Life Science

From the smallest microbe to the largest mammal, Life Science explores the origins, evolution and expansion of life in all its forms. Explore a wide range of topics from biology to genetics and evolution.

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DNA extracted from locks of Beethoven's hair confirmed the history of his health problems, but what else did it shine a light on?

By Robert Attenborough

You can't find trees taller than these behemoths. But do you know which is the tallest tree in the world?

By Jesslyn Shields

It's kind of amazing that no two fingerprints are alike, not even for identical twins! But why is that?

By Alia Hoyt

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Distilleries call this evaporative substance "angel's share" and promise that it's not dangerous, but nearby residents find it coating everything around them and aren't so sure.

By Patty Rasmussen

Imagination is one of the key characteristics that makes us creative and makes us human. But where did it come from?

By Andrey Vyshedskiy

Did viruses show up on Earth before or after living cells? A microbiologist uses the fossil record to explain.

By Kenneth Noll

The Ophiocordyceps unilateralis fungus makes a mockery of ant free will. But how does it take over the ant body to control its host?

By Jesslyn Shields

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You probably use the words mold and mildew interchangeably. But these two types of fungi aren't quite the same. Is one worse?

By Patty Rasmussen

Changes in average height in a population say a lot about how nongenetic factors can affect human development. People in some regions have gained height while others haven't.

By Charlotte LoBuono

Cousins are indeed complicated. Who's your first cousin once removed? And what are kissing cousins? We'll tell you in our cousins tutorial.

By Jesslyn Shields

The Atacama skeleton has sparked intense controversy and, based on its appearance, speculation of alien origin since its discovery in 2003. But what is the real story behind this little skeleton?

By Mark Mancini

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In the quest for the title of world's oldest tree, there's some stiff competition, as well as questions surrounding the way we define "oldest."

By Laurie L. Dove

The Bionic Reading app has exploded in popularity. But can it really make you a speed reader?

By Sharise Cunningham

Snake plants are attractive and virtually ironclad houseplants, almost impossible to kill, though some of the hype about them acting as air purifying filters has been overblown.

By Jesslyn Shields

Mangroves provide a habitat for wildlife such as fish, birds, deer and insects. They also stabilize shorelines, protect against storm surges and improve water quality. What's not to love?

By Stephanie Parker

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Think of goosebumps as 'skin orgasms' that are caused by unexpected and pleasant experiences. You know you get them when you're cold, but what is going on in our brains that triggers them?

By Jennifer Walker-Journey

The 2003 announcement that scientists had completed the first human genome came with an 8 percent gap. Now that gap has been filled and the first end-to-end human genome has been published.

By Gabrielle Hartley

Do the sewers hold the answers to the next COVID-19 surge? And what else can testing samples of untreated wastewater tell us about the health of our communities?

By Jennifer Walker-Journey

Ever find yourself momentarily disoriented in a familiar place or encounter a friend who looks like a stranger? You could be experiencing jamais vu.

By Jennifer Walker-Journey

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It's more than just a cool trick. Monitoring that invisible animal DNA could have huge benefits for animal conservation.

By Alia Hoyt

Scientists at the Natural History Museum in London described 552 species in 2021, including a couple of dinosaurs.

By Jesslyn Shields

Time to get nutty! How much do you know about all of the different types of nuts out there? Take this quiz and find out!

By Alia Hoyt

One in three people consistently struggle through the autumn and winter months with a type of depression known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Here are some tips for dealing with it.

By Harriet Bowyer

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A Punnett square helps predict the possible ways an organism will express certain genetic traits, such as purple flowers or blue eyes.

By Jesslyn Shields

Scientists have determined that years of ivory poaching to fund Mozambique's civil war altered the genetics of the country's elephants. But it only affected the females. A new study tells why.

By Joanna Thompson