Life Science

Resources and Articles

mangroves NGSS LS4 biodiversity life science

Restoring Coral Reefs to Protect Cities

Coastal Ecosystems, rather than “gray infrastructure” such as concrete walls, can protect cities from flooding and storm surges.

(Take a quiz on this article—use student code: Venture)

tortoise life science NGSS LS3 heredity

The “Fantastic Giant Tortoise” – Believed To Be Extinct – Has Been Found Alive

Scientists have confirmed with genetics that a once extinct tortoise is alive today, hundreds of miles away from where the species lived.

dolphins hunting NGSS LS1 animal behavior

Recording Dolphin Behavior

Dolphin behavior as shown by footage from the perspective of Dolphins hunting off the coast of North America.

Bee landing on a flower NGSS LS1 life science

Can a Bee Feel Pain?

Researchers are studying the sentience of insects using bee feeders and measuring glucose levels. The studies have layered implications for bees and humans alike.

Check Out this AMAZING Stop-Motion Video of a Leaf Collection

Flicker through the eclectic beauty and biological diversity of 2,400 leaves.

Did Dinosaurs Have Lips?

T. Rex had lips, a new study suggests, but critics are skeptical.

Social Learning of Honey Bees

Social signal learning of the waggle dance in honey bees.

How the Tongue Shaped Life on Earth

Without tongues, few if any terrestrial vertebrates could exist.

frog sitting NGSS LS1 life science

Frogs Freeze in the Winter and Hop Away in the Spring

Wood frogs in Alaska have the ability to freeze most of their bodies during winter, leaving scientists with more questions.

bird migration map NGSS LS1 life science

Bird Cams and Migration Routes

The Cornell Lab has a plethora of resources for birding, bird behavior, live bird cams, and migration maps.

gray cat with green eyes NGSS LS2 animal behavior LS1

Why do Cats Lick?

A study explores the reasons behind this affiliative behavior in felines.

Giraffe face NGSS LS1 life science studies

Giraffe Grandmothers, Bird Avoidance and Whale Poop

Three studies that highlight recent scientific research with critical findings.

Octopus NGSS LS1 life science

Photographing Sea Creatures Around the World

National Geographic photographer captures ocean life that reveals unseen details of these amazing creatures.

dolphin jumping NGSS Life science LS1

A Journey into Animal Perception

There's a vast world around us that animals can perceive — but humans can't. Read or listen to this NPR interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer Ed Yong about his book, An Immense World.

giraffes fighting NGSS LS3 Inheritance of Traits

Why do Giraffes Have Long Necks?

Studies of bones show that giraffe’s developed this signature trait due to head-butting during male competition.

Ants on a leaf NGSS LS2 life science ecosystems

20 Quadrillion Ants Inhabit Earth, Scientists Estimate

Aside from tunneling seeds into the ground for dinner and accidentally blooming plants from their leftovers, these buggers are integral to maintaining our ecosystem's delicate balance.

swarm of bats, hawks hunting NGSS LS1 life science

Understanding Hawk Hunting Behavior

Video and 3D models of predator and prey behavior (swarms, confusion effect, hunting).

Dinosaur near trees NGSS LS4 life science

Dinosaurs Bellybuttons

Paleontologists have discovered the oldest belly button known to science. It belongs to a Psittacosaurus, a member of the horned dinosaurs Ceratopsia, in a fossil uncovered in China.

microscopic view of a cell NGSS LS1 life science

Microscopya: Video Game

A new video game teaches with hand-drawn illustrations and puzzles based on scientific concepts to explore the inside of a cell.

person holding an Atlas moth NGSS LS4 biodiversity life science

Have You Seen this Giant Moth?

As beautiful as they are, Atlas moths aren’t a welcome sight for entomologists or farmers. The insects are native to Asia, from India to the Philippines and Indonesia.

two dolphins playing NGSS LS2 social interactions

Why are Dolphins Waiting in Lines to Rub Against Coral?

According to the authors of the study, this is a way of self-medicating — basically, dolphins rub their bodies against corals and sponges to medicate their skin.

Squid in the ocean NGSS life science

Video of a Whiplash Squid

NOAA Exploration shared a video of a Whiplash Squid as part of their Deep Connections projects in 2019.

blue and orange bird NGSS LS2 Ecosystems

Panama Fruit Feeders LIVE CAMS

In addition to Panama Fruit Feeders, you can watch Kestrels, Hawks, Osprey, and many more!

mysterious blue organism on ocean floor NGSS LS4 life science

What is this Blue Goo? (Video)

An unknown blue organism kept appearing in St. Croix. Is it coral? A sponge? It’s still a mystery.

Brown chickens NGSS LS4 Biological Evolution

A New Origin Story for Domesticated Chickens

In two new studies, scientists lay out a potential story of chicken’s origins. This poultry tale begins surprisingly recently in rice fields around 3,500 years ago.

archeologist uncovering fossils MGSS LS4 evolution

Human origins may be older than we thought

This collection is known as Omo 1, and at 200,000 years old are considered some of the oldest human remains ever unearthed. Now, a new study argues the bones are at least 33,000 years older than originally thought.

bioplastic glitter made from plants NGSS LS 1 LS4

Bioplastics

Using cellulose extracted from wood pulp, researchers have created more eco-friendly glitter.

a group of brown bats NGSS LS2 Social Interactions in Groups

Research Shows Bats Like to Argue

Researchers are using machines to decode bat vocalizations, and it turns out they have a lot to say.

(Take a quiz on this article—use student code: Venture)

Whale Shark in the ocean NGSS Life Science

Whale Shark Facts

Get to know Whale sharks using this handy educational PBS WWF fact sheet.

Video of a Bird Thought to be Extinct

Images and footage of the black-naped pheasant-pigeon were recently captured by scientists. This is the first documented sighting of the elusive bird since 1882.

Scientists accidentally discover photosynthesis doesn't work exactly like we thought

Researchers have serendipitously discovered that a key step in photosynthesis can occur much earlier in the process than previously believed.

What Happens When Wolves are Infected with Well-Known Parasite

A study of 26 years' worth of wolf behavioral data, and an analysis of the blood of 229 wolves, has shown that infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii makes wolves 46 times more likely to become a pack leader.