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.....»»
Butterflies and dodos hold clues to protecting biodiversity
Although too late for the famed flightless bird, new scientific findings on the winged insects could help preserve animal species......»»
Neuroptera: Greater insect diversity in the Cretaceous period
Human activity is currently driving a loss of natural diversity that some experts describe as the sixth major mass extinction event in the history of the Earth. The decline in insects is particularly alarming: Insects are not just a highly diverse gr.....»»
What New Evidence from the Wuhan Market Tells Us about COVID"s Origins
Recently released data from samples of the COVID-causing virus SARS-CoV-2 at the market where many early cases of the disease occurred suggest animals were present but stop short of proving that they were infected and transmitted the virus to humans.....»»
Chitin from consuming insects can help both gut microbiota and global health
Chitin (kai'tin) and healthy fats from insects appear to contribute to healthy gut microbiota and are strong sources of protein and nutrients, according to a paper co-authored by a Colorado State University researcher and published in Nature Food......»»
Researchers describe sea-level rise in southwest Greenland as a contributor to Viking abandonment
Vikings occupied Greenland from roughly 985 to 1450, farming and building communities before abandoning their settlements and mysteriously vanishing. Why they disappeared has long been a puzzle, but a new paper from the Harvard University Department.....»»
Study determines criteria for differentiating a pollinating insect from a presumed pollinator in the fossil record
Insect pollination is a decisive process for the survival and evolution of angiosperm (flowering) plants and, to a lesser extent, gymnosperms (without visible flower or fruit). There is a growing interest in studies on the origins of the relationship.....»»
Spain vows to block farming near threatened wetlands
Spain has vowed to block a regional plan to legalize farming near one of Europe's largest and fauna-rich wetlands, where water supplies have plunged due to climate change and agriculture......»»
Astronomers peer inside the "Dragon Cloud"
How did the most massive stars form? Astronomers have debated their origins for decades. One of the biggest problems facing these theories is the lack of observations. Massive stars are relatively rare, and so it's hard to catch them in the act of fo.....»»
Study offers a radical way to think about agriculture and its potential benefits for farming
On November 15, 2022, the 8 billionth person on the planet was born. With concerns about food security on the rise, experts are asking: How will we feed everyone? Climate change, natural resource depletion, soil erosion, and fossil fuel use in farmin.....»»
Here’s why Clayface should be the main villain in The Batman Part II
With his horror movie origins and unique power set, Clayface would make for an ideal villain in Matt Reeves' upcoming sequel The Batman Part II......»»
Growing rice and raising animals together creates a synergistic ecosystem, but is underutilized
A traditional Southeast Asian rice farming technique of raising fish and other aquatic livestock in paddies has potential to meet global food demands, improve the health of both people and the environment and earn producers an additional $150 billion.....»»
Counting male chickens before they hatch means good news for ethical farming
By identifying the gender of chicks in their eggs, technologies could help prevent the killing of millions of the birds every year......»»
Study shows dramatic insect decline is also occurring in forests
The number of insects has been declining for years. This has already been well documented for agricultural areas. In forests, however, temporal trends are mostly studied for insect species that are considered pests......»»
Science News Briefs from around the World: March 2023
A linguistic puzzle, ancient DNA, the origins of bipedalism, and much more in this month’s Quick Hits.....»»
Apple TV+’s Tetris shows movies about video games are the next big thing
With Apple TV+'s Tetris, movies about video games, from Farmville's origins to the 16-bit console wars of the 1990s, could be the next big thing......»»
As glaciers retreat, new streams for salmon
Insects move in, alders and willows spring up, and spawning fish arrive in thousands. Enlarge / Wolf Point Creek is likely the most-well-studied glacier-fed stream in the world. (credit: Elizabeth via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)).....»»
Study investigates effects of isoeugenol on fish
Isoeugenol is a fragrance contained in plants that is very commonly used as an anesthetic in fish farming facilities and aquaculture. A research team at the Department of Animal Physiology at the University of Bayreuth has now investigated the mode o.....»»
Insects have more complex immune systems than previously thought
Humans and other vertebrates (like mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians) have complex, multi-faceted immune systems that protect us from a constant barrage of bugs and other nasties. But what about insects and other invertebrates?.....»»
An archaeological rediscovery offers clues about distant human past
In their recent publication in the Journal of Human Evolution, UConn Department of Anthropology Professor Christian Tryon and Shara Bailey, Director of the Center for the Study of Human Origins at New York University, detail new findings about 40,000.....»»
An epigenetic fingerprint as proof of origin for chicken, shrimp and salmon
Free-range organic chicken or factory farming? Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have developed a new detection method that can reveal such differences in husbandry. The so-called epigenetic method is based on the analysis of the.....»»