Scientists have studied puddle frogs to identify genetic variation hotspots and places where the climate crisis could wipe out populations too homogenous to adapt. Even widespread species could be genomically vulnerable to the climate crisis, scientists warn. By studying the DNA of puddle frogs living in central African rainforests, the scientists found that areas of … Read more
A distinctive plant that steals nutrients from underground fungi has been identified as a new species by botanists from the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), working alongside local naturalists and stakeholders. The findings were recently published in the journal PhytoKeys. Discovery and classification Discovered in the tropical rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia, the plant, named Thismia … Read more
They say that one can miss the forest for the trees. But it’s often worth taking a closer look at the trees to make sense of the dense, brambly whole. That’s what a Stanford University group did to tackle a thorny quantum-information problem in diamond. A star material for hosting quantum information, diamond nevertheless presents … Read more
A new study from Tel Aviv University identified the earliest appearance worldwide of special stone tools, used 400,000 years ago to process fallow deer. The tools, called Quina scrapers (after the site in France where they were first discovered), were unearthed at the prehistoric sites of Jaljulia and Qesem Cave. They are characterized by a … Read more
Researchers at UC Riverside have unveiled a groundbreaking approach to controlling termite infestations that is both highly effective and environmentally friendly. This new method leverages a naturally occurring chemical to lure termites to their demise, offering a promising alternative to traditional pest control strategies. The research, published in the Journal of Economic Entomology, centers around … Read more
Plants and the animals that eat them have evolved together in fascinating ways, creating a dynamic interplay of survival strategies. Many plants have developed physical and chemical defenses to fend off herbivores. A well-known strategy in flowering plants is to produce nectar to attract “ant bodyguards.” Recent research explores the evolution of this same defense … Read more
A team of evolutionary biologists at Harvard University, in collaboration with researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, East Carolina University, Osaka University, and the University of Toronto, has successfully reconstructed the genome of an extinct flightless bird known as the little bush moa. This significant breakthrough, published in the journal Science Advances, … Read more
Scattered across the Penobscot Experimental Forest are veritable treasure troves for its denizens, each containing riches beyond comprehension. These caches do not contain gold or jewels—they’re filled with eastern white pine seeds and were placed by a team of researchers at the University of Maine for one purpose: to catch furry thieves red-handed. Brigit Humphreys, … Read more
Insects and microorganisms that feed on plants, cut up leaves, modify leaf tissue or produce leaf spots and other kinds of damage, are usually known as pests and considered harmful, yet interactions between plants and their natural enemies are important sources of biodiversity. In tropical forests, for example, these “pests” are part of large ecological … Read more
Plant anatomy is the study of plant structure at cellular and tissue levels. Plant tissues, such as meristematic, dermal, ground, and vascular tissues, each perform distinct functions crucial for plant growth, support, and survival. Meristematic tissue drives growth, while dermal tissue protects against environmental stresses. Ground tissue aids in photosynthesis and storage, while vascular tissue … Read more
Botany, the scientific study of plants, encompasses a vast array of topics ranging from plant structure and function to their evolutionary history, ecological interactions, and economic importance. Plants are essential for life on Earth, serving as the primary producers in ecosystems, providing oxygen, food, shelter, and numerous other resources for humans and other organisms. The … Read more
Researchers have taken a big step towards making high-fidelity 3D mapping from the air more accessible with the development of a compact and lightweight single-photon lidar system. This innovation paves the way for wider use of the technology in drones, satellites, and other airborne platforms for applications like environmental monitoring, creating precise terrain maps, and … Read more
What can be done when one threatened animal kills another? Scientists studying critically endangered lemurs in Madagascar confronted this difficult reality when they witnessed attacks on lemurs by another vulnerable species, a carnivore called a fosa. This dynamic can be particularly complex when the predation occurs in an isolated or poor-quality habitat, according to research … Read more
Dinosaurs get all the glory. But aetosaurs, a heavily armored cousin of modern crocodiles, ruled the world before dinosaurs did. These tanks of the Triassic came in a variety of shapes and sizes before going extinct around 200 million years ago. Today, their fossils are found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. Scientists use … Read more
History enthusiasts from the Wendrusz Historical and Exploration Society made a remarkable discovery in the Borki forest district of Masuria, northern Poland. While searching for relics from World War II, they unearthed a trove of artifacts hinting at a much older settlement. The society, based in Węgorzewo Land, announced their findings on social media. Conducted … Read more
Increasing shade cover over coffee plants can increase biodiversity and provide new ways to combine agriculture and conservation, a new study has revealed. Coffee grown in high shade, with more than 30% canopy cover, provides a home to more plant and animal species than coffee grown in the sun or on low shade farms with … Read more
When it comes to nurturing their young, mother chimpanzees go the extra mile, according to a new study. Using 10 years of observational data on wild chimpanzees, researchers found that while adults often play, and young chimps play a lot, when food gets scarce, the adults put mutual play aside and focus on survival. But … Read more
A new study led by palaeontologists at the University of Southampton suggests that bones found on the Isle of Wight belong to two new species of spinosaurid, a group of predatory theropod dinosaurs closely related to the giant Spinosaurus. Their unusual, crocodile-like skulls helped the group expand their diets, allowing them hunt prey on both … Read more
A large find of dinosaur tracks and fossilized plants and tree stumps in far northwestern Alaska provides new information about the climate and movement of animals near the time when they began traveling between the Asian and North American continents roughly 100 million years ago. The findings by an international team of scientists led by … Read more
The archeology team at the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (Iphan) in Tocantins recently concluded the identification and cataloging of another 16 archaeological sites in the Jalapão region, situated to the east of Tocantins. These newly discovered sites enrich the area with panels adorned with pre-colonial rock art, believed to have been created by … Read more