Animals self-medicate with plants—a behavior people have observed and emulated for millennia
When a wild orangutan in Sumatra recently suffered a facial wound, apparently after fighting with another male, he did something that caught the attention of the scientists observing him......»»
Opinion: Animal welfare labels are a hollow money-maker for supermarkets
The 200-year-old Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the oldest such charity in the world, is under fire for endorsing welfare standards on RSPCA Assured farms investigated by Animal Rising activists. More than 40 of these farms,.....»»
Blooming through adversity: Roses" genetic defense against salinity stress
A cutting-edge study illuminates the intricate mechanisms of rose plants' resistance to salt stress, a critical issue for global agriculture. The research identifies the phenylpropane pathway, especially flavonoids, as key to this tolerance, offering.....»»
How a biocatalyst might boost the growth of microalgae
Living organisms consist to a large extent of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) compounds. These have to be taken in with food or, in the case of plants, produced through photosynthesis......»»
Inspired by nature: Synthetic nightshade molecule effective against leukemia cells
Nightshade plants produce a diverse array of compounds with therapeutic potential. Researchers at CeMM have now identified an artificial variant inspired by the Withanolides group that acts highly specifically against leukemia cells......»»
The joy of inflicting pain leads to increased prosocial behavior, study finds
Oh, the joy of inflicting pain upon others. The Germans have a word for it: "schadenfreude," meaning "malicious pleasure." And tapping into its sentiment properly can, ironically, do a lot of good by raising money for charity......»»
Festivals can be a powerful force for sustainable lifestyle changes, new research shows
Festivals and mass gatherings can empower and inspire people making lifestyle changes for a sustainable future, according to new research from a vegan festival which suggests the power of these collective experiences may have been underestimated......»»
Lifesaving and life-changing: The kindness shown to forced migrants during their journeys
Forced migrant survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) have experienced acts of everyday and extraordinary kindness from people they met throughout their journeys, a new study reveals......»»
New tomato, potato family tree shows that fruit color and size evolved together
Fruits of Solanum plants, a group in the nightshade family, are incredibly diverse, ranging from sizable red tomatoes and purple eggplants to the poisonous green berries on potato plants. A new and improved family tree of this group, produced by an i.....»»
Study shows rising temperatures affect air quality over Los Angeles
Particulate matter and ozone are a major problem for people and the environment. Dr. Eva Pfannerstill, young investigator group leader at Jülich's Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK 8), is investigating where the volatile organic compound.....»»
New survey reveals how many people consider CarPlay a must-have in a new car
I’ve written a lot about CarPlay over the years, including questioning GM’s decision to abandon CarPlay on all of its EVs. Now, a new survey has details on just how important CarPlay is for people shopping for a new car, with a third of consumers.....»»
Behavioral and computational study shows that social preferences can be inferred from decision speed alone
Researchers led by Sophie Bavard at the University of Hamburg, Germany, found that people can infer hidden social preferences by observing how fast others make social decisions......»»
Study finds plants store carbon for shorter periods than thought
The carbon stored globally by plants is shorter-lived and more vulnerable to climate change than previously thought, according to a new study......»»
Wild chimpanzees seek out medicinal plants to treat illness and injuries, study finds
Chimpanzees appear to consume plants with medicinal properties to treat their ailments, according to a study published on June 20 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Elodie Freymann from the University of Oxford, UK, and colleagues......»»
Only 1 in 3 people enjoy talking about politics—researchers say the reasons are more social than political
One of the cornerstones of liberal democracies is the political debate on how to shape society. However, discussions about politics often lead to frustration or result in a long-term strain on social relationships......»»
Saudi hajj pilgrims" deaths highlight how extreme heat kills
More than 1,000 people have died at this year's hajj pilgrimage in extreme heat in Saudi Arabia, an AFP tally showed on Thursday......»»
Researchers discover Raja Ampat"s reef manta rays prefer staying close to home—which could help save more of them
The reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi) is a tough swimmer. They can travel hundreds of kilometers to feed themselves. The longest recorded movement for an individual reef manta ray was 1,150km, observed in eastern Australia......»»
New species of Callicarpa discovered in Hunan, China
Callicarpa L. (Lamiaceae) consists of 140 species that are trees or shrubs, and there are about 53 species in China, mainly distributed south of the Yangtze River. Some plants of Callicarpa are used as traditional medicine in China. In addition, they.....»»
Researchers reveal effects of climate change on above- and belowground biomass distribution on Tibetan plateau
Global warming has significantly altered plant growth patterns on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) over the past three decades. Plants adjust their growth trajectories in response to climate change, prioritizing leaf and stem growth or root extension to bett.....»»
Amid scorching heat, 900 people died in Saudi Arabia—climate change has made the Hajj pilgrimage more risky
Each year, millions of Muslims from across the world embark on the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The mass migration is unparalleled in scale, and pilgrims face numerous health hazards......»»
Unlocking the tea leaf"s secret: Decoding the amino acid blueprint of tea plant
Amino acids are vital for plant growth and significantly influence tea flavor and health benefits. Tea plants, particularly Camellia sinensis, exhibit unique amino acid profiles that contribute to their distinctive taste and nutritional value......»»