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

    City lights create sexual early birds

    Male blackbirds exposed to nocturnal illumination are ready to mate sooner in spring.

  2. Life

    Victorian zoological map redrawn

    Species distribution patterns that inspired Darwin and Wallace get an update.

  3. Life

    News in brief: Counting project reveals forest’s bug diversity

    Some 25,000 species of arthropods live in Panamanian forest.

  4. Life

    Early life forms may have been terrestrial

    A controversial theory suggests that at least some of the earliest widespread complex life forms lived on land.

  5. New species of the year

    More creatures, less Latin used to describe them.

  6. Polar bears have seen hard times

    Two genetic studies extend the Arctic icon’s lineage way back.

  7. Life

    Among bass, easiest to catch are best dads

    Recreational fishing may be inadvertent evolutionary force, favoring cautious fish over better caretakers of the young.

  8. Life

    Blue whales’ diet and exercise rolled into one

    Marine predator performs underwater acrobatics for best chance at catching a meal.

  9. Life

    Trees worldwide a sip away from dehydration

    Plumbing systems operate on a razor’s edge, making even moist forests highly vulnerable to drought.

  10. Life

    Rainforest katydids evolved mammal-like ears

    Tiny hearing organs below insect’s knees have a structure similar to those in humans.

  11. Life

    Seaweed-threatened corals send chemical SOS to fish

    The cry for help summons allies to graze away the algal overgrowth.

  12. Life

    Trunk in cheek, elephant mimics Korean

    Novel posture lets animal imitate sounds of human words.