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

    Mirror, mirror on the wall, you’re the scariest fish of all

    That thing in the mirror may be more upsetting than a real fish.

  2. Bees had a bad winter,  too

    Annual survey shows times are still tough.

  3. Earth

    Wringing hope from crashing biodiversity

    Biodiversity losses have not slowed despite a treaty designed to protect variety in the natural world.

  4. Animals

    Aphids make their own bright colors

    The insects’ ancestors adapted fungal DNA for manufacturing vital compounds.

  5. Life

    Paradox of dining in deep, wet mud

    A bonanza of food doesn’t necessarily result in biodiversity among deep sediment dwellers off California’s coast.

  6. Earth

    Emerging Northwest fungal disease develops virulent Oregon strain

    Uncommon but sometimes fatal infections of the lung or brain can show up months after someone inhales spores.

  7. Animals

    Male spiders have safe(r) sex with siblings

    In a cannibalistic species, brothers minimize risk when mating with their sisters.

  8. Life

    Pine pollen gets flight miles

    A first-of-its-kind study logs the record to beat for germination after air travel.

  9. Life

    Briny deep basin may be home to animals thriving without oxygen

    Creatures living deep in the Mediterranean without oxygen would be a remarkable first, biologists say.

  10. Life

    Eating seaweed may have conferred special digestive powers

    Gut microbes in Japanese people may have borrowed genes for breaking down nori from marine bacteria.

  11. Life

    Scientists name large but elusive lizard

    Though locals knew of it, the 2-meter cousin to Komodo dragons had escaped scientific description.

  12. Life

    When two hyenas get the giggles

    Laughs of higher-status individuals are more posh, a study in a captive colony suggests.