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.
What Is Whiskey Fungus and Is it Dangerous?
First, Second, Third, Removed, Kissing — It's Complicated! A Cousins Tutorial
London Scientists Described 552 New Species in 2021. Here Are 4 Favorites
These Giants Are the 7 Tallest Trees in the World
What Is the Oldest Tree in the World?
Snake Plant: A Great Plant for People Who Aren't Great With Plants
Why Even Identical Twins Have Different Fingerprints
Which Emerged First: Viruses or Living Cells?
Meet the Zombie Ant Fungus That Inspired HBO's 'The Last of Us'
Ivory Poaching Led Only Female Elephants to Evolve Tuskless
The Proof Is in the Footprints: Humans Came to Americas Earlier Than Thought
Batesian Mimicry: How Copycats Protect Themselves
How Human Height Has Changed Over Time
What Is the Atacama Skeleton, and Why Is It So Controversial?
Scientists Have Finally Filled the 8 Percent Gap in the Human Genome
How Having an Imagination Sets Us Apart and Makes Us Human
Can Bionic Reading Make You Read Faster?
Why Do Certain Experiences Give Us Goosebumps?
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You can't find trees taller than these behemoths. But do you know which is the tallest tree in the world?
It's kind of amazing that no two fingerprints are alike, not even for identical twins! But why is that?
By Alia Hoyt
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.
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Imagination is one of the key characteristics that makes us creative and makes us human. But where did it come from?
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?
You probably use the words mold and mildew interchangeably. But these two types of fungi aren't quite the same. Is one worse?
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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.
Cousins are indeed complicated. Who's your first cousin once removed? And what are kissing cousins? We'll tell you in our cousins tutorial.
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
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."
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The Bionic Reading app has exploded in popularity. But can it really make you a speed reader?
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.
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?
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?
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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.
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?
Ever find yourself momentarily disoriented in a familiar place or encounter a friend who looks like a stranger? You could be experiencing jamais vu.
It's more than just a cool trick. Monitoring that invisible animal DNA could have huge benefits for animal conservation.
By Alia Hoyt
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Scientists at the Natural History Museum in London described 552 species in 2021, including a couple of dinosaurs.
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.
A Punnett square helps predict the possible ways an organism will express certain genetic traits, such as purple flowers or blue eyes.
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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.
Whole genome sequencing can analyze a baby's DNA and search for mutations that may cause health issues now or later in life. But how prepared are we for this knowledge and should it be used on all babies?