Life Science

The Importance of Mangroves in Ecosystems

Mangroves are trees that grow in coastal areas where the land meets the sea. They have unique roots in saltwater and help protect erosion.

How Long Does It Take for Plastic to Decompose?

Plastic takes a really long time to decompose. For some items like plastic bottles and drinking straws, it can take hundreds of years.

What Are the 5 Koppen Climate Classification Types?

The Koppen climate classification catalogs Earth’s types of environments, which include tropical, dry, temperate, continental, and polar.

Taxonomic Classification: From Domain to Species

In biology, we categorize life by how similar organisms are with each other. Like a family tree, we find relationships by their classification of life.

What Are the 3 Domains of Life?

We categorize life into 3 domains of life: eukarya, archaea and bacteria. Domains classify life in the most general way such as the presence of a nucleus.

Cambrian Explosion: Life Diversification in the Oceans

The Cambrian explosion was the largest diversification of life in Earth’s history. Ocean life started as sparse and simple. Then, it remarkably diversified.

Cellular Respiration Steps: Energy Conversion in the Body

The single-most important biochemical reaction human beings need is cellular respiration. Our cells require oxygen to break down the food and provide energy.

What Are the 4 Levels of the Food Chain?

All living things rely on each other in the food chain. Energy transfers through living organisms from predators, herbivores, producers and decomposers.

The Biosphere: Life on Earth

The biosphere is the layer of Earth where life exists. You, me, plants, insects bacteria and all living things on land, air and oceans are the biosphere.

Nutrient Cycle: From Inorganic to Organic Material

Food for thought, the nutrient cycle constantly exchanges inorganic and organic matter back and forth in the environment. It’s just recycled back and forth.

Human Evolution: A Timeline of Early Hominids [Infographic]

Since about 4 million years ago, humans have evolved from early hominids to modern humans. Here are 14 species examples from human evolution now extinct.

We Are Made of Stardust from Old Supernovas

Supernovas are the dying stage of a star when the star explodes. Heavier elements like copper and zinc get flung out into space which we find in our bodies.

Endosymbiosis: The Origin of Eukaryotic Cells

Endosymbiosis sparked the origin of eukaryotic cells. It’s the idea that a prokaryote engulfed a bacteria and became mitochondria part of eukaryotic cells.

Human Cells vs Bacteria: Microbiota in Your Body

By 10 to 1, colonies of bacteria outnumber human cells. We rely on bacteria because they break down sugars, help digest food and protect against infections.

Human Timeline: How Long Have Humans Existed?

The earliest anatomically modern human fossil found was dated at about 200-300,000 years old in Morocco, Africa. They had modern faces and used stone tools.