Read our stories
Listen and watch
Play our games
Enjoy our activities
Welcome to Ask A Biologist. This site has a large collection of biology learning materials that includes stories, games, activities, videos, and a podcast.
Did you ever wonder what causes river rocks to be slippery? Can you believe it's the same thing that causes plaque on your teeth? Learn about this "biofilm," and how Valerie Stout is fighting it (in some cases) to improve medicine.
Your stomach is full of tiny organisms that live in peace and harmony with your body – but what happens when the peace is disrupted?
Every year, vaccines protect millions of people from getting sick. But how, exactly, do vaccines work? Learn the science behind how vaccines protect us from disease. Also in: Português | Español
You might have heard of both gender and sex before, but what’s the difference? Sex is based in the biology of body parts, but gender is socially constructed and based on much more.
The life of a biologist may not be what you expect. It is not all white lab coats and microscopes. There are remote islands, makeshift shacks that serve both for sleeping and a field laboratory. For this guest, it also includes cricket serenades and nighttime scuba dives in the ocean filled with…
Dr. Biology interviews research scientist Kate Ihle at Barro Colorado Island in Panama. BCI is part of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
It is surprising how much of the land on Earth is what scientists call drylands. You might think that these areas are not crucial to life on the planet, but in fact, they are. They are also some of the most challenging places to do research. Part of the challenge is what we see above ground is only…
Building Your Own Ant Farm (Part 2 of 2). Ask A Biologist video with Dr. Biology and Rebecca Clark on how to build an ant farm with recycled CD cases. Watch part one.
Metamorphosis
Read Metamorphosis – Nature’s Ultimate Transformer and then take this quiz to test your knowledge!
Bird Finder
Test drive our Bird Finder tool based on our virtual bird aviary of the southwest. A great way to learn about birds in your own backyard. Image of Northern Cardinal above by Robert Shantz.
Epic Mosquito Quest
Mosquitoes go beyond annoying, to being downright dangerous at times. How can you reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home, to…
Bee Waggle Dance Game
Did you know that honey bee workers tell their sisters where to find the best flowers and nectar with a dance? It is called…
Frankenstein's Lab
Dr. Frankenstein needs your help to learn about how the bodies of different animals work! Build your own…
Bee Learning Lab
Take a trip with us today into the Bee Learning Lab. Train bees in your very own experiment and see how you can make them learn…