In fresh milk, the main proteins are caseins, initially dispersed in tiny particles called micelles. These small micelles, normally quiet and stable, begin to agitate...
Animal growth is primarily a matter of cellular multiplication. Essentially, a young animal grows because its cells are rapidly dividing to create new ones. You...
Bees use dance as a true living GPS: it allows scouting worker bees to precisely indicate to others where to find food. Through their little...
Changing color primarily allows animals to become invisible, or almost. Blending into the background helps them escape predators by simply avoiding detection, but it also...
Some bacteria produce light through a simple chemical reaction called bioluminescence. Specifically, it all relies on a molecule, luciferin, and an enzyme that aids in...
Melanin is the pigment that gives color to our eyes as well as our hair and skin. Basically, the more melanin your eyes contain, the...
The transparency of jellyfish mainly comes from their bodies, composed of about 95% water, a practical biological trick that makes them invisible or nearly so. Their tissues...
The bodies of octopuses are shaped for natural backward propulsion. They draw water into their pallial cavity (a sort of muscular pocket around the body), then expel...
The main culprit behind the browning of cut vegetables is a specific type of enzyme, called polyphenol oxidase (or PPO for short). Once the vegetable...
Frogs change color thanks to specialized cells in their skin called chromatophores. These cells contain different pigments, such as melanin, which gives dark tones, pteridine...
