricanes from Inside
Streaked shearwaters head deep into hurricanes to avoid crash landings
Animals
Predators Act like Butterflies’ Eyespots Are Looking Right at Them
Butterfly markings work better when they’re “looking” toward prey
Reproduction
COVID Vaccines Can Temporarily Affect Menstruation, and Studying That Matters
The COVID vaccines can affect menstrual cycles, but the changes are small and short-lived, research shows
