Ever heard of phthalates? They're a class of chemicals used to soften plastics found in everything from household containers to medical supplies, and to stabilize colors and fragrances in cosmetics like lipstick and perfume.

It's melanin Monday (not a real thing — but it should be), time to brush up on your knowledge of all things pigment-related! People with fair skin and rosy locks get their distinctive looks from mutations in the gene that codes for melanocortin 1 receptor, a protein that aids in the synthesis of the pigment melanin;…

The story begins with an insurrection, and ends with infanticide. A male gelada monkey, unsatisfied with his social standing, challenges the authority of a superior gelada. The payoff: a so-called "reproductive unit," comprising a dozen females, that will mate with him and him alone. If the usurper is victorious, he will …

Atrazine is an herbicide marketed by agribusiness company Syngenta. It has been shown to "chemically castrate" frogs, turning males into females that are capable of rearing offspring; it is associated with birth defects, low birth weights, and menstrual problems in humans; and its use has been outright banned by the…

Here's more evidence from the front lines of science that you can't have your cake and eat it, too. A recently published study out of Stirling University shows that women who are on the pill when they meet their partners are less likely to be satisfied with sexual aspects of their relationship, but more satisfied with…

Does not wanting a baby make you less feminine? Or does being less feminine (be it in the way you look, or in your hormone levels) make you less likely to want children?

A medical researcher has discovered that a mutant gene once believed to cause cancerous tumors is actually the perfect weapon to stop them. Weirdly, it's possible that benign tumors may be the key to stopping cancer.