We tend to keep away from midges and, even when in swarms, they tend to keep away from each other
We've all found ourselves trying to avoid the swarms of midges that are so common in late summer. But as you try to avoid them, what you may not know is that they are equally keen to avoid each other......»»
In defense of midges
As summer arrives, many people are escaping to the remote and tranquil corners of the UK for their holidays. However, in certain parts of the country, your peaceful retreat often comes with a familiar guest in the form of midges, tiny insects that ga.....»»
Hybrids between two species can produce “swarms” that flourish
Humans may be part of a hybrid swarm. And we’re making more of them. Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images) There are no wild ligers. Indeed, hybrids were once thought to be rare in nature—and of little conse.....»»
Scientists figure out why there are so many colorful birds in the tropics and how these colors spread over time
The color palette of the birds you see out your window depends on where you live. If you're far from the Equator, most birds tend to have drab colors, but the closer you are to the tropics, you'll probably see more and more colorful feathers......»»
Researchers identify multiple "forever chemical" contamination hot spots in US
Harmful chemicals that don't break down are present in public water systems nationwide, and West Virginia University economists have found that densely populated, higher-income areas and those that use groundwater tend to have the highest contaminati.....»»
Swarms of orbiting sensors could map an asteroid"s surface
It seems like every month a new story appears announcing the discovery of thousands of new asteroids. Tracking these small body objects from ground and even space-based telescopes helps follow their overall trajectory. But understanding what they're.....»»
Study finds early-onset El Niño means warmer winters in East Asia, and vice versa
The phenomenon known as El Niño can cause abnormal and extreme climate around the world due to it dramatically altering the normal flow of the atmosphere. In Japan, historical data has shown that El Niño years tend to lead to warmer winters. This c.....»»
Women are 14 times more likely to die in a climate disaster than men—just one way climate change is gendered
When we think of climate and environmental issues such as climate-linked disasters or biodiversity loss, we don't tend to think about gender. At first glance, it may seem irrelevant......»»
Female judges tend to hand down harsher sentences in cases involving sex offenses, finds study
The Cannes Film Festival began a few days ago with nine women accusing the French producer Alain Sarde of raping or sexually assaulting them when they were minors or young actresses. If it reaches the courts, the sentence in this case will depend on.....»»
An SEC mystery: What"s the deal with voluntary filers?
Companies tend not to clamor for more regulatory oversight, as a general rule. One remarkable exception would be the relatively small group of companies that voluntarily file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Although not required to.....»»
Places with more college graduates tend to foster better lifestyle habits overall, research finds
Having more education has long been linked to better individual health. But those benefits are also contagious, say the co-authors of a new working paper......»»
Looking for love: How we can fool ourselves when we are into someone
Can we truly assess whether someone finds us attractive? Cognitive psychologist Iliana Samara conducted her Ph.D. project on romantic attraction and discovered that men, in particular, tend to overestimate the interest of their date. She explains why.....»»
More than half of Americans give to charity at checkout, survey shows
Fifty-three percent of Americans give impulsively to charities at the checkout, and certain demographics tend to give more, according to a new survey conducted by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York......»»
People put greater trust in news that leads them to be more politically extreme, says study
People not only think political news is likelier to be true if it reinforces their ideological biases, but will tend to trust news more if it leads them to adopt more extreme (and even incorrect) beliefs, finds a new study by a UCL researcher......»»
Gone in a puff of smoke: 52,000 square kilometers of "long unburnt" Australian habitat has vanished in 40 years
Landscapes that have escaped fire for decades or centuries tend to harbor vital structures for wildlife, such as tree hollows and large logs. But these "long unburnt" habitats can be eliminated by a single blaze......»»
Uncertainty is the most common driver of noncompliance
Most compliance leaders tend to focus on building an ethical culture in their organizations to improve employee behavior, but it has a limited impact on addressing uncertainty about how to be compliant, according to a survey by Gartner. Three primary.....»»
Reptiles in South Africa are under threat, but there"s good news too
Media reports about the biodiversity crisis and what researchers have argued qualifies as a mass extinction event tend to focus on the big ecological effects. Melting ice sheets, severe weather events, droughts, habitat loss and wildfires dominate he.....»»
No two worms are alike: New study confirms that even the simplest marine organisms tend to be individualistic
Sport junkie or couch potato? Always on time or often late? The animal kingdom, too, is home to a range of personalities, each with its own lifestyle. In a study just released in the journal PLOS Biology, a team led by Sören Häfker and Kristin Tess.....»»
Characterizing social networks by the company they keep
People tend to connect with others who are like them. Alumni from the same alma mater are more likely to collaborate on a research project together, or individuals with the same political beliefs are more likely to join the same political parties, at.....»»
How do we help students from disadvantaged backgrounds feel confident about school?
Research shows that students who are confident about their ability to succeed at school tend to be more academically successful......»»
Proteins let cells remember how well their last division went
Scientists find a "mitotic stopwatch" that lets individual cells remember something. Enlarge (credit: Martin Barraud) When we talk about memories in biology, we tend to focus on the brain and the storage of information i.....»»