Susan Milius

Susan Milius

Life Sciences Writer

Life sciences writer Susan Milius has been writing about botany, zoology and ecology for Science News since the last millennium. She worked at diverse publications before breaking into science writing and editing. After stints on the staffs of The Scientist, Science, International Wildlife and United Press International, she joined Science News. Three of Susan's articles have been selected to appear in editions of The Best American Science Writing.

All Stories by Susan Milius

  1. Animals

    Vampires Run: Bats on treadmills show high-speed gait

    The first test of vampire bats on a treadmill shows that they've evolved their own style of running.

  2. Animals

    Picky-eater termites choose good vibes

    Good vibrations may have a lot to do with which pieces of wood a termite attacks.

  3. Bacterial Nanny: Beewolf grows microbe for protecting young

    A European wasp leaves a smear of bacteria near each of her eggs as protection against the perils of youth.

  4. Animals

    Shortcut to Big Heart: Pythons build cardiac muscle in record time

    A Burmese python can boost its cardiac fitness—by bulking up its heart muscle 40 percent in two days—just by eating.

  5. Animals

    The Old Crowd: Minke whales have long thrived in Antarctic seas

    Genetic studies of whale meat from Tokyo grocery stores appear to strengthen the case for protecting Antarctica's minke whales against renewed hunting.

  6. Humans

    Bushmeat on the Menu

    Studies of the bushmeat trade reveal that such meat appeals to people who can't afford anything else and to prestige seekers who certainly can.

  7. Animals

    Hour of Babble: Young birds sing badly in the morning

    Young zebra finches do badly at song practice for the first few hours after they wake up but then recover, and even improve, their musical skills.

  8. Animals

    Oops! Grab That Trunk: High-diving ants swing back toward their tree

    Certain tree-dwelling ants can direct their descent well enough to veer toward tree trunks and climb back home.

  9. Animals

    Bad Breath: Insects zip air holes to cut oxygen risks

    The need to avoid overdosing on oxygen may drive certain insects to shut down their breathing holes periodically.

  10. Ecosystems

    Bivalve Takeover: Once-benign clams boom after crab influx

    European green crabs invading a California bay have triggered a population explosion of a previously marginal clam.

  11. Animals

    Crow Tools: Hatched to putter

    The New Caledonian crow is the first vertebrate to be shown definitively to have an innate tendency to make and use tools, according to researchers who doubled as bird nannies.

  12. Animals

    Sparrows learn song from pieces

    Young white-crowned sparrows don't have to hear a song straight through in order to learn it; playing the song in mixed-up paired phrases will do.