BIOLOGY

The Reason So Many Babies Are Conceived in Winter

Does it seem like a surplus of newborn babies pop up in September? Science has a few explanations why.

H. Armstrong Roberts/iStock via Getty Images

The Great Tryptophan Lie: Eating Turkey Does Not Make You Tired

Turkey and other tryptophan-containing foods can produce melatonin, but that’s not why you’re tired on Thanksgiving.

Photographer Captures Polka-Dotted Zebra Foal in Kenya

Tira the polka-dotted zebra foal likely has pseudomelanism, a rare genetic condition that makes stripes appear as white spots.

Scientists Capture Video of Deepstaria, a Rarely Seen, Shapeshifting Jellyfish

In the video, the Deepstaria jellyfish hovers like a ghost before unfurling its billowing bell, giving scientists aboard the 'Nautilus' a rare look at the illusive species.

The Reason Newborn Babies Don't Produce Tears

Newborns can wail like emergency sirens, but you don't typically see them producing tears. Here's why.

Honey Bees Can Understand the Concept of Zero

Zero is an idea even young children struggle with, but bees are one of the few animal species that can figure it out.

The Biologists and Activists Fighting to Save Endangered Tapirs in Costa Rica

The endangered tapir faces threats like poaching, habitat loss, and trafficking, but Nai Conservation, an organization in Costa Rica, is leading a grassroots effort to save the species.

The (Likely) Reason Men Don't Live as Long as Women

Research data indicates men can expect to live an average of five fewer years than women. The reason might surprise you.

12 Facts About Your Digestive System

The ancient Greeks and Romans gorged themselves while lying down, but medical professionals say eating (and digesting) in a reclined position isn't such a good idea.

10 Facts About High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure guidelines have changed recently, which means Americans are more likely to receive a hypertension diagnosis than ever. Here are some essential facts about high blood pressure symptoms and causes.

NASA Reveals How Living in Space for a Year Affected Scott Kelly’s Poop

Astronaut Scott Kelly used cotton swabs to take samples of his fecal matter. He then sealed it in tubes and sent it back to Earth via rocket.

Unraveling the History of Human Hair

Archaeologists and geneticists are looking at how human hair, and its countless hair types, evolved over millennia. Their research could shed light on the habits of our ancestors.

25 Amazing Facts About the Human Body

All of your blood vessels laid end to end would circle the Earth 4 times. Read on for more amazing tidbits about the human body.

This 3D-Printed Sushi is Customized For You Based on the Biological Sample You Send In

The 3D-printed sushi at Sushi Singularity will be custom-built around your biological data. To get it, the restaurant will ask you to mail a saliva, urine, or feces sample before your meal.

8 Surprising Things You Might Be Doing While Asleep

Sleep might help the brain clear out and reorganize information. You might be surprised at what else you're doing while zonked.

For the First Time, Scientists Find Jellyfish-Like Animal With ‘Transient’ Anus

The warty comb jelly forms an anus only when it needs to defecate, and it may hold clues to how the anus evolved millions of years ago.

11 Squeaky-Clean Facts About Spit

Saliva is more important than you think: You need spit to taste, chew, swallow, and digest everything you eat. Your spit even fights tooth decay and cavities.