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

    Frustrated fish get feisty

    Smaller rainbow trout become more aggressive towards bigger fish when they don’t their usual treats.

  2. Animals

    Submariners’ ‘bio-duck’ is probably a whale

    First acoustic tags on Antarctic minke whales suggest the marine mammals are the long-sought source of the mysterious bio-duck sound.

  3. Life

    The name of the fungus

    A rebellion has broken out against the traditional way of naming species in the peculiar, shape-shifting world of fungi.

  4. Animals

    Most extreme female penis is found on cave lice

    Female penis, male vagina have been discovered in tiny Brazilian insects.

  5. Animals

    Scent of a fruit fly larva comes from its gut microbes

    Microbes in the guts of fly larvae produce smells that attract fruit flies.

  6. Life

    In a crisis, fruit flies do stunt turns

    An elaborate monitoring system reveals that fruit flies can execute sophisticated flying maneuvers in the face of danger.

  7. Paleontology

    La Brea Tar Pits yield exquisite Ice Age bees

    Ancient bee pupae snug in leafy nest give clues to Pleistocene climate.

  8. Animals

    Coquí frogs got smaller, squeakier as climate warmed

    As temperatures climbed in Puerto Rico, the calls of male coquí frogs became higher pitched.

  9. Animals

    See-through shrimp flex invisible muscle

    Much of the body of a Pederson’s transparent shrimp looks like watery nothing, but it’s a superhero sort of nothing.

  10. Animals

    Zebra stripes may be mainly defense against flies

    The function of zebra stripes may not be for camouflage or cooling, a new analysis finds.

  11. Life

    When hummingbirds fly unfriendly skies

    Hummingbirds hover easily in turbulent air as long as the disturbances aren’t too wide.

  12. Animals

    A parasitic cuckoo can be a good thing

    Great spotted cuckoo chicks show that brood parasites may benefit their hosts.