Fighting Racism and Bias

Ask A Biologist stands in support of Black Lives and people of color (POC). As a scientific and academic entity, we have benefitted from the progress made by Black people and other POC, and have learned from the viewpoints of people with a diverse range of backgrounds. Despite the benefits of supporting diversity in science, racism is inherent in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) fields, and across all of academia.

Where the Rewilded Things Are

Challie Facemire

Humans change the world around us in many ways, cutting down trees, building roads, using resources. But what happens when we try to restore some of the things an area has lost? And should we try to do so?

Nanobiotechnology: Nature's Tiny Machines

Julio Bernal Tara MacCulloch

Fascinating and bizarre interactions control the world around us, at a scale too small to see—the nanoscale. By studying the nanoworld, we can create nanomachines that mimic nature.

Also in: Italiano | عربى

Hardy Gilas

Karla Moeller

The desert is a tough place to live – food may be tough to find, rain only comes in certain seasons, and the temperatures can be hard to handle. How does one special lizard, the Gila monster, deal with these difficulties?

To Breed or Not to Breed

Sarala Pradhan Ioulia Bespalova

For many organisms, reproduction is a huge part of life. But what, exactly, does reproduction mean? Well, it can mean so many different things, including breeding or not, caring for young (or not), or giving birth (or not)... read on to learn about the diversity of ways that organisms reproduce.

Cutting DNA with CRISPR

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

Itty Bitty Beasts

Ioulia Bespalova

Tardigrades are some of the toughest animals on earth. They can survive freezing, drying up, radiation, and space, all while being smaller than the tip of a pencil.

Focusing on Physiology

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.

Vitamins: Vital or Not?

Danielle Penick

You may see advertisements for vitamins all the time. Do we really need vitamins? And if we do, how do we know which vitamins are high quality? Take a tour into the history, science, and manufacturing of vitamins.
Also in: Español