World of Biology

Contemplating the Coasts

Written by: Robert Wildermuth

The majority of life in the ocean is found near the shore, in the coastal biome.
Also in: Français | Español

Controlling Genes

Written by: Katharina Petsche

Almost all of our cells contain identical copies of DNA. But wait...with the same instructions, shouldn't all cells look and function the same? Learn how our bodies use the same instructions to make all kinds of different cells.
Also in: Español | Italiano

Crazy Climate and Wacky Weather

Written by: Darin Kopp

Climate is a hot topic in the news and on internet websites and blogs. But what exactly is climate? And how do we know it is changing?
Also in: Español

Cruising Around Coral Reefs

Written by: Luis Gutierrez

Coral reefs are a brimming with life; they are home to more than 25% of all marine life. Dive into coral reefs to learn about unusual partnerships, threats to coral reefs, and ways scientists are trying to save these important structures and habitats.

Cutting DNA with CRISPR

Written by: Christian H. Ross

What is gene editing? And how does the one of the most-used gene editing tools, called CRISPR, work?
Also in: Español

Darwin and Mendel's Afternoon Tea

Written by: Kirsten Traynor

An imaginary conversation between two great thinkers, Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel. While the monk, Mendel, had read Darwin’s publications - Mendel's work only came to be known later. We can only imagine what the two might have talked about.

Delving into Deserts

Written by: Karla Moeller

Deserts can be a bit of a mystery--we picture them as hot, barren places, but that's not always true. Deserts are found in both the hottest and coldest places on Earth, and some of them have lots of plant and animal life, you just need to know where to look to find it.
Also in: Español | Français | Italiano | Português

Desert Diggers

Written by: John Alcock

The digger bee is just one of about a thousand species of native bees in Arizona, many of which have females that burrow into the ground with their jaws and legs when constructing a nest.

Also in: Español

Desert Fruits Rock!

Written by: John Alcock

Desert flowers do not own the spot light when it comes to beauty. Many desert fruits deserve equal attention.
Also in: Español | Français

Did You Know Butterflies Are Legally Blind?

Written by: Kasey Yturralde

As you watch a butterfly navigate the flowers in your back yard, or a pesky fly avoid your flyswatter, keep in mind their vision is quite different than yours and mine.

DNA ABCs

Written by: Dr. Biology

DNA is the ultimate how-to guide used by all living things. It packages all the instructions for building maintaining all our life forms and it easily fits inside a cell.
Also in: Español

Earth Day All Year

Written by: Dr. Biology

We celebrate Earth Day every year, but in reality every day is Earth day. For our part here are some fun activities and things you can do to help the Earth.

Exercise for Your Brain

Written by: CJ Kazilek, Gabriel Shaibi

Not all exercise is the same, but all exercise can help you grow strong and keep you healthy. Exercise can also help you with your homework and that science project due at the end of the year.

Face to Face with Ants

Written by: Tate Holbrook

Imagine being the size of an ant. Be careful - a face-to-face encounter with an ant would be scary and potentially life-threatening! But, if you avoided being eaten, you could learn a lot about ant anatomy from a close-up view. Ants have many body parts that are normally hard to see without a magnifying glass or microscope. And each structure has its own special function.

Falling into Freshwater

Written by: Jason Borchert

Lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers are all sources of freshwater. But there is a lot less freshwater on earth than you might think. Fall into freshwater with us to learn some new things about this near-saltless water biome.
Also in: Español | Français | Português

Feather Biology

Written by: CJ Kazilek

Almost everyone has wished at one time or another to be able to fly like a bird. Just the thought of soaring above your city or town without any mechanical device gives us a reason to envy these feathered animals.
Also in: Français | Español | Türk

Focusing on Physiology

Written by: Karla Moeller, Pierce Hutton

As you go about your day, breathing and thinking, with your heart beating, your body is working. It sends and receives signals, grows, and stores fat, among hundreds of other functions. All of these functions make up your physiology, or how your body works. The same is true for every living animal.

Frozen Life

Written by: Kyle Kinzler

When you think of the Arctic, you might picture mostly empty ice. But the Arctic ecosystem is home to many organisms, from microscopic bacteria to large animals like whales and polar bears. Much of this life in the Arctic depends on tiny organisms called plankton which make up the base of the food web.
Also in: Español

Grasping Grasslands

Written by: Stephanie Bittner

Grasslands may look like they sound – just land filled with grass – but there is a lot more to grasslands than you might think.
Also in: Español | Français | Português

Growing Cells

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.