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

    Blue whales’ diet and exercise rolled into one

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

  2. Life

    Trees worldwide a sip away from dehydration

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

  3. Life

    Rainforest katydids evolved mammal-like ears

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

  4. Life

    Seaweed-threatened corals send chemical SOS to fish

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

  5. Life

    Trunk in cheek, elephant mimics Korean

    Novel posture lets animal imitate sounds of human words.

  6. Life

    Extensive bird family tree rewrites some history

    Unexpected pattern of evolution found across hemispheres.

  7. Paleontology

    Earliest primate had tree-climber ankles

    A creature known only from fossils of its teeth gets some more parts.

  8. Life

    Hind wings gave four-winged dino flight control

    Much-debated rear wings could have given Microraptor extra help in airborne maneuvers.

  9. Life

    Pulsing blob makes memories sans brain

    Slime molds create a GPS navigation system based on their own gooey trails.

  10. Microbes

    Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic

  11. Animals

    Right eye required for finding Mrs. Right

    Finches flirt unwisely if they can only use their left eyes.

  12. Life

    Vampire squid no Gordon Gekko

    Recently equated with greedy financiers, Vampyroteuthis infernalis is not really all that rapacious.