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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Life
Blue whales’ diet and exercise rolled into one
Marine predator performs underwater acrobatics for best chance at catching a meal.
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Life
Trees worldwide a sip away from dehydration
Plumbing systems operate on a razor’s edge, making even moist forests highly vulnerable to drought.
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Life
Rainforest katydids evolved mammal-like ears
Tiny hearing organs below insect’s knees have a structure similar to those in humans.
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Life
Seaweed-threatened corals send chemical SOS to fish
The cry for help summons allies to graze away the algal overgrowth.
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Life
Trunk in cheek, elephant mimics Korean
Novel posture lets animal imitate sounds of human words.
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Life
Extensive bird family tree rewrites some history
Unexpected pattern of evolution found across hemispheres.
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Paleontology
Earliest primate had tree-climber ankles
A creature known only from fossils of its teeth gets some more parts.
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Life
Hind wings gave four-winged dino flight control
Much-debated rear wings could have given Microraptor extra help in airborne maneuvers.
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Life
Pulsing blob makes memories sans brain
Slime molds create a GPS navigation system based on their own gooey trails.
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Animals
Right eye required for finding Mrs. Right
Finches flirt unwisely if they can only use their left eyes.
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Life
Vampire squid no Gordon Gekko
Recently equated with greedy financiers, Vampyroteuthis infernalis is not really all that rapacious.