Jasna Hodžić
Dr. Jasna Hodžić holds a Ph.D. in ecology and is a writer based out of the western United States. Prior to pursuing a doctorate, she worked as an accomplished and award-winning photojournalist. An expert in environmental ecology and science writing, she is particularly interested in science communication that bridges the knowledge gap between scientists and the public. You can find more of her writing and photography at www.jasnahodzic.blog.
One of the world’s most inbred animals lives in Death Valley
The dating pool is small — no pun intended.
Invasive plants are coming to a neighborhood near you
We want to fight invasive species. But to wage a war, you have to know who your enemy is.
Found: 439 million-year-old fossil is the oldest jawed ancestor of sharks
Tracing the origin and development of jaws — and other anatomical features that humans share — sheds some light on how we came to be.
Pando, the world’s largest organism, has stopped growing
Pando is a stand of aspen in Utah that is 14,000 years old and weighs 12 million pounds. Humans threaten to end its long reign.
Massive study of ancient DNA reveals hidden history of civilization and language
Advances in ancient DNA analysis gave researchers a new way to trace the movements of peoples across Eurasia.
How asteroids bombarded Earth and built the continents
Asteroid collisions aren't always bad.
The oldest relative of living animals is a jellyfish
The 557-million-year-old specimen challenges the theory that animal body plans were laid out in the Cambrian explosion.
Not just T. rex: Why do giant dinosaurs have tiny arms?
Predatory dinosaurs with big skulls tend to have tiny arms. Researchers propose there might be a direct link between those traits.
How a cold climate ushered in the reign of the dinosaurs
New research finds that dinosaurs were already adapted to living in cold climates before the end-Triassic mass extinction. But how?
New dating method shatters our understanding of human evolution
Fossils of Australopithecus in a South African cave are one million years older than previously thought. This challenges the consensus that humans first evolved in East Africa.
The marbled crayfish has been cloning itself for 30 years. Can it teach us about cancer?
All marbled crayfish descended from a single clone discovered in Heidelberg, Germany in 1995.
Yes, size does matter: Solving the mystery of giraffe neck evolution
It's not about leaves in tall trees.
Like birds and mammals, most dinosaurs were warm-blooded
The long-standing debate over whether dinosaurs were more like birds or lizards is drawing to a close.
Does your dog know when your cat is angry?
We already know animals feel emotions, and that they can understand humans' emotions. But can they understand each other's emotions?
Found: Largest known Native American cave art, hidden in plain sight
A recent advance in 3D imaging techniques helped spark the biggest ever discovery of North American cave art.
How climate shaped 2 million years of human evolution
The simulation gave researchers some of the first concrete data linking climate change to human evolution and speciation.
Your personality is linked to risk of dementia and cognitive decline
A study involving nearly 2,000 people found links between personality traits and the likelihood of moving toward or away from dementia.
The inner life of a lobster: Do invertebrates have emotions?
There is strong evidence that invertebrates are sentient beings.
Nature’s “zombies”: the disturbing science of neuroparasitology
An emerging field studies parasites that take over the nervous system of a host.
Hope for Bigfoot hunters: Hundreds of unknown mammal species may be hidden in plain sight
There may be thousands of undiscovered mammal species in the world. Most are small, like bats and rodents, but there could be primates, too. A lifeline for Bigfoot enthusiasts?
Homo sapiens is #9. Who were the eight other human species?
There were at least eight other human species, some of whom existed for far longer than we have. Who were they?
Biological Big Bang: How we solved Darwin’s dilemma
Scientists across a range of disciplines have helped solve Darwin's dilemma.
Chimpanzees understand the difference between malice and inability
Chimpanzees are able to consider the context of social interactions and can accept unfavorable outcomes — sometimes.
Cold water giants: Megalodon may have adapted its size to water temperature
The way that the ancient Megalodon adapted to water temperature has important implications for modern marine creatures.
Joro spider is a unique exception to a major threat
Can a non-native species be a friend instead of a foe?
Balkanatolia: Discovery of ancient continent resolves long-standing biological paradox
An ancient continent called Balkanatolia rose and fell in the area in and around what is now the eastern Mediterranean.