Marlene Zuk, an evolutionary biologist and professor at the University of Minnesota, wants us to look closely at animals we often shun. In her book “Outsider Animals,” she explores what makes urban wildlife like rats and cockroaches more fascinating than frightening.

Cheese mold might seem mundane, but in a Vermont cave, it offers surprising lessons on evolution. As researchers examine how genes change within this unique environment, they uncover how even the most ordinary organisms can challenge our understanding of adaptation.