
That’s Life [Science] is a free source of articles spanning the realm of the life sciences and more. It was created by an interdisciplinary collective of graduate students who strive to provide readily accessible information about STEM to the general public. While That’s Life [Science] began with a focus on life at its many levels (from molecules to entire ecosystems, and the evolutionary history, behavior, physiology, and ecology of life), we’ve broadened our scope to examine other science topics including chemistry, astronomy, and physics. If you want to learn about who you’re sharing the planet with and how, check out Earth’s Organisms and Our Ecosystems. If you’re curious about a new disease, odd animal behavior, or orbital dynamics, we’ll show you How It Works. Come with us to our labs and field sites in Grad School Diaries to see what day-to-day life is like as a scientist. Join us as we explore the world through the lens of science!
TLS articles do not represent the views of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the UMass Amherst Graduate Student Organizations, or any affiliated groups or persons beyond the individual author(s) of each article. To receive TLS articles in your inbox, enter your email below, and check for a confirmation email (might be in your spam folder).
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Live Fast, Die Young: Why Some Animals Die After Mating
Some have termed it “suicidal mating,” when adult animals die shortly after mating for the first time. How could it be beneficial to live a short life and only reproduce once?
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From the Field to the Lab: Sequencing Wild Microbiomes
From sample collection to sequencing, find out how researchers study the communities of tiny organisms living in wild animals!
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Crap you didn’t really need to know
How do you count animals that don’t want to be seen?
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Pleistocene Rewilding: A Controversial Idea in Conservation Biology
Some conservationists dream of returning to an ancient past of free roaming elephants and lions in the U.S. – let’s explore the controversial and intriguing idea of Pleistocene rewilding
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Celebrate the Holidays with a Decorative Parasite
As the winter holiday season approaches, will you be decorating with this festive parasitic plant?
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Making a murderer
Lian Guo | August 27, 2017 If someone fails to follow the rules of society, say by committing a violent crime, does it make a difference if that person’s biology predisposes them to aggression? Should they still be held accountable for the crime? To ask a less loaded question, if someone has a natural athletic…
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Life of Pets (Living in a Toxic World)
Ever wonder what your beloved pet dog may ingesting when walking around neighborhoods with treated lawns? Scientists are uncovering some scary truths about common lawn pesticides.
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Mangroves: where blue meets green, brown, and every other color under the sun
Trees may seem a bit out of place at the edge of the ocean, but mangroves know what they are doing.
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Monotropa uniflora: This wildflower is pretty wild
Check out this plant with an amazing set of pipes!
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What I wish I had known: Advice about graduate school (and life) to my younger self
Intrigued by graduate student life? If so, read on to discover the 6 things I wish I had known when I started grad school
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The feelings that linger: good vs. bad
Why can bad things be so overpowering of the good? Evolution might give us some insights.

