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The human gut is home to an abundant and diverse community of microbes—each of us carries roughly 100 trillion, representing more than 1,000 different species. The composition of one’s gut microbiota is individually specific, dynamic, and influenced by genetics, diet, age,. . . Read More

Transmission of the Zika virus throughout South and Central America has become a rising global public health threat. Spread mainly through infected mosquitoes, this virus poses substantial health risks because it can be passed from a pregnant women to her fetus, potentially. . . Read More

In my latest article for The Scientist, I highlight the work of Dr. Ximena Bernal. She studies a tiny fly that eavesdrops on the mating calls of a particular tropical frog. Once it locates a calling frog, the fly crawls to its nose, where it can easily bite through the skin for a. . . Read More

Researchers from Cardiff University in Wales have shown for the first time that genetically distinct populations of wild mammals have different “odor dialects.” In a new study, they describe how populations of otters from across the UK possess sex- and biogeography-specific odors. . . Read More

Japan’s tiger keelback snake eats toxic toads and stores the toxins in specialised organs on the backs of their necks called nuchal glands. If a snake is threatened it arches its neck, making the nuchal gland area more prominent. A predator that bit the snake’s neck would. . . Read More