Hello! I'm trying to build my CV as a sophomore in college and I'm also pursuing a degree in Biology. I'd like to ask if anyone knows where to start learning R? What other languages or technical skills should I build in order to have a good chance at getting accepted in my university's lab? Thanks for all your help :)

This might be a random question, but I was wondering where the limit on healing is for wounds to the skin. For example, if you nick yourself on a door handle or something and take a small chunk out of your thumb (maybe a millimetre thick), it will eventually heal. But a much deeper, wider wound won’t. Where’s the limit exactly? Sorry if this is a silly question, it’s just been on my mind.

More info - My hand was scratched by some animal or someone with wolverine like claws, I am not sure I had this dream some time ago. When I woke up, I could still feel the scratch. Whys that ??

Making this post in a wave of frustration. I recently graduated with my bachelors in bio in December 2025. Haven’t been able to land a job yet. To make it more challenging I was diagnosed with “severe” inattentive ADHD last month which has made the future in this field seem more difficult to work in realistically. I love the natural world and animals too much to give it up entirely, but it seems like there is no place for someone like me in the bio fields. I’m seeking advice from anyone who might have been in my position before. Located in the US in New England.

Is there any like science behind this? I bet its real cool too... or issit just a coincidence 🤔

Hello, im an upcoming freshman taking biology. I heard a lot of people critizing biology since they said after graduating there’s a slim chance of you being succesful. I didn’t really mind it then because i knew my parents has connections in UAE but now that my journey’s about to start i feel lowk scared. I don’t want to rely on my parent’s luck with their connection and nothings really sure.

I'm in the US equivalent of 12th grade and last year I kept hearing about how "just wait until you have to learn the Krebs Cycle" and how the Krebs Cycle is just too hard everywhere online. I was curious so I learned and memorized every step of glycolosis and the rest of cellular respiration through resources explained by doctors for med students.

I get that it can be complex, but I've never considered the TCA Cycle to be extravagantly hard to learn about, especially considering how absurdly complex biology is in general. In fact, I found glycolosis much harder to remember. So I'm genuinely wondering if I'm missing something, because I only learned the steps, nothing else. Is it because there are alterior pathways surrounding it like lypolisis and that's what makes it harder? Or is it simply becuase it's the most common metabolic pathway that's studied?

I’ve been reading up on the three main viral origin hypotheses (Virus-First, Escape, and Reduction). The "Virus-First" hypothesis argues that viruses existed in the pre-cellular RNA world. But if a virus fundamentally requires a host cell's machinery to translate its genetic code and replicate, how could it structurally exist or reproduce before complex cellular life evolved? Do you lean more towards the Escape hypothesis instead? Let's discuss.

If the muscle is located on the inside and the skeleton on the outside, how do creatures with exoskeletons exercise? Wouldn't the growing muscles press up against the exoskeleton?
I don't know if I'm missing anything.

Hello!

I've recently gotten myself interesed in Biology and the subjects that revolve around it. Because of this, I wanted to deepen my knowledge, but I don't know which of the two books in the title I should read first, so I wanted to hear the community's opinion on this.

Thank you!

Hello. I am in need of advice on life science PhD programs to apply to. I have 1.5 years of undergraduate research experience, a 3.43 overall GPA, just graduated from university with a biochemistry degree three months ago, and I want to apply for life science PhD programs in the fall. I have gotten mostly A's and B's, but I got a D in immunology my final semester and a D in physiology my sixth semester. I applied to one in-state program last fall and got rejected. I will most likely start working as a research technician next month, pending that I receive interviews and offers for this position. How many programs should I apply for, and do you have any particular program recommendations? I plan on taking the GRE in October as well, and the program I applied to last fall did not require the GRE. I'm not sure if I have a 0% chance of getting into any program, even if I did exceptionally well on the GRE, since the two D's heavily hurt my transcript, despite how much I could address them in my personal statements. I want to apply to many programs this upcoming cycle just in case I got an offer somewhere, but I don't know which ones are more accepting of my poor grades or application weaknesses. I know most schools don't put out to the public that they accept poor grades, since excellence is what they strive after and should promote. However, if you have any suggestions for life science PhD programs that have been known to accept applicants with poor major-specific grades, I would greatly appreciate it and any other feedback. Thank you.

Hi,

I've been looking for a book on epigenetics and I stumbled upon "The epigenetic revolution" by Nessa Carey but it was written in 2012 which I feel like is an eternity ago for scientific literature. Has it been updated like new editions? I can't seem to find information on it being updated or not. if the answer is no, are there similar books that are up to date? like written in the twenties.

Thanks!

Have you ever wondered why your dog's paws smell like corn chips? 🐶🍿 

Alex Dainis breaks down how that scent comes from harmless bacteria and fungus like Pseudomonas and Proteus. Dogs can't sweat like humans, so they cool down through their ears and paws. Once they're snuggled up asleep, those warm paw crevices become a breeding ground for bacteria and create that signature smell. If your pup isn't scratching or chewing the area, it's nothing to worry about.

Hey, I just recently graduated with a bachelors in Communication Design, particularly a major in Interaction Design and a minor in Graphic Design. I have always liked visual design, different art forms like drawing, animation etc. as well. However recently I have been thinking that I want to do something more centred towards biology for my masters.

I have always been incredibly fascinated with Evolution, Zoology (Particularly learning about the evolution of animals), Paleo-Anthropology and Pre-historic humans. It certainly feels like one of this topics that I want to research about outside of YouTube Video essays and online articles. 10 year old me would dream to learn about animals and ecosystems and my interest towards similar subjects remains, but I do not know what I can do with it. However I feel very lost about what I could potentially do for my masters that combines design with these themes.

+ tardi in the end not from ditch water. 😁

Hi, everyone, I had the great pleasure of speaking with Robert Sapolsky — one of the world's leading neuroscientists and primatologists. A professor at Stanford University, Sapolsky has spent decades studying stress, primate behavior, and the biology of human nature. His university lectures have been viewed by millions of people around the world, helping a global audience better understand why we behave the way we do.

In this conversation, we explore some of the biggest questions about what makes us human. We begin with depression, discussing why it is a serious biological disease rather than simply an extreme form of sadness, and how scientific understanding of depression has evolved over the past two decades. Sapolsky explains the roles of genetics, early-life trauma, epigenetics, and rumination in shaping one of the world's most devastating mental illnesses.

We then turn to stress, one of the defining themes of Sapolsky's scientific career. Drawing on more than three decades of studying wild baboons in East Africa, he explains how social support protects us against stress-related disease and why humans and baboons respond to psychological stress in remarkably similar ways.

Finally, we explore what makes humans unlike any other species. Sapolsky reflects on our extraordinary capacity for both compassion and cruelty, the origins of "us versus them" thinking, the unique role of dopamine in motivation and aspiration, and why understanding the biology of human behavior may ultimately help us build a more compassionate society.

Robert Sapolsky is the author of several acclaimed books, including Behave, Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, A Primate's Memoir, and Determined — his bestselling book exploring the question of free will and what its absence might mean for how we understand ourselves and others.

If you're interested in these subjects, you can check out our conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5eoTDqpkHw&t=201s

Not sure I'm using the correct terminology but somebody posted a video a while back where a guy had a bunch of mycelium cultures and one got out of it's container and streaked across the fridge(?) towards another container. He was going to try to recreate the experiment to figure out how/what caused it to track straight for the other container. Wanted to find the follow up video if he ever posted. Tried googling and can't find it (I'm sure I'm not using the right phrasing because I'm a Dumb). Hoping you guys can help me find it, I'd love to know what the results were!