Biology Bytes
Biology Bytes author Teisha Rowland is a science writer, blogger at All Things Stem Cell, and graduate student in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology at UCSB, where she studies stem cells. Send any ideas for future columns to her at science@independent.com.
Save the Seeds
Banking on Reproduction
As crop diversity becomes increasingly threatened, seed banks again become essential. Read story.
From Roly Polies to Praying Mantises
And Beyond!
There are tons of education kits that biology enthusiasts of all ages can use to watch animals—live and in person!—carry out their fascinating lives. Read story.
Ant Farms and Sea Monkeys
These classic educational kits allow kids of all ages to watch little animals carry out their fascinating lives. Read story.
The Biology of Radioactivity
Radioactive Power Is Used in a Variety of Applications
Our bodies endure constant exposure to radiation, but can only take so much. Read story.
To Your Health
The Biochemistry of Tea
A series of chemical reactions turn leaves into a delicious cup of tea. Read story.
Invigorating Leaves: The History of Tea
People Have Cultivated and Studied a Humble Plant for Millennia
Hundreds of varieties of tea are made from the single species Camellia sinensis. Read story.
Hair So New
Hair Stem Cells May Hold the Keys to Treating Baldness
A recent study shows that male-pattern baldness may be caused by a lack of progenitor cells in hair follicles. Read story.
The Cat’s Meow
The Story of One of Our Most Independent Companions
How a self-satisfied little carnivore crept out from the wilds and into our hearts. Read story.
How the Eucalyptus Came to California
A Cautionary Tale
A cautionary tale of how the eucalyptus came to be embedded in the California landscape, and its subtle effects. Read story.
A Childhood Cancer Is Different from Adult Cancers
Far Fewer Mutations
Study looked at genetics of a very aggressive brain cancer found primarily in children called medulloblastoma. Read story.
Abominable Snowman!
Footprints in the Snow
Or is it just some Himalayan monkey, or the endangered European brown bear? Read story.
Telomerase: The Fountain of Youth?
Enzyme Can Reverse Tissue Aging
In a recent study, researchers showed that this enzyme could reverse degeneration in mice. Read story.
Over One Million Dead Bats
How the “White Nose Syndrome” Is Sweeping Through Caves and Killing Ruthlessly
A mysterious fungus is sweeping through caves, leaving over 80 percent of the winged mammals dead in its wake. Read story.
Invasion of the Jellyfish
This Saturday in Santa Barbara, International Experts Will Talk with the Public About the Significance of Jellies
As jellyfish blooms become more frequent, it’s important to understand their impacts. Read story.
How to Make Your Own Stem Cells
There Are Now Multiple Ways Adult Stem Cells Can Be Turned Embryonic
Adult stem cells can now be turned embryonic through multiple methods, to someday create patient-specific transplants that don't trigger immune system rejection. Read story.
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