Butterflies use electrostatic force to pollinate
Two biologists showed that butterflies and moths generate enough electrostatic charge to attract pollen grains from nearby flowers, but they…
Category: Ecology
Viruses keep acid-loving microbes in check
Researchers found viruses infect bacteria and other microorganisms in acid mine drainage and may control microbial diversity in these…
Why do furry animals do the “wet dog shake?”
Researchers found mice have special neurons that sense disturbances to their fur, causing them to shake and groom themselves when wet.
When did the Galápagos tortoises become giant?
Researchers analyzed new fossils from Ecuador that suggested the ancestors of Galápagos giant tortoises inhabited northern South America…
How will the melting Greenland Ice Sheet affect ocean currents?
Researchers found the melting Greenland Ice Sheet is releasing tons of icebergs into the North Atlantic Ocean that could further disrupt…
Fruit flies use diverse senses to sniff out their surroundings
Scientists found cosmopolitan fruit flies have different genes for smelling and tasting that help them adapt to diverse habitats.
Fig trees interbreed more at their climate extremes
Scientists tracked how fig trees interbreed and swap DNA across different climatic zones to determine where new species might arise.
A trilobite’s last supper
Paleontologists described a trilobite fossil preserved in 3D with its gut contents intact.
Researchers created hybrid monkeys from stem cells
Scientists in China made live monkey hybrids using cells from embryos, to help them study how animals heal and reproduce.
Scientists described a couch potato cave salamander called the olm
Researchers tracked a species of large cave salamanders for several years to see how they survived their low-energy surroundings. It turns…