Mary Bates Author Profile | The Scientist Magazine®

Mary Bates | Mar 1, 2023 | 4 min read

Recording the pH within decaying organs for the first time, researchers come closer to understanding why some soft tissues are more likely to be preserved as fossils than others.

Male common fruit fly (Drosophila Melanogaster) - about 2 mm long - sitting on a blade of grass with green foliage background

The Sex Appeal of Symmetric Songs

Mary Bates | Aug 1, 2022 | 5 min read

Female fruit flies assess the physical symmetry of male suitors through the songs they sing, a study claims.

Dwarf Mongooses Shun Bullies to Manage Conflict: Study

Mary Bates | Apr 4, 2022 | 5 min read

These social animals keep tabs on aggressive members of the group and groom them less after fights to punish them.

Saving the Hellbender, a Giant Salamander Under Threat

Mary Bates | Sep 1, 2019 | 4 min read

Populations of the two-foot-long amphibians are declining across North America. Scientists are struggling to find out why, before it’s too late.

Meet the Arachnid That May Add a New Chapter to the Book on Sensory Biology

Mary Bates | Dec 1, 2017 | 4 min read

The whip spider senses the world in weird and wonderful ways.

These Flies Hijack Frogs’ Love Calls

Mary Bates | Nov 1, 2017 | 5 min read

The phenomenon is one of the few examples of eavesdropping across the vertebrate/invertebrate barrier.

The Caterpillar that Cries Wolf

Mary Bates | Sep 22, 2017 | 3 min read

In a case of acoustic deception, caterpillars mimic bird alarm calls to defend themselves.

Jaws, Reconsidered

Mary Bates | Mar 1, 2014 | 3 min read

Biologist Jelle Atema is putting the sensory capabilities of sharks to the test—and finding that the truth is more fascinating than fiction.

Feeding Frenzy

Mary Bates | Feb 28, 2014 | 1 min read

Take a peek into the shark tank where Boston University biologist Jelle Atema is testing how well the fish actually smell.