24 Biology Facts that Will Amaze You | Fact Retriever

Published May 1, 2025

Biology is a view into the complex and interconnectedness of life. From the microscopic to expansive biodiversity, biology gives us so much to explore. Whether you're a professional scientist or a just a curious reader, these interesting biology facts will deepen your appreciation for the world we live in.

There are an estimated 10 million different kinds of life forms on earth. While many are still undiscovered, a rich biodiversity is crucial for the health of our planet._[10]
About 95% of the cells that are in the human body are found in the digestive system and are bacteria._[10]
Humans have more than five senses. Some of the most important senses include vision, hearing, smell, taste, touch, balance, temperature, proprioception, and pain._[10]
Laughing when tickled is your brain's way of telling you that there is something crawling on you. The laugh is actually an expression of fear._[12]

Biodiversity is foundational to biology

Biology is the study of all life and living things. It is one of the divisions of the natural sciences, including physics, chemistry, Earth sciences, and astronomy._[10]
Girolamo Fracastoro (1478-15530, proposed a scientific germ theory of disease more than 300 years before Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch. Although Roman scholar Marcus Varro in the 1st century BC hypothesized that microorganisms may cause diseases, Fracastoro's was the first scientific statement._[4]
Scientists theorize that humans are not able to regrow limbs for several reasons: 1) humans have macrophages, which build scar tissue instead of limbs, 2) a gene called LIN 28a, which regenerates tissues is inactive in older mammals, and 3) humans have more complex bodies, so regrowing limbs is more difficult._[10]
In an incredible feat of biological processing, the human brain produces as much data in 30 seconds as the NASA Hubble Space telescope has produced in its entire lifetime._[10]

Biology is the most powerful technology ever created. DNA is software, protein are hardware, cells are factories

- Arvind Gupta

Some animals can detect magnetic fields. Magneto-reception allows animals to detect magnetic fields to determine location, altitude, and direction. These animals include bacteria, nematodes, birds, and some mammals._[10]
In the medical case study book Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine, there is the case of Edward Mordake, a man with supposedly two faces. Although it has made the rounds on social media as "weird biology," it is completely fabricated._[3]

Aristotle is considered the Father of Biology. He was one of the first people to study the natural world with systematic observations rather than connecting natural occurrences to divine interference

The 4th century Greek philosopher Aristotle is known as the Father of Biology. He was the first to systematically describe and classify the living the world, which laid the foundation for the modern branch of biological studies._[10]
A strange case of biology, sometimes a human corpse can become saponified, which is when the body undergoes a chemical reaction that turns body fat into adipocere. Adipocere feels like semi-hard cheese and has a soapy texture. The most famous instance of this happening is the "Soap Lady," 140 year old "mummy on display in Pennsylvania._[8]
Robert Hooke discovered the first cell in 1665 while examining a cork under a microscope, a discovery that revolutionized biology forever._[5]
In 1667, French physician Jean-Baptiste Denys performed the first fully documented human blood transfusion and a xenotransfusion between a boy and a sheep. Early scientists believed the qualities of animal, the purity of lamb, for example, could be transmitted to humans through blood._[10]
Dutch microscopist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) was the first person to observe bacteria and protozoa. His research disproved spontaneous generation and laid the foundations for bacteriology and protozoology._[1]
Famous biologists include Charles Darwin, Carl Linnaeus, Alexander Fleming, Robert Hooke, Jane Goodall, Louis Pasteur, Aristotle, and more._[10]

Biologists who have changed the world

The sloth has the world's slowest metabolism. It takes a sloth two weeks to digest one meal._[13]
English naturalist and botanist, John Ray (1627-1705) established the idea of species as the ultimate way to organize the world. He contributed significantly to taxonomy and biological classification._[6]
The lungs are the only organs that can float on water._[7]
A lobster's blood is colorless. However, when it is exposed to oxygen it turns to blue._[11]

The Anatomical Theater of Padua in Northern Italy is the first permanent anatomical theater in the world

Italian physician is known as Girolamo Fabrizio is known as the "Father of Embryology." He also designed the first permanent theater for public anatomical dissections._[4]
Mangos belong to the same family of poison ivy. Both plants product an irritating substance called urushiol._[9]
The tongue is the fastest healing part of the body._[2]
The most abundant molecule in the cell is water, accounting for 70% of total cell mass._[10]