Rubber tree plant leaves found to grow slippery to ward off insects as plant ages
A team of researchers at the University of Freiburg, has found that at least one kind of plant has leaves that grow slippery as it ages in an apparent attempt to ward off leaf-eating insects. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open.....»»
Autumn leaves are staying green for longer in Britain. Here"s why
Every year people ask me, "why haven't the leaves fallen yet?" If autumn starts on September 1, then by early November winter should be well on its way. And yet, an amateur photographer who has captured the season's colors for several years in southe.....»»
From pets to pests: Researchers explore new tool to fight disease-carrying insects
Arkansas researchers are testing a product commonly used to treat ticks and fleas on pets to target fly and mosquito larvae with the goal of helping reduce the spread of diseases carried by these insects......»»
Archaeologists find ancient cheese makers used tree leaves to boost milk production
A study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution sheds light on the innovative practices of Central Europe's early cheese makers......»»
Building a diverse wildland fire workforce to meet future challenges
Every year around this time, California's wildland firefighters hold their breath as hot, dry winds threaten to spread flames across the state. As such conflagrations grow in size and severity throughout the Western U.S., the strain on fire managers.....»»
Cacti are surprisingly fragile, and five other intriguing facts about these spiky wonders
Few plant families are as iconic as the resilient, spiky cactus, thriving in the driest deserts and as well as decorating our offices and homes. Their success in both environments comes down to extreme adaptations for surviving with little water—wh.....»»
Researchers identify two primary tree movement patterns that help them survive high winds and prevent damage
Destructive winds during storms and cyclones often cause tree failures, especially through uprooting and stem breakage. However, how trees respond to wind under various forest configurations and weather conditions remains unclear......»»
Plant roots key to water movement and wetland restoration
A new study has revealed the critical role of plant roots in enhancing water movement through wetland soils, offering valuable insights for ecosystem restoration and water management in coastal and saline wetlands in Western Australia......»»
Bees help tackle elephant-human conflict in Kenya
"We used to hate elephants a lot," Kenyan farmer Charity Mwangome says, pausing from her work under the shade of a baobab tree......»»
3D leaf edge reconstruction method enhances plant morphology analysis
Leaves, essential for photosynthesis and other physiological functions, exhibit diverse shapes that help plants adapt to their environments. Traditional methods for measuring leaf morphology have relied heavily on 2D imaging, which fails to capture t.....»»
Smart surveillance system improves tomato plant monitoring with high-speed disease detection, fruit counting
Tomatoes are a critical source of nutrients and remain one of the most widely cultivated fruits globally. However, intensive greenhouse practices increase susceptibility to diseases, which can reduce yields by up to 30% and degrade fruit quality......»»
All upcoming Xbox Series X games: 2024, 2025, and beyond
The Xbox Series X game library is set to grow a lot in 2024 and beyond. Here's every game you have to look forward to......»»
Retirees should invest bolder as they grow older, study suggests
Retirement is a longed-for milestone in most workers' lives, but the transition requires a delicate financial balance. Retirees must anticipate life expectancy, inflation, recurring expenses and more as they manage their investments to ensure their l.....»»
Secondhand EVs will flood the market in 2026, JD Power says
Used EV supply is set to grow by 230% as 215,000 cars come off lease. If you've been wanting an electric car but everything seems too expensive, there's some good news on the.....»»
Scientists reveal strigolactone perception mechanism and role in tillering responses to nitrogen
"How is plant growth controlled?" and "What is the basis of variation in stress tolerance in plants?" were among the 125 most challenging scientific questions, according to the journal Science in 2016......»»
Earliest evidence of Ephedra use found in 15,000-year-old Moroccan burial
An international group of researchers led by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria have uncovered the earliest evidence of Ephedra use from the charred remains of the plant in a 15,000-year-old human burial site in northeastern Morocco......»»
Australian dragon study reveals surprising link between motor systems control and sleep rhythms
Sleep is one of the most mysterious, yet ubiquitous components of our biology. It has been described in all major groups of animals, including worms, jellyfish, insects or cephalopods, and in all vertebrates, from fish to humans. Common characteristi.....»»
Biologists discover how plants evolved multiple ways to override genetic instructions
Biologists at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered the origin of a curious duplication that gives plants multiple ways to override instructions that are coded into their DNA. This research could help scientists exploit a plant's existin.....»»
Lab-cultured plant yogurt rivals dairy creaminess
Food engineers have harnessed the power of lupins (legumes) to create a yogurt that rivals dairy in taste and texture while delivering more nutrition than typical plant-based yogurts......»»
Vampire bats" metabolism mirrors that of blood-sucking insects, biologists find
A pair of biologists at the University of Toronto has found that vampire bats are able to burn amino acids as a fuel source similarly to blood-sucking insects. In their study published in the journal Biology Letters, Giulia Rossi and Kenneth Welch co.....»»
Are these tiny insects the world"s laziest bugs?
At less than 3mm long, you may not think Dunatothrips aneurae seem like much. And—as I have shown in a new study published in the Journal of Animal Ecology—you'd be absolutely right. That's because these may be the world's laziest insects......»»