Of ants and trees: "Evolutionary déjà vu" in the tropical rainforest
Ants are famous for their regimented and complex social behaviors. In the tropics, they are also famous for forming mutualisms with plants. Certain species of trees have conspicuous hollow swellings that house ants, often feeding the ants with specia.....»»
New computer vision-based system monitors seasonal dynamics of tropical water
Understanding how water moves and changes around the world is more important than ever due to climate change, but monitoring inland water in the tropics is not easy. Most satellites are optical and simply take photos of surfaces. They cannot see thro.....»»
Tropical Storm Debby is expected to send flooding to the Southeast. Here"s how much rain could fall
Northern Florida, the coastal regions of Georgia and South Carolina and parts of North Carolina are bracing for severe rain and catastrophic flooding this week as the Debby storm system moves up and east......»»
Four killed after Storm Debby hits Florida coast
Tropical Storm Debby drenched Florida on Monday, killing at least four people and threatening southeastern US states with heavy rainfall and catastrophic flooding......»»
US braces for "catastrophic" flooding as Storm Debby drenches Florida
At least four people were killed as Tropical Storm Debby swept over Florida on Monday, threatening southeastern US states with record-breaking rainfall and potentially catastrophic flooding......»»
Tropical Storm Debby brings heavy rain, wind to Florida, Southeast auto dealers
Debby made landfall in Florida as a Category 1 hurricane early Aug. 5. It's expected to bring heavy rain, flooding and gusty winds to the Southeast through midweek......»»
Historic flooding possible as TS Debby bears down on southeastern US
Tropical rainfall and training bands: It's going to be a soggy mess. Enlarge / Satellite image of Tropical Storm Debby on Sunday morning. (credit: NOAA) As often happens during the month of July, the Atlantic tropics ent.....»»
Study analyzes potato-pathogen "arms race" after Irish potato famine
In an examination of the genetic material found in historic potato leaves, North Carolina State University researchers reveal more about the tit-for-tat evolutionary changes occurring in both potato plants and the pathogen that caused the 1840s Irish.....»»
Historic flooding possible as TS Debby bears down on southeastern United States
Tropical rainfall and training bands, it's going to be a soggy mess. Enlarge / Satellite image of Tropical Storm Debby on Sunday morning. (credit: NOAA) As often happens during the month of July, the Atlantic tropics ent.....»»
Colombia, Guatemala learn from each other in rainforest preservation
In the lush jungle of northern Guatemala—in the largest protected area in Central America—30 leaders from Colombia's Amazon basin region are swapping strategies with local ethnic Maya farmers on how to live off this dense forest without destroyin.....»»
The effects of whole genome duplication on the plant metabolome
Whole genome duplication (WGD) is a common mutation in plants with profound evolutionary potential. While it is well-known that an increase in genetic material can lead to larger cell sizes, the impact of gene dosage multiplication on the metabolome.....»»
White ants: The Earth"s backboneless backbone
The first thoughts that probably come to mind when you read the words "white ant" are images of house destruction, wood damage, pest control, and spending money! While white ants are in fact a major structural and agricultural pest, they are among th.....»»
Retreating Andean rocks signal the world"s glaciers are melting far faster than predicted, report scientists
Rocks recently exposed to the sky after being covered with prehistoric ice show that tropical glaciers have shrunk to their smallest size in more than 11,700 years, revealing the tropics have already warmed past limits last seen earlier in the Holoce.....»»
Conservationists need to pay more attention to "degraded" tropical forests
Conservationists have typically focused on pristine tropical rainforests, or those thought to have been relatively untouched by human disturbance......»»
How duplicated genomes helped grasses diversify and thrive
Grasses cover about 40% of the Earth's land surface, thriving in a multitude of environments. The evolutionary success of this plant family, which includes rice, maize, wheat and bamboo, likely results from a history of whole-genome duplications, acc.....»»
Mass extinction 66 million years ago triggered rapid evolution of bird genomes, study finds
Shortly after an asteroid slammed into Earth 66 million years ago, life for non-avian dinosaurs ended, but the evolutionary story for the early ancestors of birds began......»»
Scent research inspires bed bug trap
Scientists at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) spinout Arctech Innovation have used their in-depth knowledge of insects, chemistry and odor to develop a new trap for bed bugs......»»
Scientists discover entirely new wood type that could be highly efficient at carbon storage
Researchers undertaking an evolutionary survey of the microscopic structure of wood from some of the world's most iconic trees and shrubs have discovered an entirely new type of wood......»»
Stem cell harmony: How solanaceae plants maintain homeostasis through receptor compensation
A pivotal study sheds light on the evolutionary conservation of stem cell homeostasis in Solanaceae, revealing how receptor compensation mechanisms ensure the continuous and orderly formation of plant organs. This research uncovers the genetic interp.....»»
Researchers create a cell atlas of the regenerating liver
The liver has a remarkable ability to regenerate. This property is crucial for maintaining organ function and recovery after injury or surgery. Scientists from the University of Leipzig Medical Center, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthro.....»»
California a botanical and climate change hot spot
From coastal redwoods and Joshua trees to golden poppies and sagebrush, California is a global botanical hotspot. It's also a place confronted with extreme heat, wildfires and crumbling coastlines......»»