Articles for category: Biology & Genetics, Disease & Medicine

skeletonizing leaf beetle from Java

The Flesh-Eating Beetles Used to Clean Skeletons in Museums

Maria Faith Saligumba

Imagine stepping behind the velvet ropes of a natural history museum, into a private back room where the secrets of preservation are kept. Here, you won’t find old brushes or harsh chemicals—what you’ll discover is far more alive and astonishing. In rows of glass tanks and plastic boxes, an army of flesh-eating beetles is hard ...

The Sea Creature That Can Rip Itself Apart — and Live

The Sea Creature That Can Rip Itself Apart — and Live

Maria Faith Saligumba

Imagine a creature so astonishing, so seemingly magical, that it can tear itself into pieces and not only survive but thrive. In the dark mysteries of the ocean, where the rules of life often seem to twist and bend, this isn’t a fantasy—it’s reality. Some sea creatures have mastered the art of self-destruction and resurrection, ...

Venus flytrap

The Venus Flytrap Can Count to Five (Kind Of)

Maria Faith Saligumba

Imagine a plant so clever, so unexpectedly strategic, that it could outwit an insect with nothing but patience and a built-in “counting” system. It almost sounds like the premise of a fantastical story, yet this is the reality of the Venus flytrap—a seemingly simple plant that harnesses a secret mathematical skill. In the heart of ...

A mother and daughter embrace and point at the sunset in a grassy field.

From Hormones to Heartbeats: The Science of Bonding on Mother’s Day

Maria Faith Saligumba

There’s a quiet magic that fills the air on Mother’s Day—a feeling that’s hard to explain but unmistakable. Scientists have long been captivated by the invisible threads that tie mothers and children together, creating a connection that can last a lifetime. Underneath the hugs and homemade cards, there’s a fascinating world of biology and emotion. ...

Army scientists energize battery research

The Frozen Zoo: Where DNA Is Stored to Save Future Species

Maria Faith Saligumba

It sounds like something out of science fiction: a vault filled not with gold, but with the essence of life itself—cells, eggs, sperm, and even entire genomes of endangered and extinct species, frozen in time. Yet this is no fantasy. Welcome to the Frozen Zoo, a pioneering effort where hope and science intertwine to fight ...

A digital illustration of bacterial growth.

How Bacteria ‘Talk’ to Each Other — And What They’re Saying

Trizzy Orozco

Imagine a world so tiny and crowded that every whisper matters, where invisible creatures are constantly exchanging secret messages that shape our health, our environment, and the fate of entire ecosystems. This hidden conversation is happening all around us—and even within us—each and every moment. It’s the language of bacteria, those minuscule beings we often ...

CORPSE FLOWER!

California Has a Plant That Smells Like a Dead Body (And Tourists Love It)

Maria Faith Saligumba

Imagine strolling through a sun-drenched Californian garden, birds chirping and flowers blooming—when suddenly, an overwhelming stench of rotting flesh stops you in your tracks. Your nose wrinkles, your curiosity spikes, and you’re not alone: around you, a crowd gathers, smartphones out, all drawn by the same bizarre aroma. Welcome to the wild world of the ...