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

    Dead, live guppies vie for paternity

    Females can use sperm months after mates go belly up.

  2. 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.

  3. Animals

    How roaches developed disgust at first bite

    A change in taste cells makes glucose-baited traps repellent.

  4. Life

    Invasive frogs may spread deadly amphibian fungus

    African clawed frogs imported for 20th century pregnancy tests apparently communicate B. dendrobatidis to native species.

  5. Animals

    Cannibalistic spiders may just be choosy guys

    Male Micaria sociabilis may choose to have older female for lunch, not sex.

  6. Animals

    Malaria mosquito dosed with disease-fighting bacteria

    After thousands of tries, lab gets parasite-carrying insect to catch Wolbachia.

  7. Life

    Bees need honey’s natural pharmaceuticals

    Ingredients trigger insects' genes for detoxification and immune defenses against bacteria.

  8. Life

    So far, the great tit has coped with climate change

    Earlier arrival of birds’ food due to warming temperatures hasn’t yet reduced bird population.

  9. Life

    Why corals do calisthenics

    Pulsating motion appears to flush water to improve photosynthetic efficiency in symbiotic algae.

  10. Animals

    A Different Kind of Smart

    Animals’ cognitive shortcomings are as revealing as their genius.

  11. Life

    A giant tortoise by any other name

    Long, heated battle ends with a moniker for the Indian Ocean reptile.

  12. Animals

    Termites, not fairies, cause plant circles in African deserts

    Underground insect engineers create water traps in the soil, allowing rings of green grasses in the sand.