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.
Being an astronaut is a cool job, but before you sign up you should know life in space isn’t all fun and games. The lack of gravity can make our bodies act in strange ways.
Joshua Daymude studies emergent behaviors—what happens when a group follows basic rules, but their small actions lead to big behaviors. His work applies to many different groups, from ants to robots to political movements.
The past can be hard to remember, so how can we go about studying it? Indiana Jane takes us on a tour of humans from the past, ancient microbes, and the bioarchaeologists that study them both.Also in: Español
Animals are often used to study many different scientific topics. But many scientists and others argue whether it's ok to use animals for this purpose. Here we discuss why scientists use animals and research, and discuss some of the rules and regulations in place to help protect animals used…
As scientists study the amazing social network of ants they are discovering we could learn a lot from these tiny animals. Dr. Biology and co-host Jane Rector visit with Jennifer Fewell, a biologist who is exploring the world of social insects including ants.…
What happens when you mix part Robinson Crusoe and Swiss Family Robinson with biology? You get an adventure that has filled many lifetimes (bird lifetimes). Dr. Biology had the opportunity to sit down with Peter and Rosemary Grant to talk about the more than 30 years…
An interview with myrmecologist Rüdiger Wehner from University of Zurich. Listen in as Dr. Biology learns how these desert animals are revealing their success in the Sahara Desert. Don't know what a myrmecologist is? This is a good show to find the answer.
What does it take to attract a mate? For some animals it requires some push-ups. Other animals have a dance. And in both cases showing off some color is important. Dr. Biology catches up with biologist David Clark to learn more about his lizards and the robot lizards he has built…
Frozen Connections
Sea ice forms the foundation of the Arctic ecosystem. It provides food, shelter, breeding areas, and hunting grounds for many species. How are humans, plants, and animals all connected to each other…
Frankenstein's Lab
Dr. Frankenstein needs your help to learn about how the bodies of different animals work! Build your own creature from 3…
EcoChains: Coral Futures
In EcoChains: Coral Futures, your mission is to build and protect a thriving coral reef ecosystem. You’ll build your reef…
Cracking CRISPR
DNA is the key to life, so it's no wonder that we've been working to crack the code. With the tool CRISPR Cas9, we'…
Water Treatment Facility Game
Play Water Treatment Facility Game
Build your own water treatment plant by placing the cleaning steps in the correct order! Learn how each…
Genetics Game
Our genes control much of how we look and who we are. But do you really know how genetics work? Take a moment to gather some…