An illustration of a white fish silhouette with a question mark in the middle, for the species identifying game Keys to the Ocean
Play the Keys to the Ocean Game

Our world is full of different plants, animals, bacteria, and other life. But how do we know which species is which? Scientists have built tools called taxonomic keys that help us do this. Take a trip to the ocean to help researchers identify different species of fish and zooplankton in Keys to the Ocean.

To learn more about taxonomy and species identification, visit our story page about Taxonomy.

Synapse-neurodegeneration
Written by: 
Christopher Albin-Brooks
Alzheimer's and other brain diseases affect millions of people. Jeffrey Kordower and his colleagues are learning more about these neurodegenerative diseases so that we can try to treat them.
The ring from The Lord of the Rings, with glowing words on it
Written by: 
Sareh Seyedi, Stefania E. Kapsetaki and Carlo C. Maley
We use analogies all the time to help us explain things. But what if we could use characters from a famous story – the Lord of the Rings – to learn about different life strategies of organisms?
A picture of two young twin girls smiling.
Written by: 
Tazeen Ulhaque and Whitney Alexandra Tuoti
Have you ever wondered why some twins look so alike and other siblings may not? Let’s explore how twins form in the womb and how they may grow up to be similar or different.
DNA double helix in blue
Written by: 
Tazeen Ulhaque
Most people have just one set of DNA throughout their body. But what happens to humans who are born with two sets?
crossed out silhouette of a pregnant woman reading "no alcohol"
Written by: 
Logan Hunt
Have you ever noticed that most people do not drink alcohol while pregnant? Let’s learn about why doing that is so important.
Mosquito life cycle - image is of a mosquito laying eggs on water
Written by: 
Brook Jensen and Sergio Serrato-Arroyo
Mosquitoes are more than just a bother - in many cases, they can be dangerous. Arm yourself against mosquitoes with knowledge of their life cycle, the diseases they carry, and how you can fight them.
An illustration of gloved hands holding a petri dish where cells are being grown
Written by: 
Sunaina Rao
Growing cells outside our bodies in tiny plastic dishes might seem a bit complex. But scientists have been doing this for many years now. It has opened our eyes to the bustling life inside our tiny cells and has led to some life-saving technologies.
An illustration of a walrus and gulls
Written by: 
Emma Goethe, Cecilia Knaggs and Leah Shaffer
The Arctic is changing faster than many other ecosystems. This habitat is in danger, as are the animals that live there, and the peoples whose lives have always depended on the lands and food webs of the Arctic. One of the best ways to help save it is to learn more about it.
an illustration of bags of trash showing microbes inside
Written by: 
Challie Facemire
It's a gassy, microbe-filled world out there. How can we control or even use these gases for good? That's what Hinsby Cadillo-Quiroz is figuring out.

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