Female toxin-producing newts are surprisingly more poisonous than males
Tetrodotoxin, the neurotoxin that makes a blue-ringed octopus deadly, also protects Taricha newts—but we don't understand how they produce it, or what purposes it serves for them......»»
Chemists devise easier new method for making a common type of building block for drugs
Ring-shaped chemical structures called saturated heterocycles are found in most FDA-approved drugs but are often difficult to create. Scripps Research chemists have just developed a surprisingly easy method for making many of these sought-after compo.....»»
Physicists solve puzzle about ancient galaxy found by Webb telescope
Last September, the James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST, discovered JWST-ER1g, a massive ancient galaxy that formed when the universe was just a quarter of its current age. Surprisingly, an Einstein ring is associated with this galaxy. That's because.....»»
Female zebra finches seek mate who sings one song just right
Humans aren't the only living beings who find a singing voice attractive in the opposite sex—songbirds do too. For about a third of the approximately 4,000 songbird species that sing only one song, the features that make these tunes alluring to a p.....»»
Oxidant pollutant ozone removes mating barriers between fly species, study finds
Insect pheromones are odor molecules used for chemical communication within a species. Sex pheromones play a crucial role in the mating of many insects. Species-specific odors attract males and females of the same species. At the same time, they main.....»»
Seismologists suspect earthquake on San Andreas Fault is imminent despite odd attenuation parameters
A trio of seismologists affiliated with Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley reports that a part of the San Andreas Fault, at Parkfield, is not producing signals tha.....»»
Humans shape the journey of mud, study reveals
Mud can be surprisingly clear. A global team of scientists has uncovered a hidden truth: Human actions are shaping the journey of mud. Over the course of decades, our activities have wielded significant influence over the movement and dispersion of m.....»»
Surprising role of female sex pheromone in crop pest points to new biocontrol possibilities
INRAE researchers have discovered that female pheromones play a remarkable role in the African cotton moth. In general, these pheromones trigger mate attraction, promoting encounters between males and females during reproductive periods. Astonishingl.....»»
Kamikaze bacteria explode into bursts of lethal toxins
If you make a big enough toxin, it's difficult to get it out of the cells. Enlarge / The plague bacteria, Yersina pestis, is a close relative of the toxin-producing species studied here. (credit: Callista Images) Life-fo.....»»
Do opponents" race, gender, and party impact US congressional fundraising?
Donations for a political candidate can be motivated by support for that candidate or by opposition to the candidate's opponent. New research published in Social Science Quarterly found that female Democrats and non-white male Democrats in the United.....»»
Roc the Eclipse Festival is Totally Cool
Dan Schneiderman has been the producer of The Maker Faire Rochester for many years. He worked with Make during covid producing virtual fairs, and then he joined the Rochester Museum and Science Center in New York to develop programming to engage the.....»»
Two sex pheromone receptors for sexual communication found in the American cockroach
Sex pheromones are vital in facilitating the chemical communication that underpins insect courtship and mating behavior. Among female American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana), two key volatile sex pheromone components, periplanone-A (PA) and peri.....»»
Tesla hikes discounts as EVs pile up
Tesla is offering deals after producing 46,561 more vehicles than it delivered in the first quarter, adding more cars to inventory than ever before......»»
Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop is a great mobile version of a classic series
Apple Arcade subscribers are getting a new Puyo Puyo game today, and it's a surprisingly rich puzzle collection......»»
Fungal resources: Eleven new species of Trichoderma from China
Trichoderma spp. are globally distributed and are considered significant fungal resources. They are widely studied and applied due to their economic and ecological importance, offering numerous benefits, such as producing enzymes and antibiotics, aid.....»»
Pokémon Sleep April Fools’ Day joke is surprisingly funny
You've got to check out this hilarious April Fools' Day Pokémon Sleep joke from The Pokémon Company......»»
The Gambia may allow female genital mutilation again, another sign of a global trend eroding women"s rights
The Gambia's ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) since 2015 is under threat. Proposed changes before parliament could permit medicalized female genital cutting and allow it for consenting adults......»»
Supergene research solves the mystery of tiny ant queens
An ant colony is sustained through complex social dynamics, with each member—the queen, males and workers (sterile females)—contributing to the greater community. Some species add complexity to this dynamic with the addition of rather small queen.....»»
Mercury could be the perfect destination for a solar sail
Solar sails rely upon pressure exerted by sunlight on large surfaces. Get the sail closer to the sun and, not surprisingly, efficiency increases. A proposed new mission called Mercury Scout aims to take advantage of this to explore Mercury. The missi.....»»
The best Game of Thrones seasons, ranked
Game of Thrones was once HBO's crowning jewel, producing eight seasons, each with several ups and downs, and some undeniably better than others......»»
Puerto Rico declares public health emergency as dengue cases rise
Cases so far are up 140 percent compared to this point last year. Female Aedes aegypti mosquito as she was in the process of obtaining a "blood meal." (credit: US Department of Health and Human Services) Puerto Rico has.....»»