The Box Jellyfish or Sea Wasp (Chironex fleckeri) is perhaps the world’s most venomous creature. The name is derived from Chiron—the...

Many drugs and medicines obtained from nature are medical miracles. The number of plant species on the planet is around 400,000, but only...

Hidden in the darkest crevices lurks a creature capable of delivering a lethal sting—the scorpion. All scorpions are venomous, but only...

Poisons in nature are part of the natural defense of an organism, whether it is a plant or an animal---these toxins act as protection...

Strangling vines, poisonous plants, and soaring birds inhabit the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. And the best way to see it...

During the Hellenistic period (323-31 BC), the lethal characteristics of the plant poison hemlock were well known and used as a means of...

Why do pathologists see food in their work? Terms like sugar icing spleen (a thickened and whitish splenic capsule), nutmeg liver...

Like miniature snow globes, small white berries hang in the balance. Mistletoe, evergreen trees, and poinsettias abound as decorations...

A silent killer lurks within the house. During the winter months, frequent storms cause downed power lines while high snows present...

Now that we’re spending more time indoors as the weather grows cold, our houseplants become a focus of our attention. One of my favorites...

Did you ever wonder what poison the Evil Queen added to the apple she gave to Snow White? “When she breaks the tender peel, to taste the...

Fall in New England brings us crops of Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria). A medium to large mushroom with a cap that varies from red to...

I know what it’s like to have breast cancer. My laboratory receives specimens every day from women who have undergone a biopsy for a...

A Boston physician becomes an assassin for the U.S. government in these medical suspense thrillers by an award-winning pathologist....

Sunny days in the fall showcase beautiful blooms. This purple flower is Aconitum also known as Monkshood or Wolfsbane. Aconite was...