Traditional college algebra courses focus almost exclusively on power functions such as y = x[superscript 2] and y = x[superscript 3] rather than the more general y = x[superscript p]. However, it is the more general form that is the basis of the mathematical models that arise throughout the natural sciences in a host of unexpected and highly interesting, applications. This article demonstrates a variety of applications drawn from biology and other areas that lead to power functions and some of the kinds of questions that can truly motivate students to find value in the mathematics they are learning. For instance: Why can't a turkey fly? How much did a pterodactyl weigh? How many different species can the island of Puerto Rico support? How large does an island have to be to have 100 species inhabit it? How does the size of an organism relate to how fast it can run? Or swim? Or fly?