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.
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All Stories by Susan Milius
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Animals
Hawkmoths squeak their genitals at threatening bats
Sounds of an approaching predator inspire ultrasonic rasping in insect prey.
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Animals
Highlights from the Evolution 2013 meeting
Selections from the meeting include a natural fish experiment, terrapins' light displays and why a variety of eye colors persist in people, presented June 21-25 in Snowbird, Utah.
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Animals
Gut microbes may put barrier between species
Wiping out gut bacteria in wasps saves crossbred offspring from death, suggesting that microbes may play a role in speciation.
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Animals
Cicadas’ odd life cycle poses evolutionary conundrums
Scientists are getting an idea about the odd family tree of periodical cicadas, how the insects synchronize their life cycles and why they breed side-by-side with others unsuitable for mating.
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Animals
In dark fishing spiders, males’ postmating nap is permanent
Species prepares for two pairings but goes into a fatal coma after a single encounter.
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Animals
Butterflies’ tidy drinking tricks
The long tube of the insects' mouthparts is fluid friendly only at the tip.
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Life
In the real world, cheetahs rarely go all out
Famous for speed, the big cats actually rely on acceleration and maneuverability to capture prey.
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Life
As Brood II emerges, questions remain about cicada cycles
The how and why of years lived underground are among the unsolved mysteries about the loud, obvious insects.
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Animals
Two books explore the weirdest life on Earth
Zombie Birds, Astronaut Fish and Other Weird Animals by Becky Crew and Weird Life by David Toomey.
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Animals
How roaches developed disgust at first bite
A change in taste cells makes glucose-baited traps repellent.