Egyptian fruit bat pups steer echolocation beams from day zero
A trio of researchers with Tel Aviv University's School of Zoology has found that newly born Egyptian fruit bats are capable of steering echolocation beams. In their paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Grace Smarsh, Yif.....»»
How astronomers are using pulsars to observe evidence of dark matter
Tantalizing evidence of potential dark matter objects has been detected with the help of the universe's "timekeepers." These pulsars—neutron stars which rotate and emit lighthouse-like beams of radio waves that rapidly sweep through space—were us.....»»
How to Avoid Petrochemical Products
It’s well known that petrochemicals are toxic to our health. Here’s how to steer clear of these by-products of the fossil-fuel industry......»»
Study reveals impact of postharvest treatments on tomato ripening
Tomato fruit ripening, a process initiated by key gene demethylation, is significantly influenced by postharvest handling practices. These practices, while extending shelf life, can alter ripening dynamics and affect fruit quality......»»
Genomic data integration improves prediction accuracy of apple fruit traits
Over the past few decades, the world has witnessed tremendous progress in the tools used for genomic analysis. While it's usually more common to associate these tools with the fields of biology and medicine, they have proven to be very valuable in ag.....»»
Study demonstrates how a simple metric could steer global economy towards halting and reversing biodiversity loss
Businesses are keenly aware that consumers value ethical business practices, including the protection of biodiversity, and many have committed to biodiversity conservation. A road block, however, turns out to be the large variety of ways that have be.....»»
Virtual flying lessons for Hera asteroid mission
As ESA's Hera spacecraft for planetary defense goes through pre-flight testing, the system that will steer it around its target binary asteroid system is also undergoing its final checks for space......»»
"Sour" grapes: Berry damage, fruit flies worsen wine
Damaged grape berries combined with vinegar flies are a recipe for promoting sour rot, a disease that lowers vineyard yields and wine quality, according to a Cornell study reporting on field experiments in New York state......»»
Nanoscale engineering brings light-twisting materials to more extreme settings
Imaging the hot turbulence of aircraft propulsion systems may now be possible with sturdy sheets of composite materials that twist light beams, according to research led by the University of Michigan and Air Force Research Laboratory......»»
"Extraordinary" 4,000-year-old Egyptian skull may show signs of attempts to treat cancer
From ancient texts we know that—for their times—the ancient Egyptians were exceptionally skilled at medicine. For example, they could identify, describe, and treat diseases and traumatic injuries, build protheses, and put in dental fillings. Othe.....»»
Scientists pit primates against smaller-brained mammals to find out who is the smartest forager
Primates, including humans, have larger brains than most other mammals, but why? Scientists searching for the answer have long followed a trail pointing to diet—specifically fruit—as the reason for why primates evolved larger brains......»»
Sweet secrets of the bayberry: Genetic insights set to transform fruit quality
The Chinese bayberry, Myrica rubra, is a subtropical fruit highly valued for its distinctive flavor, nutritional benefits, and economic importance. However, previous genome assemblies lacked sequence continuity, hindering comprehensive genetic studie.....»»
WTF Is With the Pink Pineapples at the Grocery Store?!
Using DNA from tangerines and tobacco, food scientists have made a familiar fruit tastier—and more Instagrammable—than ever. We looked into pink pineapples so you don’t have to......»»
Black holes are firing beams of particles, changing targets over time
Black holes seem to provide endless fascination to astronomers. This is at least partly due to the extreme physics that takes place in and around them, but sometimes, it might harken back to cultural touchpoints that made them interested in astronomy.....»»
Chocolate made with fewer calories, less waste
“Whole fruit chocolate” uses cocoa pulp and inner shell in lieu of sugar. Enlarge (credit: YelenaYemchuk) Commercialization has not dealt kindly with the Mayan Food of the Gods. Modern chocolate products are filled w.....»»
Strange fruit: How Billie Holiday"s performance of the anti-lynching song politicized Black consciousness
Billie Holiday's recording of the anti-lynching song "Strange Fruit" has stirred and haunted generations of listeners. A new article in the Journal of African American History, titled "Professional Mourning: Billie Holiday's 'Strange Fruit' and the R.....»»
Astronomers observe jet reorientation in "Death Star" black holes
Huge black holes are firing powerful beams of particles into space—and then changing their aim to fire at new targets. This discovery, made using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) National Radio Astrono.....»»
AI model accurately predicts male fruit flies" courtship behavior in response to sight of a female
We've been told, "The eyes are the window to the soul." Well, windows work two ways. Our eyes are also our windows to the world. What we see and how we see it help determine how we move through the world. In other words, our vision helps guide our ac.....»»
Chocolate that harnesses the full potential of the cocoa fruit
Researchers at ETH Zurich have teamed up with the food industry to produce a whole-fruit variety of chocolate. This helps increase the value creation of cocoa farming—and is healthier......»»
Peach perfection: Advanced gene networks reveal fruit traits
A study has tapped into the peach genome, creating large-scale gene co-expression networks (GCNs) that predict gene functions and streamline the peach breeding process. This innovative approach addresses the complex task of identifying genes linked t.....»»
Melon flavor decoded: The genetic keys to aromatic diversity
Melon aroma greatly influences consumer preference and fruit quality. Climacteric melons produce more esters, while non-climacteric melons have more aldehydes. Understanding these genetic differences is crucial for breeding better melons. Although ge.....»»