Life sciences writer Susan Milius has been writing about botany, zoology and ecology for Science News since the last millennium. She worked at diverse publications before breaking into science writing and editing. After stints on the staffs of The Scientist, Science, International Wildlife and United Press International, she joined Science News. Three of Susan's articles have been selected to appear in editions of The Best American Science Writing.

All Stories by Susan Milius

  1. Ant invaders strand seeds without rides

    Invading Argentine ants may reshape the plant composition of the South African fynbos ecosystem because the newcomers don't disperse seeds.

  2. Rare sheep cloned from dead donor

    An international team used cells from recently dead ewes of the rare mouflon sheep to clone a lamb.

  3. Ecosystems

    Another World Hides inside Coral Reefs

    The first systematic survey of crevices inside Red Sea reefs reveals abundant filter feeders that may capture significant nutrients for the reef.

  4. Animals

    Wild gerbils pollinate African desert lily

    Scientists in South Africa have found the first known examples of gerbils pollinating a flower.

  5. Animals

    Poison birds copy ‘don’t touch’ feathers

    A subspecies of one of New Guinea's poisonous pitohui birds may be mimicking a toxic neighbor, according to a new genetic analysis.

  6. Animals

    Meerkat pups grow fatter with extra adults

    Meerkat pups growing up in large, cooperative groups are heftier because there are more adults to entreat for food.

  7. Animals

    Shhh! Is that scrape a caterpillar scrap?

    A series of staged conflicts reveals the first known acoustic duels in caterpillars.

  8. Animals

    Gimme, Gimme, Gimme!

    Hungry chicks cheeping in their nest have inspired a whole branch of scientific inquiry.

  9. Earth

    Bt Corn Risk to Monarchs Is ‘Negligible’

    A much-anticipated report states that the most commonly planted forms of genetically engineered Bt corn pose only a "negligible" risk to monarch butterfly populations.

  10. Animals

    Social Cats

    Who says cats aren't social? And other musings from scientists who study cats in groups.

  11. Health & Medicine

    Walking and eating for better health

    A low-fat diet and regular exercise can ward off diabetes in people at high risk of developing the disease.

  12. Animals

    Even deep down, the right whales don’t sink

    A right whale may weigh some 70 tons, but unlike other marine mammals studied so far, it tends to float rather than sink at great depths.