Zombie-ant fungi and hadrosaur bubs: The 2023 image competition winners

They’re not always beautiful, but the wonders of the natural world provide a rich pool of material for researchers to flex their hands with the more creative side of scientific fieldwork.Continue ReadingCategory: Photography, TechnologyTags: Evolution,… Continue reading Zombie-ant fungi and hadrosaur bubs: The 2023 image competition winners

Ivry-B is claimed to be world’s first round and transparent beehive

There are already ant farms that let people watch ants, and even a sealed termite colony for folks who prefer something a little different. Now there’s the round, transparent Ivry-B beehive, that allows users to engage in some quality bee-watching.Cont… Continue reading Ivry-B is claimed to be world’s first round and transparent beehive

Natural sugar induces “honeybee syndrome” in cancer to boost chemotherapy

Scientists have discovered that a common natural sugar could play a role in boosting cancer treatments like chemotherapy. Mannose was found to be able to invoke “honeybee syndrome” in cancer cells to slow their growth and make them more vulnerable to a… Continue reading Natural sugar induces “honeybee syndrome” in cancer to boost chemotherapy

Insects pollinated the first flower 140M years ago, and it wasn’t a bee

If evolutionary biologists are the detectives of the natural world’s past mysteries, then the phylogenic tree is their version of a cork board of crime-scene suspects linked together with red string and thumbtacks.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, Sci… Continue reading Insects pollinated the first flower 140M years ago, and it wasn’t a bee

Scientists name the top plants for bumblebee-friendly gardens

A study of nearly 23,000 interactions between different species of bumblebees and flowers has determined what these environmentally important fuzzy buzzers like to dine on. The information will help professional and amateur conservationists cater to th… Continue reading Scientists name the top plants for bumblebee-friendly gardens

Look out, bees, these creatures of the night are super spreaders

The crucial role bees play in sustaining life on Earth is well understood, but there are some other animals doing more than their share of heavy lifting when it comes to pollinating plant life and propping up natural resources we rely on.Continue Readi… Continue reading Look out, bees, these creatures of the night are super spreaders

Honeybee hive debris provides snapshots of urban microbiomes

Researchers have enlisted a new kind of helper to monitor the microbiomes of cities around the world: the honeybee. A recently published analysis shows that the debris which gathers at the bottom of their hives can reveal a great deal about what’s goin… Continue reading Honeybee hive debris provides snapshots of urban microbiomes

Robotic beehive provides vital life support to chilly honeybees

While honeybees are famously difficult to study, altering natural behaviors if any outside influences are sensed, they’re also incredibly susceptible to colony collapse due to the cold. If hive temperatures drop below 50 °F (10 °C), the bees cease buzz… Continue reading Robotic beehive provides vital life support to chilly honeybees

Plant discovery could lead to wider use of bee-friendly pesticides

It’s a sad fact that even though bees are essential to pollinating crops, they’re also harmed by the pesticides used on those very same plants. Thanks to a new discovery, however, a bee-friendly pesticide could soon be cheaper and easier to produce.Con… Continue reading Plant discovery could lead to wider use of bee-friendly pesticides