The origins of farming insects
A beetle bores a tree trunk to build a gallery in the wood in order to protect its lay. As it digs the tunnel, it spreads ambrosia fungal spores that will feed the larvae. When these bore another tree, the adult beetles will be the transmission vecto.....»»
European immigrants introduced farming to prehistoric North Africa, new research shows
The Neolithic age—when agriculture and animal farming were adopted—has become one of the most widely studied periods of social and economic transition in recent years. It was a period that drove great change in the evolution of human society......»»
The improbable origins of life on Earth
We do not yet know how, where, or why life first appeared on our planet. Part of the difficulty is that "life" has no strict, universally agreed-upon definition......»»
Study predicts best times for Curiosity to sample Mars" methane
Since methane was first detected in Mars' atmosphere 20 years ago, scientists have struggled to uncover its origins and how it is transported around the Red Planet. Measurements from atmospheric samples collected by NASA's Curiosity rover at Gale cra.....»»
The first flowers evolved before bees—so how did they become so dazzling?
Colorful flowers, and the insects and birds that fly among their dazzling displays, are a joy of nature. But how did early relationships between flower color and animal pollinators emerge?.....»»
Chemists use blockchain to simulate more than 4 billion chemical reactions essential to origins of life
Cryptocurrency is usually "mined" through the blockchain by asking a computer to perform a complicated mathematical problem in exchange for tokens of cryptocurrency. But in research appearing in the journal Chem a team of chemists has repurposed this.....»»
Tiny water-walking bugs provide scientists with insights on how microplastics are pushed underwater
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that can cause big problems when they enter the water supply. One way my fluid dynamics lab explores microplastic movement is by studying how tiny water-walking insects are pushed underwater by raindrops......»»
Seaweed is a billion-euro industry in Europe, but inclusive, sustainable transition approaches are marginalized
Interest in the seaweed industry is growing rapidly across Europe, and seaweed farming is viewed as a forerunner of a sustainability transition with widespread local benefits. However, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland questions if t.....»»
WheatNet: Precision farming with advanced spike detection across maturity stages
In the quest for precision farming, accurately detecting wheat spikes through phenotyping is critical, with deep learning models emerging as a promising tool......»»
Hot springs were a catalyst for origins of life on Earth, study claims
Hot springs may have served as a catalyst for the origins of life on Earth billions of years ago, a new study has suggested. The … The post Hot springs were a catalyst for origins of life on Earth, study claims appeared first on BGR......»»
Copepods—tiny creatures that can help reduce the need for soya imports
In the sea, fish feed on species lower in the food chain. Can these same species form the basis of a new feed industry supplying the fish farming sector?.....»»
Discoveries gleaned from ancient human DNA
Four research articles published in Nature follow the genetic traces and geographical origins of human diseases far back in time. The analyses provide detailed pictures of prehistoric human diversity and migration, while proposing an explanation for.....»»
Are bugs bugging humans or the other way around? Study reveals a few surprises
Insects and spiders often receive little attention from people, except when we're swatting them away. However, as arthropods—creatures distinguished by a hard exoskeleton and jointed legs— they play an essential role in sustaining the ecosystems.....»»
Saturday Citations: The Dark Energy Survey; the origins of colorblindness; the evolution of heads
The Dark Energy Survey took an entire decade to produce a value for the cosmological constant—and it's smaller than you might think! There were other stories as well, including one about primeval black holes, and because I am inescapably drawn by t.....»»
Ancient DNA Reveals Origins of Multiple Sclerosis in Europe
A huge cache of ancient genomes spanning tens of thousands of years reveals the roots of traits in modern Europeans.....»»
Study uncovers potential origins of life in ancient hot springs
Newcastle University research turns to ancient hot springs to explore the origins of life on Earth......»»
European insects spread across the world. Was it because settlers carried plants?
Insects are among the most prolific and successful invaders of new habitats, but not all regions are equal in the numbers of insects that have spread beyond their borders......»»
"Stellar paternity tests" match orphaned stars to their Milky Way origins
In the chaotic environment of open star clusters, strong gravitational interactions between bodies can launch individual stars far outside the cluster, even outside our galaxy, the Milky Way. Now, for the first time researchers have mapped several of.....»»
Quantum mechanics model unveils hidden patterns in stock markets
A new study published in Financial Innovation has developed a novel quantum model for stock market fluctuations that incorporates economic uncertainty and herding behavior. The study aims to provide a deeper understanding of the origins and implicati.....»»
Unexpectedly massive black holes dominate small galaxies in the distant universe
Astronomers have discovered that the supermassive black holes in the centers of early galaxies are much more massive than expected. These surprisingly hefty black holes offer new insights into the origins of all supermassive black holes, as well as t.....»»
Report highlights farmers" concerns about cultured meat
While some U.K. farmers see the advances in the development of cultured, or cell-based meat, as potential competition to traditional meat production, others from the farming community have suggested it could create a premium for pasture-reared meat......»»