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. Life

    Some lucky birds escaped dino doomsday

    Dino doomsday took out early birds too, but a lucky few survived.

  2. Ecosystems

    In debate over origin of fairy circles, both sides might be right

    Odd bare spots called fairy circles in African grasslands might be caused by both termites and plants.

  3. Life

    Here’s how earwax might clean ears

    Science seeks inspiration in earwax for dreams of self-cleaning machinery.

  4. Animals

    It takes guts for a sea spider to pump blood

    Most sea spiders have hearts, but what really gets their blood flowing are gut contractions.

  5. Animals

    Unusually loose skin helps hagfish survive shark attacks

    Hagfish skin that easily slips and slides can be a lifesaver in crises such as shark attacks.

  6. Plants

    Meat-eating pitcher plants raise deathtraps to an art

    The carnivorous California pitcher plant ensnares its dinner using a medley of techniques.

  7. Ecosystems

    Long-ignored, high-flying arthropods could make up largest land migrations

    Forget birds. 3.5 trillion insects, spiders and mites a year fly over the southern United Kingdom.

  8. Climate

    Arctic kelp forests may create summer refuges from ocean acidification

    Long summer daylight revs up carbon capture in Arctic kelp forests, offering a little relief from acidifying ocean water.

  9. Climate

    Year in review: Sea ice loss will shake up ecosystems

    Researchers are studying the complex biological consequences of polar melting and opening Arctic passageways.

  10. Animals

    Why crested penguins lay mismatched eggs

    After long migratory swims, crested penguins lay one small and one larger egg.

  11. Ecosystems

    Losing tropical forest might raise risks of human skin ulcers, deformed bones

    Bacteria that cause Buruli ulcer in people flourish with tropical deforestation.

  12. Animals

    First spider superdads discovered

    Male spiders first known to give up solitary life for offspring care, often as a single parent.