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

    Sea slug steals genes for greens, makes chlorophyll like a plant

    A sea slug, long known as a kidnapper of algal biochemistry, can make its own supply of a key photosynthetic compound.

  2. Milius versus the bed bugs

    Science News writer Susan Milius experiences the perils of knowing what bed bug scientists do in their own hotel rooms.

  3. Life

    Moss counters shortness with A-bomb-style clouds

    Sphagnum overcomes drag by launching its spores in vortex rings.

  4. Climate

    Warming has already boosted insect breeding

    Museum records, publications suggest extra generations at same time as temperature increases

  5. Life

    Sexual conflict takes shape in ducks

    Up-close view of male ducks reveals extreme speed and extreme conflict.

  6. Life

    Do-it-yourself bed-bug detector

    With bed-bug numbers on the rise in North America, researchers test homemade bug finders.

  7. Life

    Virus makes plants lie to insects

    Infected squash plants smell delicious but taste terrible – perfect combination for tricking aphids into spreading disease

  8. No one villain behind honey-bee colony collapse

    Many factors may interact to bring on the mysterious honey-bee colony collapse disorder.

  9. Life

    When feminine beauty thrives on competition

    Gorgeous plumage for both starling sexes comes from rivalry in co-op nests

  10. Humans

    Another livestock drug endangers vultures

    After one veterinary NSAID almost wiped out vultures in South Asia, one of the possible replacements turns out to be toxic too.

  11. Life

    Bird feeding, migration could be splitting a species

    German birds that spend the off-season at U.K. birdfeeders now look slightly different from neighbors that migrate to Spain

  12. Animals

    Little push turns snail lefties to righties

    Bumping an early embryo’s cells can switch the direction of its spiral.