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. Great tits inherit egg spots from mom

    An unusual study of eggshell spots suggests that there may be a gene for spottiness on the great tit's female sex chromosome.

  2. Plants

    Botany under the Mistletoe

    Twisters, spitters, and other flowery thoughts for romantic moments.

  3. Animals

    Birds may inherit their taste for the town

    Tests switching cliff swallow nestlings to colonies of different sizes suggest the birds inherit their preference for group size.

  4. Earth

    Wafting pesticides taint far-flung frogs

    Agricultural pesticides blowing into California's wilderness areas have played a role in mysterious declines in frog populations.

  5. Animals

    Poison Source: Toxic birds may get chemical from beetle

    When some poisonous New Guinea birds eat certain tiny beetles, they may be stocking up on the toxic substance they use to defend themselves.

  6. Animals

    Hide and See

    A new look at fish on coral reefs considers the possibility that all that riotous color has its inconspicuous side.

  7. Animals

    Dangerous Times: Guppies don’t follow rules for old age

    A study of wild guppies suggests that life in a dangerous place does not automatically push evolution toward rapid aging as previously thought.

  8. Animals

    Familiar face calms stressed-out sheep

    The sight of the face of a familiar sheep seems to reduce stress in troubled sheep.

  9. Animals

    When bluebirds fight, bet on the bluest

    The male bluebirds with the bluest (and most ultraviolet) plumage turned out to be the toughest competitors in a study of who won the rights to prime nest boxes.

  10. Plants

    Green Red-Alert: Plant fights invaders with animal-like trick

    Mustard plants' immune systems can react to traces of bacteria with a burst of nitric oxide, much as an animal's immune system does.

  11. Animals

    Will Mr. Bowerbird Fall for a Robot?

    Push a button and she turns her head. But can she turn his?

  12. Ecosystems

    Fly may be depleting U.S. giant silk moths

    A parasitic fly introduced to fight gypsy moths starting in 1906 may be an overlooked factor in the declines of giant silk moths.