Susan Milius

Susan Milius

Life Sciences Writer

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. Plants

    Plants suck in nicotine from nearby smokers

    Peppermint plants can build up nicotine from tobacco dropped on their soil or smoked indoors.

  2. Life

    It’s true: Butterfly spots can mimic scary eyes

    Contrary to recent studies, the old notion that butterfly wing eyespots evoke predator eyes may not be so old-fashioned after all.

  3. Animals

    Mouse mates with similar personalities start families faster

    Among monogamous mound-building mice, the more closely mates match in a tendency toward anxiety, the sooner they start having babies

  4. Life

    No-fishing scheme in Great Barrier Reef succeeds with valuable fishes

    Coral trout are thriving in marine protected areas in the Great Barrier Reef, but the no-take zones are having a smaller effect on other reef residents, a new 10-year report card shows.

  5. Animals

    Neandertal of ant farmers grows modern food

    The most old-fashioned fungus-growing ant yet discovered grows a startlingly new-fangled crop.

  6. Paleontology

    Fossil of monstrous fish-eating amphibian unearthed

    A new Triassic species of giant amphibian lived like a crocodile instead of like its cute little salamander and frog relatives of today.

  7. Animals

    Piggyback rides and other crocodile fun

    We don’t know the playful side of crocodiles perhaps only because we haven’t looked.

  8. Ecosystems

    Even fast-breeding rabbits can’t withstand Everglades python invasion

    Even marsh rabbits in the Everglades can’t breed fast enough to keep their population going when Burmese pythons warm up for summer hunting.

  9. Animals

    Hummingbird may get promoted

    Not just a subspecies: A flashy, squeaky hummingbird should become its own species, ornithologists argue.

  10. Paleontology

    Possible ancestor of sponges found

    An exquisitely preserved 600-million-year-old fossil from China has cell types and a shape resembling sponges, thought to be among the first multicellular animals to evolve.

  11. Animals

    The running of the quolls

    Northern quolls run like crazy to find mates.

  12. Animals

    Killer whales follow postmenopausal leaders

    Taking the lead on salmon hunts may be postmenopausal killer whales’ way of sharing their ecological knowledge.