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The way of the jackal
The arrival of the golden jackal in northern Europe has raised interesting questions about how we define and respond to ‘invasive’ species in rapidly warming parts of the world, writes Sam Perrin 20th February 2023 In July 2019, as summer reached its...
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Life Under Glass (2nd Edition): Crucial Lessons in Planetary Stewardship from Two Years in Biosphere 2
Abigail Alling, Mark Nelson and Sally Silverstone Synergetic Press, £15.00 Life Under Glass is the story of eight scientists referred to collectively as Mission One crew who on the 26th September, 1991 entered Biosphere 2 a sealed man-made planet...
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Moths on the move
Above: Small elephant hawk moths. Photo by Bob Eade. A new report from the charity Butterfly Conservation paints a detailed picture of the changing fortunes of the hundreds of moth species in Britain over the last 50 years September 8th 2021 The world...
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The biology of grandmothers
than to their son’s children. If women’s post-reproductive lifespan has been extended by the benefits they could bestow upon their grandchildren, we might ask why grandmothers don’t live for even longer. In fact, why do they have to die at all? Before...
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The speed of life
Above: A depiction of the JCVI-syn3A minimal cell, by David S Goodsell. 21 February 2025 Niko McCarthy argues that understanding the speed of cellular processes can make us better biologists This article originally appeared in Asimov Press There is an...
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Cure-all or con?
September 11th 2023 Every year millions of people buy cannabis-based products to self treat a range of healthcare issues, from insomnia to inflammation – but many of these new products do not contain what they say they do, and the evidence they have...
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Sowing the seeds of plant science
The Biologist looks at how a series of DEFRA-sponsored studentships are helping to build resilience and capacity in the UK plant health sector This year the RSB is again partnering with DEFRA to offer 12 plant health undergraduate studentships. The...
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Travellers’ tales
Over the past decade, the RSB has helped fund travel for more than 100 early career biologists hoping to research, study or present abroad. We asked four recipients how these travel grants helped develop and support their work This year the Society...
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Deadly daisies?
September 11th 2023 Is ragwort a toxic, invasive weed or an ecologically important and harmless wildflower? Ecologist and farmer Professor Gordon Maxwell FRSB explores this ubiquitous plant in search of an answer To some people ragwort is an annual...
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Policy Lates
Policy Lates brings a panel of experts together for an informal debate on a contemporary science policy topic, with plenty of time for audience questions. If you have an idea for a Policy Late discussion, please get in touch, via policy@rsb.org.uk For...
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Killer Cultures
December 11th 2023 Amid reports of orcas attacking boats off the coast of Spain and Portugal, Hanne Strager looks at the amazing variety of killer whale cultures, including a pod that famously helped, not harmed, seafarers Over 100 years ago whalers in...
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Reports
6th and 7th Annual General Meeting of the RSB Hong Kong branch 22 July 2022 Due to Covid restrictions in Hong Kong this meeting was held as both the 6th and 7th Annual General Meeting of the Royal Society of Biology Hong Kong branch. Like our previous...
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War on the world
social change to redress anthropological causes. War is a distinct and chaotic state that few ever choose to inflict upon their communities, and when people are fleeing violence or defending their homeland it is understandable that the health of their...
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A dog eat dog world
Owls eating other owls, coyotes eating foxes, and killer whales eating sharks – Richard Pallardy explores when predators become prey 13th December 2021 It was once believed that the dramatic interactions described above were rare – an anomaly in...
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All together now
Could a diverse group of compounds known as oxylipins, found across the kingdoms of life, be the molecules that enabled ancient single cells to join forces and become multicellular? Georgy Kurakin and colleagues look at the evidence October 6th 2021...
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Breaking down barriers
A better understanding of how bacterial biofilms form is vital to prepare us for future pandemics and the worsening of the antimicrobial crisis, writes Susana Direito May 31st 2021 In the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919 the majority of the estimated...
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Listening In
Above: A little blue heron pays close attention as a snowy egret searches for fish. Humans have always used espionage and intercepted information to get ahead of rivals. The natural world is rife with animal eavesdroppers too, writes Richard Pallardy...
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Viruses That Kill Cancer
Researchers are getting closer to producing oncolytic viruses that can selectively infect and kill malignant cells, leaving healthy cells unaffected Feb 22nd 2021 For many years the word virus has been associated with infections, disease and death....
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RSB hosts keynote addressing crop pest management in Africa
More than 60 plant health professionals attended the third plant health series event, funded by Defra, discussing international standards in Africa. More than 60 plant health professionals attended the third plant health series event, funded by Defra,...
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Am I Even a Bee?
Felicity Muth with Illustrations by Alexa Lindauer Baobab Press, £14.50 Am I Even a Bee? follows one bee's journey of discovery and self-reflection. Osmia, a solitary bee, is confused. Her mum told her she was a bee, but she looks nothing like the...
