Jesslyn Shields
Jesslyn Shields is a freelance science writer working out of Athens, Georgia. She writes about brand new research for HowStuffWorks. Since 2010, Jesslyn's written science news and content for educational videos, because she loves to always have something new to yammer on about at parties. You can find her online at www.jesslynshields.com
RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS
Geckos have abilities that definitely take lizardhood up a notch.
Tarantulas are the largest spiders in the world and, believe it or not, some can live for up to 30 years.
The island of Ilha da Queimada Grande off the coast of Brazil is home to an estimated 2,000 to 4,000 venomous snakes, which translates to about one snake every 3 feet. Watch where you step.
While plant and animal cells are strikingly similar, the main difference between them is that plant cells are able to create their own food and animal cells cannot.
Cell division can be confusing, but it's not as difficult if you pretend chromosomes are sentences.
Orphaned Bornean orangutans need all the help they can get — the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation steps in to teach them the art of survival.
Clearing land with goats rather than machinery is eco-friendly, effective and adorable.
Arguably the most charming rodent in the world, the capybara is also the largest.
The parrots of the Telegraph Hill neighborhood of San Francisco are legendary, but how did they get there?
Ninety percent of brown recluse bites don't have any effect at all — but the mythology around these creatures and their bites is legendary.
These adorable little rodents are popular as pets, but they require some special care.
Is the "banana spider" you're looking at the one that sits around harmlessly catching flies, or could its bite kill a small child? If we rely solely on common names, this question is complicated.
Alpacas are highly intelligent and they're not pets. They require a lot of research and specialized knowledge if you plan to bring a few home.
Is that a dolphin pancreas? Some extremely firm manatee vomit? Nope, it's sea pork!
Because most of what we know about honey badgers comes from a three-minute comedy video, there are a lot of misconceptions about these wily weasels.
The biggest land-dwelling arthropod can crack into everything from coconuts to carcasses, but they're also really vulnerable.
In her legendary 60-year career, Jane Goodall has made being an intrepid scientist, environmentalist, writer and teacher look easy.
The Mushroom Burial Suit is designed to give our dead bodies new life by breaking them down and nourishing the soil.
Rabbits sure are cute – they're smart, curious and crafty, but they definitely need some special care.
St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow is an architectural oddball, but travel company RealRussia decided to imagine what it would look like in seven more conventional architectural styles.
