Articles for category: Animal Behavior, Biology & Genetics, Disease & Medicine

Birds of the Night: Owls and Other Flyers

Owls Can Rotate Their Heads 270° — Here’s How They Don’t Die Doing It

Trizzy Orozco

Picture this: you’re walking through a moonlit forest when suddenly, a pair of glowing eyes locks onto yours. As you move to get a better look, the creature’s head swivels around in what seems like an impossible arc, never breaking eye contact. This isn’t science fiction—it’s the remarkable reality of owl anatomy. These silent hunters ...

brown tree bark

From Leaf to Pill: How Willow Trees Gave Us Aspirin

Maria Faith Saligumba

Every morning, millions of people reach for a small white pill that traces its origins back to the ancient bark of willow trees. What seems like a simple act of modern medicine actually represents one of humanity’s most remarkable journeys from nature’s pharmacy to synthetic chemistry. The story of aspirin isn’t just about a drug; ...

brown and black abstract painting

This Worm Grows a New Head Every Time It Loses One

Maria Faith Saligumba

Imagine slicing a worm in half and watching both pieces grow into completely new, fully functional organisms. While this might sound like science fiction, it’s actually the daily reality for one of nature’s most remarkable creatures—the planarian flatworm. These tiny aquatic animals possess what scientists call “biological immortality,” a superpower that allows them to regenerate ...

A woman displaying weight loss by wearing oversized pants and crop top, showing tattoos.

What’s the Point of Belly Buttons?

Maria Faith Saligumba

Every morning, millions of people glance down at their stomachs while getting dressed, catching sight of that curious little dimple or protrusion right in the center of their abdomen. Most barely give it a second thought, yet this tiny feature holds one of the most profound stories in human biology. Your belly button isn’t just ...

A vibrant pile of harvested yellow corn cobs in Mexico showcasing agricultural abundance.

Corn: The Genetic Experiment Humans Never Meant to Start

Maria Faith Saligumba

Picture this: you’re strolling through a grocery store, grabbing a bag of popcorn kernels, completely unaware that you’re holding one of humanity’s most dramatic genetic success stories. That golden corn didn’t just happen naturally – it’s the result of thousands of years of accidental genetic manipulation that transformed a nearly inedible wild grass into the ...

Visualization of the coronavirus causing COVID19.

Why Some People Are Naturally Immune to COVID-19 and Other Viruses

Trizzy Orozco

In the midst of the global pandemic, a curious phenomenon has emerged: some individuals seem to evade the grips of COVID-19 entirely, even when exposed. This mysterious resilience has sparked a wave of scientific curiosity and investigation. Could it be that some people are naturally immune to COVID-19 and other viruses? As we delve into ...

Touch: The Healing Power of Skin-to-Skin Contact

Killer in the Swamp: The Flesh-Eating Bacteria Native to Northern Australia

Trizzy Orozco

In the murky waters of Northern Australia, something deadly lurks beneath the surface. It’s not a crocodile or a venomous snake, but something far more sinister and microscopic. While tourists wade through tropical lagoons and locals navigate familiar waterways, an invisible predator waits for the perfect opportunity to strike. This bacterial assassin has claimed limbs, ...

African American baby.

The First Baby Born in Space: How Close Are We to That Milestone?

Trizzy Orozco

Picture this: a tiny human taking their first breath not on Earth, but floating in the endless void of space. While it sounds like science fiction, this extraordinary possibility is becoming increasingly real as we venture deeper into the cosmos. The idea of a baby born beyond our planet raises fascinating questions about human biology, ...