Four colorful striped flags representing the gender fluid, agender, non-binary, and trans people.
Written by: 
Risa Aria Schnebly
There are more genders than just “man” or “woman” that a person can identify as. Let’s explore a variety of gender identities and learn about their history.
An illustration of rainbow figures with symbols typically associated with being male or female mixed up to indicate a diversity of sexes and genders.
Written by: 
Risa Aria Schnebly
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 silhouette of a pregnant person with a fetus inside, and different shapes symbolizing blood types.
Written by: 
Logan Hunt
A pregnant person's blood type is usually compatible with the fetus’s blood type. But what happens when that’s not the case?
Water pouring out of a pipe, carrying viruses and bacteria
Written by: 
Christopher Albin-Brooks
While our water may look crystal clear, there are actually countless microbes that live in it. Kerry Hamilton is working to find the bad bacteria in our water and to learn how we can manage these organisms.
A picture taken over an extended time period, showing the glow of luminescent mushrooms, also called "foxfire," on a tree in a forest at night
Written by: 
Elodie Batt
Strange greenish lights can be seen at night in the forest. But who are these pre-planned signals for?
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?
Three mice on a blue blanket. The mouse on the right has one red eye  and one black eye, showing that it is a chimera.
Written by: 
Tazeen Ulhaque
Most organisms have just one set of DNA. So why would some scientists want to work with or create organisms that have two sets of DNA?
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.

Pages