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.
Trustworthy journalism comes at a price.
Scientists and journalists share a core belief in questioning, observing and verifying to reach the truth. Science News reports on crucial research and discovery across science disciplines. We need your financial support to make it happen – every contribution makes a difference.
All Stories by Susan Milius
-
Animals
How weaver ants get a grip
Strong sticking power and quick reaction time help the insects stay put in trees.
-
Life
Bees learn the electric buzz of flowers
Floral electric fields could join color and fragrance as cues to pollinators.
-
Animals
Sea slug carries disposable penis, plus spares
A hermaphroditic gastropod sheds its penis after one use, then uncoils another.
-
Animals
Compared with rodents, bat species carry more viruses
Viruses that can jump from animals to people may find the flying mammals a fine place to lurk.
-
Animals
Cats kill more than one billion birds each year
New analysis doubles estimate of avian death tolls, revealing that hunting felines take bigger bite out of wildlife than expected.
-
Animals
Dung beetles steer by the Milky Way
The insects orient themselves using starlight, researchers find in planetarium experiments.
-
Animals
Finally, the truth about barnacle sex is revealed
A genetic analysis shows that the sessile crustaceans can broadcast sperm in water, contrary to previous assumptions.
-
Animals
Integrative and Comparative Biology
The hormonal roller coaster that is male pipefish pregancy and collision safety features for flying insects.
-
Health & Medicine
Little Mind Benders
Parasites that sneak into the brain may alter your behavior and health.
-
Life
City lights create sexual early birds
Male blackbirds exposed to nocturnal illumination are ready to mate sooner in spring.
-
Life
Victorian zoological map redrawn
Species distribution patterns that inspired Darwin and Wallace get an update.
-
Life
News in brief: Counting project reveals forest’s bug diversity
Some 25,000 species of arthropods live in Panamanian forest.