Hemp cannabinoids may have evolved to deter insect pests
Cannabinoids, naturally occurring compounds found in hemp plants, may have evolved to deter pests from chewing on them, according to experiments that showed higher cannabinoid concentrations in hemp leaves led to proportionately less damage from inse.....»»
Using spiders as environmentally-friendly pest control
Groups of spiders could be used as an environmentally-friendly way to protect crops against agricultural pests......»»
Newly identified tsetse fly pheromone may help in curbing disease spread
Yale scientists have for the first time identified a volatile pheromone emitted by the tsetse fly, a blood-sucking insect that spreads diseases in both humans and animals across much of sub-Saharan Africa. The discovery offers new insights into how t.....»»
Apple continues to evolve the hinge it may use on a folding iPhone
A newly-revealed patent application shows Apple has evolved its previous hinge designs, and is now describing foldable iPhone displays with far more intricate gearing.A potential iPhone fold using a hinged display mechanismWhen a folding iPhone, iPad.....»»
Modified CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system used to learn more about the evolution of giant viruses
A team of virologists at Aix–Marseille University, has found evidence that suggests the giant virus Pandoravirus neocaledonia evolved from smaller and simpler viruses. In their study, published in the journal Nature Communications, the group used a.....»»
Who are the first ancestors of present-day fish?
What is the origin of the ancestors of present-day fish? What species evolved from them? A 50-year-old scientific controversy revolved around the question of which group, the "bony-tongues" or the "eels", was the oldest......»»
Light pollution has cut humanity"s ancient connection with the stars—but we can restore it
Humans are naturally afraid of the dark. We sometimes imagine monsters under the bed and walk faster down unlit streets at night. To conquer our fears, we may leave a night light on to scare away the monsters and a light over the porch to deter break.....»»
Scientific highs and lows of cannabinoids
Hundreds of cannabis-related chemicals now exist, inspiring researchers—and users. Enlarge (credit: Olena Ruban via Getty Images) The 1960s was a big decade for cannabis: Images of flower power, the summer of love and.....»»
Study shows that eggshells of large, flightless birds evolved along different tracks
Molecular analysis of the eggshell structure of large flightless birds such as ostriches and emus provides new insights into how they evolved......»»
Almost all of Africa"s maize crop is at risk from devastating fall armyworm pest, study reveals
Almost all of Africa's maize crop is at risk from the devastating fall armyworm pest (Spodoptera frugiperda) according to new research published in the journal Frontiers in Insect Science......»»
Mini creatures with mighty voices know their audience and focus on a single frequency
In the cloud forests of South America, amid the constant cacophony of bird and insect noise, a deafening blare pierces through the background from time to time. Belonging to the loudest known bird, the white bellbird, Procnias albus, this sound would.....»»
Examining the chemicals involved in insect mating
It's almost Valentine's Day, and love is in the air. Or in the waxy coating on your skin, if you are a vinegar fly. That's where flies encounter pheromones that play an important role in regulating sexual attraction......»»
Honey bee colony loss in the US linked to mites, extreme weather, pesticides
About one-third of the food eaten by Americans comes from crops pollinated by honey bees, yet the insect is dying off at alarming rates. In one year alone, between April of 2019 and April of 2020, one study reported a 43% colony loss in honey bees ac.....»»
Earwigs are the hero single mothers of the insect world, and good for your garden too
You lift a stone and staring up at you is a little insect with its tail curled and pincers ready to inflict who knows what. Then you see its attendants—tiny white insects, huddled underneath. Should you drop the stone and quash them, or leave them.....»»
Body-worn cameras are supposed to deter police brutality. Why didn"t that happen in Memphis?
There is wide consensus about the need to equip police officers with body cameras. Beyond simply documenting officers' interactions with citizens, the technology can improve trust between the police and the communities they serve, a 2018 Northeastern.....»»
Rosy finches are Colorado"s high-alpine specialists, and researchers want to know why
Mountaineers who venture high into the Colorado Rockies have likely spotted medium-sized, brown-and-pink birds rummaging around on snow patches for insects and seeds. These high-elevation specialists are rosy finches, a type of bird that's evolved to.....»»
Weather radar, machine learning used to study how bird roosting habits are changing with climate
Birds including swallows and martins—known as aerial insectivores—control insect populations and insect-borne disease and provide hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of pest control for agriculture. But these feathered friends to humanity are.....»»
Hemp makes a comeback in the construction industry
A revival of hemp cultivation in Portugal has spurred the use of hemp blocks in construction......»»
Transforming chaos into manufacturable forms with 3D printing
The further out in time, the more unreliable a weather forecast. That's because small variations in initial weather conditions can completely change the entire system, making it unpredictable. Put another way, in the "butterfly effect," an insect can.....»»
Ascertaining the most effective silicon fertilization strategy to boost olive tree defenses
Despite not being an essential element for plant growth, silicon increases plants' tolerance of biotic stresses, such as pests and diseases; and abiotic ones, such as drought and salinity. The effects of this element, the second most abundant in the.....»»
New modeling shows how interrupted flows in Australia"s Murray River endanger frogs
Flooding in Australia's Murray-Darling Basin is creating ideal breeding conditions for many native species that have evolved to take advantage of temporary flood conditions......»»