Our Ecosystems

Does Climate Change Impact Infectious Diseases?

That's Life [Science] As the climate warms, it can change where disease outbreaks and epidemics take place. This is especially disturbing when a disease is introduced to an area that has no prior history of that infection. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Thriving in Deadly Environments: Could Mushrooms be our Ticket to Colonizing Space?

That's Life [Science] Space: the final frontier or the fungal frontier? The challenges to life in space seem insurmountable, but with a little help from a familiar friend, it may not be so far-fetched. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Freshwater Mussels are Declining: Why Should You Care, and What Can You Do?

That's Life [Science] These small animals are incredibly important to aquatic environments but face challenges due to human activities, including climate change. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

When does order matter when listing the sexes? Always

That's Life [Science] Is it “males and females” or “females and males”? What is the big difference and why might it matter. Read More ›

How It Works

How the Microbiome May Solve the Mystery of Peanut Allergies

That's Life [Science] Peanut allergies have taken over. But diet changes that have nothing to do with peanuts could be a new treatment. Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

La Belle et La Boeuf (NOT!) How do human meat preferences impact climate change?

That's Life [Science] The agricultural industry has taken a toll on our environment in terms of increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

What is a post bac? My experience in PREP

That's Life [Science] Should you do a post-bac program before you apply to graduate school? Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

The Story of Chestnuts in North America: How a Forest Giant Disappeared from American Forests and Culture

That's Life [Science] The American Chestnut once dominated forests along the eastern seaboard of the United States. Where did they go, and will they ever return to their former glory? Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Musings of a Hobby Mushroom Hunter

That's Life [Science] In this blog, I explore how mushroom identification has shaped how I view the natural world and given me a deeper appreciation of the biodiversity all around me. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Friendships, Betrayals, and Reputations in the Animal Kingdom

That's Life [Science] Relationships are tricky things to maintain, and not just for humans. Many animals have complex social networks, both within their species and with others. Read to learn about these fascinating relationships and the many clever ways animals have evolved to build trust. Read More ›

How It Works

CRISPR technology may be a promising tool to combat multidrug resistant fungus C. auris

That's Life [Science] The CRISPR/Cas9 system has the power to revolutionize our fight against drug resistant pathogens by making gene editing possible. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Storytelling in Science

That's Life [Science] Scientific publications are usually boring. Read More ›

How It Works

How the search for a universal gene forever changed biology: the story of Carl Woese and 16S sequencing

That's Life [Science] While searching for a universal gene to create a comprehensive tree of life, Carl Woese ended up revolutionizing the field of microbiology and forever changed our conceptions of life. Read on to find out how! Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Why Don't Apes Have Tails?

That's Life [Science] “Apes—including humans—are unique within the Primate order for not having tails. When and why did apes lose this seemingly useful appendage?” Read More ›

How It Works

Quarantine Blues? The Effects of Social Isolation in the Brain

That's Life [Science] Neuroscientists study the effects of social isolation in the brain and how to rescue the damage. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

My bonsai journey part 2

That's Life [Science] What I learned a year into my journey of raising bonsai seedlings. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Giant Bacteria, Giant Genomes

That's Life [Science] The incredible life of Epulopiscium bacteria. Read More ›

How It Works

The Lovebug Effect

That's Life [Science] The primal relationship between humans and nature has perplexed scientists for years. It is no secret that reduced anxiety and a sense of serenity are common consequences from spending time in the natural world, but the underlying mechanism may surprise you. Read More ›

How It Works

CRISPR: Careful When Running with Genetic Scissors

That's Life [Science] Altering the genetic makeup of human-kind is a dangerous game to play. Read More ›

How It Works

Bacteria: The Solution to Our Plastic Waste Problem?

That's Life [Science] Plastic waste is a major problem facing the world. Could bacteria be the solution? Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

Artificial Selection: From Tiny Fish to Empty Dish

That's Life [Science] How do human preferences impact global fish populations? Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Mentoring Musings

That's Life [Science] Top 10 mentoring tips for a successful relationship. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Three Minute Thesis…But Make It Virtual

That's Life [Science] Put a bunch of graduate students in a room to give three minute talks about their research. Then, put them on a Zoom call and see how it changes. What did I learn from one year to the next? Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

A breath of fresh air: How the great oxygenation event changed life on Earth forever

That's Life [Science] When did Earth's atmosphere become oxygen-based, and why did it matter for life on Earth? Learn all about it in this article! Read More ›

How It Works

Maps are the ultimate scientific tool

That's Life [Science] Take some time to appreciate the beauty and complexity of maps used in our everyday lives and in nearly every field of science. Read More ›

How It Works

Why does it is Taste like that? - How Saccharomyces Yeast Makes Beer

That's Life [Science] How do tiny yeast give beer its big flavor? The metabolic assembly line of this little livestock significantly contributes to one of our oldest culinary creations. Read More ›

How It Works

Inherited Trauma

That's Life [Science] What kind of environmental and social traumas can be passed down to the next generation? What does that manifestation even look like? Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Nurturing and celebrating our offline selves

That's Life [Science] Reflections on an evolving sense of self in the age of social media and COVID. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

'Til the Yeasts Come Home? - Domesticating Microbes

That's Life [Science] Cows and Sheep aren’t the only species touched by the hand of domestication. Microbes have been domesticated for just as long as many traditional 'farm animals.' Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

The Women Behind the Gun vs. The Women Behind the Bird

That's Life [Science] Two lesser known women helped set the stage for international wildlife treaties and conservation in the United States. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Three things STEM undergrads might not know (that you can teach them!)

That's Life [Science] Navigating the world of scientific research and academia can be tricky as an undergraduate. Grad students and instructors can teach STEM undergrads these three things to make their lives easier! Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Built Different

That's Life [Science] Alzheimer's and depression are more commonly diagnosed in women, while Parkinson's is more commonly diagnosed in men. Why is that? Read More ›

How It Works

WEIRD Science

That's Life [Science] Why wouldn’t you trust a scientist or a medical professional? They’ve spent years developing a better understanding of the world and how we can survive it… or how some of us can survive it. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

COVID-19 Stinks!

That's Life [Science] Many people who have recovered from COVID-19 report a loss of their sense of smell. How important is your sense of smell, really? Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

How do microbes help animals adapt?

That's Life [Science] Evolving is a team sport. Many animals co-evolve along with microbes in a symbiotic relationship. Read More ›

How It Works

Hug an Oyster for Wildlife Conservation

That's Life [Science] Ever wonder how wildlife biology and conservation got to be the way it is? If you live in the U.S., you may need to thank an oyster... Read More ›

How It Works

The Big Data Revolution

That's Life [Science] Access to large, open source datasets is paving the way for new scientific insights. But is bigger always better? Read More ›

If I Only Had A Brain (Organoid)

That's Life [Science] What would you think if I told you I grow human brains in a lab? Read More ›

How It Works

Bang! 'Ouch' *Grab*

That's Life [Science] When you bang your elbow on a table, why is your first instinct to grab it? This response might have something to do with how your sensory neurons process information. Read More ›

How It Works

Interview with Dr. Matthew Moore - Viral Perspectives

That's Life [Science] Going viral (or rather not): perspectives on viruses with an emphasis on foodborne disease from UMass professor Dr. Matthew Moore. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Sleeping in a Pandemic

That's Life [Science] Can’t fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up? Here’s how to fix it! Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Wildlife and Protected Areas During the Pandemic

That's Life [Science] With tourism down to a standstill, how are protected areas persisting during the pandemic? People are not moving around locally or globally as much as before the pandemic. How does this impact wildlife? Read More ›

How It Works

Why are Parka Ruffs Made with Wolverine Fur?

That's Life [Science] Native Alaskans have a wealth of traditional knowledge that helps them survive, some of which are still not entirely understood by science. Many Native Alaskan groups use wolverine fur for the ruffs around their faces. Read on to find why wolverine fur is the best for ruffs. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

A Basic Guide to Mentoring Undergraduates in STEM

That's Life [Science] Project and people management is not part of normal curriculum in graduate school – but you better believe you will be expected to do it! Here’s some advice to help you be a better mentor to undergraduate students. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

What's the world's largest virus?

That's Life [Science] We have barely scratched the surface of virus diversity, but over the past decade scientists have discovered shockingly large viruses in environments across the globe. These giant viruses shook up everything we thought we knew about the origin of viruses. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

A Guide to Graduate School Interviews

That's Life [Science] What to expect during graduate school interviews, and the key questions to ask to land you in the right program. Read More ›

How It Works

Why Don’t We Keep Resolutions?

That's Life [Science] We have the best intentions, but never quite make it to the gym or reach that deadline. Why are we so bad with following through? There’s a phenomenon in neuroscience that might explain these behaviors. Read More ›

How It Works

Genetic Diversity and Its Impact on Disease Treatment

That's Life [Science] Though not captured in the language we use to describe disease, many ailments are caused by diverse genetic backgrounds. What are the implications of these variations and how can we take advantage of them to develop better treatments? Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

How Community-based Conservation Helps Lemurs

That's Life [Science] Madagascar is undergoing environmental and socioeconomic crises that threaten the future of the island country. Here is how community-based conservation can help. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

How to Join a Lab

That's Life [Science] You want to join a lab. Where do you look? How do you express interest? What do you say? Read More ›

How It Works

How Rat Fur can Help Diabetics Heal Wounds

That's Life [Science] The lab rat, historically used for countless areas of scientific and medical research, presents a promising possibility in the field of biomedical and regenerative medicine. New research shows that these furry critters help regenerate tissue to heal wounds, having implications for diseases like diabetes. Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

How Botanical Sexism is Making Your Allergies Worse

That's Life [Science] Do you feel like your allergies are worse than those of your grandparents? It could be due to an overabundance of male trees in your environment. Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

The Pandemic That Changed The World: Many Questions and a Few Answers

That's Life [Science] The COVID-19 pandemic has raised a number of questions about the virus, how it spreads, and its global impacts. A panel of biologists provides answers to some frequently asked questions. Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

The Biology of Booze ft. Gin & Tonic

That's Life [Science] This is the unlikely biological love story of when a compound from the South American cinchona tree met a European distilled liquor fragrant with juniper botanicals in the tropical jungles of India! Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

My Bonsai Journey Part 1

That's Life [Science] This spring, I tackled the art of bonsai tree care. Check out the first part of my journey to prune my green thumb! Read More ›

Using eDNA to Revolutionize Wildlife Conservation

That's Life [Science] From scat to skin, animals leave a lot of evidence to track them with, but can we use this environmental DNA to monitor them? Read More ›

How It Works

Fat is Good for Your Brain

That's Life [Science] There is a time and place for everything. While fat on your belly might make you run slower, fat in your brain lets you think faster. Read More ›

How It Works

Why Wash Your Hands?

That's Life [Science] What even IS soap and how does using it to wash your hands prevent disease? Read More ›

How It Works

A Unique Case of Arthropod Vision

That's Life [Science] Jumping spiders have a complex visual system, and here's how it works. Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

Climate Disaster? Humans Will Pass Point of No Return Sooner Than We Think

That's Life [Science] Is 2 degrees Celsius warming too much for our planet? Researchers suspect yes… Read More ›

How It Works

How does your clock tick?

That's Life [Science] Researching the neural mechanisms behind your sex hormone levels and your body’s circadian rhythms. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

How Monkeys and Apes Fight Climate Change by Eating Fruit

That's Life [Science] With people protesting all around the world, how are the rest of the world’s inhabitants fighting against the climate crisis? What role do primates play? Why is primate conservation important? Read More ›

How It Works

Expand Your Mind

That's Life [Science] Make what you want to look at bigger so you don’t have to build a microscope that sees smaller. Expansion microscopy uses diaper technology to make small things, like neurons, bigger. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Sound the Alarm! One Unique Way Primates Avoid Being Eaten

That's Life [Science] “Many primates use alarm calls to alert other members of their group to potential predators. But how specific and effective are these alarm calls? What risks come with sounding the alarm?” Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

Living below sea level (Part 2): Learning to live with water

That's Life [Science] The Dutch are leading the world in flood-risk mitigation through clever engineering and an eco-friendly mindset. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

The Drama of Barotrauma: Blobfish, Rockfish, and More

That's Life [Science] Have you ever wondered why blobfish looks the way it does? Or why some fish have their stomachs bulging out of their mouths and eyes popping out of their heads when they’re caught? You’ve just witnessed barotrauma. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

10 Life Science Films You Can't Miss

That's Life [Science] With the constant stream of content coming your way, here are some of the best science/nature films entertainment has to offer Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Protein Perspectives from the Protein Data Bank

That's Life [Science] A tool to see things from a protein’s point of view! Read More ›

How It Works

Going on Autopilot? Thank Your Place Cells

That's Life [Science] Why do we go on autopilot when we travel somewhere we’ve been a thousand times? How do our brains snap out of this routine when we need to change it up? Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

Living below sea level: Dutch engineering marvels

That's Life [Science] Us: Living near water and below sea-level is a bad idea. The Dutch: Challenge accepted. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Why are some primate infants brightly colored?

That's Life [Science] “In some primate species, infants are born with conspicuous coats that fade to normal adult coloration over time. What could be causing these uniquely colored infants? What do species with natal coats all have in common?” Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Technological Advancements…. Thanks to Ferrets?

That's Life [Science] Ferrets did what? The surprising use of ferrets for solving technological problems. Read More ›

How It Works

Immunohistochemistry: One man’s illness is another man’s experimental verification method

That's Life [Science] How do neuroscientists make a certain population of cells stand out from a sea of them squished together in the brain? The tools are already in nature, no need to reinvent the wheel. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Are palm trees really trees?

That's Life [Science] Palm trees are quite unique, and to be honest, a little funny looking. Are they actually trees? And why are they the way they are? Read More ›

How It Works

The Power of Fear: Four Ways Being Scared Affects Wildlife

That's Life [Science] Fear is a powerful driver of wildlife behavior, here are five ways animals respond to fear. Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

How Climate Change Affects Your Seafood

That's Life [Science] The ocean is shifting along with a changing climate. What does that mean for the local seafood on your plate and in the market? Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Managing Up

That's Life [Science] Why might your advisor become distant from your work and how can you bring them back into it? Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

The Eastern Spotted Newt: A Wandering Teenage Identity Crisis

That's Life [Science] The Eastern Spotted Newt has three dramatically different looks as it grows from egg to adulthood. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Survival by Aposematism and Mimicry: The Evolution of Bright Color Patterns

That's Life [Science] Sometimes the best defense from predators is to stay in plain sight. Read More ›

How It Works

The crime-fighting field of forensic palynology

That's Life [Science] “The distinct diversity of pollen grains has many uses - including helping detectives around the world piece together the details of a crime.” Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

The Traveling Field Biologist

That's Life [Science] “What does it take to get to the remote field sites where so many biologists collect their data?” Read More ›

How It Works

Bioremediation - One Species’ Trash, Another’s Treasure?

That's Life [Science] How microbes can help address one of the long-term issues associated with waste disposal. Read More ›

How It Works

Brain Surgery… It’s Not Rocket Science!

That's Life [Science] “Brain surgery is surprisingly simple. Aside from the risk of death, here’s all there is to it.” Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

More Tales from Trails

That's Life [Science] A tale of carnivores, camera traps, and camaraderie straight from the grasslands and woodlands of Africa. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Sifak-huh?

That's Life [Science] What type of an animal is a sifaka? What makes them unique? And how in the world do you pronounce ‘sifaka’? Read More ›

How It Works

Changing the climate change conversation

That's Life [Science] My lessons learned from NNOCCI’s keys to successful climate change conversations - let’s solve this together! Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Is Science for Women?

That's Life [Science] “What are the implications of a male dominated field for women, whether they are in that field or not?” Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

Money Doesn’t Grow on Monsteras: The Economics of Indoor Plants

That's Life [Science] #indoorplants don’t just look great on Instagram; they also tell us about economic tradeoffs, priorities, and a changing economy Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Tales from Trails: Field Dispatches from Africa

That's Life [Science] “A postcard from a field biologist still a bit stunned about landing her dream location in southern Africa!” Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

Climate change impacts on our health and safety

That's Life [Science] What to know about the major impacts of climate change on our health and safety, and what we’re doing to limit them. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

So Many Choices… The Challenge of Selecting Trees for the Urban Environment

That's Life [Science] “With seemingly endless tree species available, how can you decide which one to plant?” Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Should I Apply to Graduate School?

That's Life [Science] “Thinking about the next steps in your life? If graduate school is one of those potential options, here’s some things you should be thinking about.” Read More ›

How It Works

Why does alcohol make you dizzy?

That's Life [Science] “How does drinking alcohol lead to lack of balance? What are the physiological processes underlying this phenomenon?” Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

You are a fish

That's Life [Science] Have you ever felt like a fish out of water? Because that's exactly what you are. Read More ›

How It Works

It’s Not Science Fiction, Chimeras Are Real

That's Life [Science] All of our cells have the same DNA… right? Not always. Genetic chimeras shatter our ideas of identity and blur the lines between self and non-self, siblings, and sexes. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

The Tale of A Conspicuous Invader and Inconspicuous Field Sites

That's Life [Science] A trip to scout field sites is thwarted when a notorious invasive grass refuses to live by the rules of a scientist’s study design. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Things That Glow Pink in the Night: Why do some animals have fluorescent coloration under ultraviolet light?

That's Life [Science] “What could be the meaning behind squirrels with pink fur and puffins with electric blue beaks?” Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

When You Call a Fish a Frog

That's Life [Science] When the way fish look remind us of another animal, why not name them that way? You can decide for yourself whether these fish really look like a lizard, hog, or frog! Read More ›

How It Works

A Peanut A Day Keeps the Allergist Away

That's Life [Science] **Undergraduate Writing Contest Spring 2019 WINNER** Read More ›

Outreach

Pipettes and Paintbrushes 2019

That's Life [Science] The second annual collaborative art/science exhibit was featured last month on the UMass Amherst campus. Check out this work in our virtual art gallery under the Events tab. Read More ›

How It Works

The Rise of Sourdough and Mason Jar Ecosystems

That's Life [Science] Science-up your everyday life with some kitchen microbiology, starting with the secret lives of microbes in sourdough! Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Who’s Got the Biggest Genome of Them All?

That's Life [Science] The answer may surprise you... Read More ›

How It Works

Radioactive Bananas, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Greenhouse Gases, OH MY!

That's Life [Science] Here's a closer look into Radiation: the facts, the myths, and the bananas… Read More ›

How It Works

Uncharted Intellectual Territory: Science Isn’t Linear

That's Life [Science] Federally-funded science has been ridiculed as wasteful spending, citing bizarre methods out of context… but silly methods ≠ silly science! Read More ›

How It Works

It’s a Trap! How Looks Can Be Deceiving in Habitat Selection

That's Life [Science] Ecological traps are an important concept in conservation biology. Let’s talk about what it means for wildlife. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

A Day - and Night - in the Life of a Bat Biologist

That's Life [Science] Most scientists work in the day and sleep at night, but scientists who study nocturnal animals don’t get that luxury! Read More ›

How It Works

The Feelings that Linger: Good vs. Bad

That's Life [Science] Why can bad things be so overpowering of the good? Evolution might give us some insights. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

The Biology of Booze ft. Tequila

That's Life [Science] This is a brief biological story involving the agave plant and its pollinators that are instrumental in the birth of tequila! Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

Mangroves: at your service

That's Life [Science] The services mangrove forests provide are priceless, so why are these ecosystems threatened? Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Dying Tomatoes, Healthy Kittens, and the EMP500: Why you should care about the International Society for Microbial Ecology

That's Life [Science] Microbes can kill us - but they will also save us. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

The Purebred Poodle Problem

That's Life [Science] The hidden risks behind that pedigree certificate. **Undergraduate Writing Contest Fall 2018 WINNER** Read More ›

How It Works

Go With Your Gut...

That's Life [Science] ...Unless Your Gut is Going Against You. **Undergraduate Writing Contest Fall 2018 RUNNER-UP** Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

Pleistocene Rewilding: A Controversial Idea in Conservation Biology

That's Life [Science] Some conservationists dream of returning to an ancient past of free roaming elephants and lions in the U.S. - let’s explore the controversial and intriguing idea of Pleistocene rewilding. Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

Mangroves: where blue meets green, brown, and every other color under the sun

That's Life [Science] Trees may seem a bit out of place at the edge of the ocean, but mangroves know what they are doing. Read More ›

How It Works

Image Hosting Test Post

That's Life [Science] “Testing different platforms for hosting our images” Read More ›

How It Works

Live Fast, Die Young: Why Some Animals Die After Mating

That's Life [Science] Some have termed it “suicidal mating,” when adult animals die shortly after mating for the first time. How could it be beneficial to live a short life and only reproduce once? Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Diversity in the Forest

That's Life [Science] We know the importance of diversity in the environment, but what’s at risk by neglecting the levels of diversity in forestry’s workforce? Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Let It Glow

That's Life [Science] A closer look at some species that use bioluminescence to glow. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

I’m Likin’ That Lichen

That's Life [Science] Don’t miss the diversity of lichen that provide a colorful cover for many surfaces across the world. Read More ›

How It Works

New Culture, New Microbiome, New Problems

That's Life [Science] How adopting an “American” diet can be detrimental for the health of many immigrants. Read More ›

Outreach

Eureka!

That's Life [Science] My neuroscientist friends at UMass Amherst and I led a workshop with Girls Inc. to encourage curiosity among local middle school girls. Read More ›

How It Works

If Only There Were a U.S. Census Question About Biodiversity…

That's Life [Science] Have you ever wondered why some streets in your city or town have more trees than others? Read this post to find out more… Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Celebrate the Holidays with a Decorative Parasite

That's Life [Science] As the winter holiday season approaches, will you be decorating with this festive parasitic plant? Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Sleeping One Hemisphere at a Time

That's Life [Science] “Did you know it’s possible for only half of your brain to sleep while the other half stays awake? Why would anyone do that?” Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Through the Mycologist's Hand Lens: Deceptive Decomposers

That's Life [Science] Fungi are fascinating! You can find them just outside your door, and some wild varieties are edible. But be careful - these decomposers can be deceptive! Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Standing on the shoulders of giants

That's Life [Science] “Scientific discovery is incremental and extends beyond the lifespan of a single researcher. But whose shoulders do I stand upon?” Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

3 Reasons Why What You Grow in Your Garden Matters

That's Life [Science] Planting a flower from your local nursery seems innocuous enough, but where that flower comes from is an important consideration that often gets overlooked. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Tails from the Field: Studying Lemurs in Southwestern Madagascar

That's Life [Science] In one of the most ecologically unique regions in the world, I had the chance to get up close and personal with lemurs! Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Frankenstein: A ghost-story about scientific ethics and work-life balance

That's Life [Science] Happy Halloween! Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein turns 200 this year. Let’s take a closer look at this ghost-story about science gone wrong. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Scottish Summer Surprises - Part 2!

That's Life [Science] Scottish wildlife postcard from the Highlands! Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Lessons from My First Conference

That's Life [Science] I attended my first mega-conference as a graduate student, and I learned a few things along the way... Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

How a cattle vaccine helped save giraffes

That's Life [Science] Find out how a vaccine for cattle resulted in a rebound in giraffe populations on the Serengeti. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Scottish Summer Surprises (Part 1)!

That's Life [Science] Scottish wildlife postcard from the Highlands! Read More ›

How It Works

How An Invasive Plant Helped Fuel The Largest Wildfire You’ve Never Heard Of

That's Life [Science] Currently, there are roughly 50 large wildfires burning in the U.S. We’re taking a look at how one of this season’s fires got so big. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

The Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting

That's Life [Science] What does the largest neuroscience conference have to offer an early career researcher, from undergrad to grad student? Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Life Science in Outer Space!

That's Life [Science] Humans have been occupying outer space for decades, but what other species have made it beyond Earth’s atmosphere? Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

How Many Botanists Does it Take to ID an Orchid?

That's Life [Science] I tagged along with the New England Botanical Club to explore plants of the Pioneer Valley. Come check out some photos! Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

A Baby Photo Book – For Fish!

That's Life [Science] You know how new parents always post photos of their babies? Well this is that, but with fish. Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

Do we have all the data needed to make safe choices about seafood?

That's Life [Science] Every year, fish consumption advisories are published to help us make healthy seafood choices, but how good is the data used to construct these advisories? Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

From Bill Nye to the ‘Average Joe’: The changing face of science communication

That's Life [Science] The science of communicating. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Rats

That's Life [Science] Rats have pretty surprising features. You’ll be shocked to find how similar they are to people in some ways and different in others. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Watermelon Snow

That's Life [Science] What looks like a slushy, feels like a slushy, but makes you wish you hadn’t eaten it? Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Critter Candid Cam

That's Life [Science] Travel to this fabulous landscape in India’s wild west to encounter camels, carnivores, people, livestock, and more! Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Three Cool Plants in Hot Places

That's Life [Science] We’re taking a closer look at three interesting desert plants. But don’t get too close; they may prick you! Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Research Highlight - Making Brain Cells

That's Life [Science] Research Highlight - As a Ph.D. student, I get to grow brain cells! Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

A parasite only a moth could love

That's Life [Science] Did you know that a parasite can have a parasite, which in turn can have a parasite of its own? These interactions can influence our ability to control pest insect species. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Telling tales of plants and their names

That's Life [Science] Every plant has a Latin and a common name, both of which come with a story. Come find out how some plants get their quirky callings! Read More ›

How It Works

Human Eye Structure Makes No Sense…Or Does It?

That's Life [Science] The reason visual information begins processing at the back of the eye. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Extract DNA from any living thing

That's Life [Science] DNA Extraction is easier than you might think - you can even try it in your kitchen at home! Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

Is it possible to eat too much fish?

That's Life [Science] Seafood is part of a healthy diet, but it’s not a perfect health food. Let’s discuss fish consumption advisories and how they can help you avoid eating unhealthy seafood. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

The Colorful World of Primate Hair

That's Life [Science] Black, yellow, red, and white—what makes primates the most colorful mammals? Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Celebrity Sightings while Science-ing

That's Life [Science] Sometimes science brings you to obscure locations and equips you with binoculars – in New York City, it’s a perfect setup for rare celebrity sightings in the concrete jungle! Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Breaks on Campus

That's Life [Science] What happens when everyone goes on vacation during school breaks? Why would someone choose to stay and work? Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Awe-inspiring, but relatable – the goal of any science communication effort

That's Life [Science] Journey with TLS author Dina Navon to the 2018 annual meeting of the Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology, and learn more about the ways scientists think about communicating their work! Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Where do fish go in winter?

That's Life [Science] When the weather gets unbearably cold and the waters freeze, what do the fish do? Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

You Scratch My Back and I’ll Scratch Yours

That's Life [Science] Curious cases of cooperation, coexistence, and camaraderie in creatures great and small. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Secrets of the Soil: Searching for Stories from a Warming Climate

That's Life [Science] Get the “dirt” on one grad student’s “hot” work. Read More ›

How It Works

The Price of Pigment on Your Immune System

That's Life [Science] Although tattoos are safe for most everyone, here are two unique cases of a person’s body responding poorly to this form of body art. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Alien Microbes: How studying hyperthermophiles can help us discover life on other planets

That's Life [Science] How do the microorganisms that live in hot springs, deep sea floors, and volcanos survive? Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Life, the universe, and everything: Dreams of being a biophysicist

That's Life [Science] When physics and biology come together to figure out life Read More ›

How It Works

Midnight Snacks Could Be the Death of You

That's Life [Science] What time you’re eating may be more influential than what you’re eating, according to a collaborator of Nobel Prize recipients. Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Bug Sleuth – One Entomologist’s Mission to ID a Mysterious Swarm of Wasps

That's Life [Science] This past fall, I came across a swarm of wasps and did not know what they were. For an entomologist, that’s scarier than the swarm itself, so I did some sleuthing. Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

Single Large or Several Small? The Ongoing Debate in Nature Preserve Design

That's Life [Science] Should we use limited resources for fewer large nature preserves, or a patchwork of smaller ones? Read More ›

How It Works

Lobster Fight Club

That's Life [Science] Learn the ins and outs of combat in one of the ocean’s fiercest fighters, the American lobster. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

A Fishtastic Journey Abroad

That's Life [Science] While much of my summer was spent in a lab, I snuck away for two splendid weeks in Bergen, Norway – for research! Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Greetings from Michigan: American Ornithology Conference 2017

That's Life [Science] Scientists are often alone in their labs, at remote field sites, or staring at computers – but once a year, they get together to nerd out! Read More ›

Our Ecosystems

Moving away from monoculture in aquaculture

That's Life [Science] Can aquaculture farming successfully break free from conventional monoculture practices? Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

What do cockroaches, power tools, and pollinator gardens have in common?

That's Life [Science] This fall, TLS teamed up with local Girl Scout troops to learn about the importance of animal habitats. Here is what happened! Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Grad Students Meet Girl Scouts Part 2: Conserving Local Bee Habitats, One Person at a Time!

That's Life [Science] Girl scouts learn about why bees are in trouble and what they can do to help maintain local bee populations. Bee the Change! Read More ›

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Grad School Diaries

A graduate student in elementary school

That's Life [Science] When your research is about environmental education, you end up spending all your time at school! Read More ›

Earth's Organisms

Horny and Hungry: The Dilemma of Sexual Cannibalism

That's Life [Science] In some species, the phrase “I could eat you up” between lovers has a very literal meaning. Let’s check out the stories behind sexual cannibalism, the strange and intriguing behavior where males become meals! Read More ›

TLS Writing Contest

That's Life [Science] TLS is hosting a writing competition where the winning article will be posted on our blog! Details here. Read More ›

Grad School Diaries

Minding my Moth and Meandering in Malaysia

That's Life [Science] I never thought I’d get the chance to go to Malaysia, but I went for a scientific meeting and it was an experience of a lifetime. Read More ›