Ask a Biologist

Ask a Biologist (AAB) is a site you should visit if you have any burning questions about biology. I have supported such sites for many years, originally as part of MadSci.org, but I am pleased to now give my time to AAB. Of course, biological sciences covers a huge range of disciplines, and as such the scientists who volunteer their time and experience to answer your questions provide expertise from a broad range of backgrounds, from medical sciences, microbiology, molecular biology, to ecology, marine biology, palaeontology and several specialist areas of zoology.

Ever wondered whether bacteria think?
Why a compost heap gives off steam?
Have you taken a picture of an insect you would like to have identified?
Are you confused about what evolution is all about?
Want to know how to become a biologist?

These questions, and many more, are typical of those we get asked. Often you will receive more than one answer to a particular question, especially if it is a complex question. This reflects the nature of science and the perspectives that different scientists can bring to a solve a problem. If there is no clear answer to your question, perhaps because the answer is not yet known, then we will point this out, and provide an answer based on our informed opinion.

When you arrive at AAB, you can search the site with your question to find out whether it has been asked, and answered, before. If not, then ask away and a biologist will get back to you very soon. One note however, we don’t do student’s homework assignments, and we’re pretty good at spotting homework questions, being teachers, lecturers and life-long students ourselves. If you have been told to go and research something, then asking a professional biologist for the answer really doesn’t count as research; it is in the process of finding things out that we learn more about a subject.