Firefly Tourism Can Put Insects in Peril
A new study shines light on how bug spray, flashlights, and foot traffic can spell disaster for the fragile creatures behind brilliant synchronous displays......»»
Calls for reform to manage potential risks of modern slavery in the UK"s hospitality industry
The UK's tourism and hospitality industries, having a high concentration of migrant workers, face complex challenges in managing the risks of labor exploitation and modern slavery—according to a study from the University of Surrey......»»
Facing illegal wildlife trade in the European union: A call for comprehensive measures
Wildlife trade affects all kinds of species, from insects and fungi to large plants and mammals. The global trade of numerous species poses a significant threat to their survival, increasing their risk of extinction......»»
Transcription factors that regulate development of light organs and bioluminescence in firefly identified
Two bio-researchers, one with Huazhong Agricultural University, the other the Firefly Conservation Research Center, both in China, have identified the key transcription factors that regulate the development of light organs and bioluminescence in the.....»»
Horizontal gene transfer: How fungi improve their ability to infect insects
Researchers at the Kiel Evolution Center have investigated for the first time in detail how a fungus important for biological plant protection can pass on an advantageous chromosome horizontally, using a previously little-studied way of exchanging ge.....»»
TikTok fate remains in peril as House panel votes to advance ban bill
The idea of outright banning TikTok in the United States has been debated in Washington for several years now. The possibility is all the more likely today as lawmakers in the House of Representatives have voted to advance a TikTok ban bill. mor.....»»
Researchers reveal how a virus hijacks insect sperm: May help control disease vectors and pests
A widespread bacteria called Wolbachia and a virus that it carries can cause sterility in male insects by hijacking their sperm, preventing them from fertilizing eggs of females that do not have the same combination of bacteria and virus......»»
How insects tell different sugars apart
Whereas humans have one receptor on their tongues that can detect all sorts of sweet things, from real sugar to artificial sweeteners like aspartame, insects have many receptors that each detect specific types of sugars. Yale researchers have now unc.....»»
How did evolution produce a firefly?
A new study looks at the development of a firefly's light-emitting organs. Enlarge (credit: Xinhua Fu) On one level, we have fireflies figured out. We know the enzyme they use to make light (called luciferase), as well a.....»»
Cutting-edge tracking technology proves Australian whale shark tourism leads the world
Using technology akin to a "fitbit" for sharks, a team of researchers has tagged and tracked whale sharks to study the effects of tourism at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia for the first time. In a resounding endorsement of local tourism practices.....»»
With an aging population, "silver tourism" an avenue for industry growth
There is a significant opportunity to take advantage of the untapped market of "silver tourism," paving the way to not only grow the economy but also offer an ever-increasing aging population the opportunity to maintain quality of life......»»
Ecologist cautions researchers to look more closely at apparent mismatches between birds and their prey
Climate change may speed up the emergence of insects in northern countries at the end of winter. This may cause breeding birds migrating from the south to come too late to benefit from the insect peak if they do not adjust their travel schedules to t.....»»
New study shows similarities and differences in human and insect vision formation
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have discovered profound similarities and surprising differences between humans and insects in the production of the critical light-absorbing molecule of the retina, 11-cis-retinal, also known as th.....»»
Car fumes, weeds pose double whammy for fire-loving native plants
Springtime brings native wildflowers to bloom in the Santa Monica Mountains, northwest of Los Angeles. These beauties provide food for insects, maintain healthy soil and filter water seeping into the ground—in addition to offering breathtaking disp.....»»
Imperfect mimicry in spiders and insects mainly shaped by adaptive processes rather than constraints, finds study
Two natural scientists at Macquarie University, working with an evolutionary specialist at the University of New South Wales, all in Australia, have found that imperfect mimicry in spiders and insects is likely mainly shaped by adaptive processes rat.....»»
Pesticides to help protect seeds can adversely affect earthworms" health
While pesticides protect crops from hungry animals, pesky insects, or even microbial infections, they also impact other vital organisms, including bees and earthworms. Now, research published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters reveals that.....»»
Column: What"s behind the feud between Stellantis and Italy
The furor seems to have calmed for now. But it is a reminder that automakers poke at government policy at their own peril – and vice versa......»»
How air pollution harms pollination
Pollination, the transfer of pollen grains from the male to the female organs, is an essential part of reproduction for the majority of plants. For many of these plants, this transfer is carried out by insects in search of food—this is known as ins.....»»
Virgin Galactic grounds space tourism flight after piece of ship accidentally detaches
Virgin Galactic has grounded its current space tourism flight after a small part of its mothership unintentionally detached, the company announced Monday......»»
The surprising reason insects circle lights at night: They lose track of the sky
It's an observation as old as humans gathering around campfires: Light at night can draw an erratically circling crowd of insects. In art, music and literature, this spectacle is an enduring metaphor for dangerous but irresistible attractions. And wa.....»»
Silent fields: A cocktail of pesticides is stunting bumblebee colonies across Europe
The European Parliament voted against a proposal to curb the use of agricultural pesticides in November 2023. These chemicals, designed to protect crop yield from pest insects and other organisms, can contaminate the water and air and threaten the pe.....»»