Collaborate Disseminate
Tiny aerial drones have many potential uses, but their ability to navigate is severely limited by their minuscule amount of onboard processing power. Scientists have now set about addressing that limitation, taking a cue from foraging insects such as a… Continue reading Record-setting drone utilizes ant-inspired smarts to make its way home
This enormous and important part of the animal kingdom may not be most people’s favorite, but insects are a diverse, resilient and ancient bunch that date back almost 400 million years. But because of their size, many of us don’t really get a chance to… Continue reading Otherworldly: Incredible images from the insect photography awards
In a world first, scientists have discovered that painted lady butterflies (Vanessa cardui) have used favorable winds and a strategy of active flying and autopilot to fly across the world without stops, covering at least 4,200 km (2,600 miles). They be… Continue reading Butterfly takes epic 2,600-mile transatlantic flight, stuns scientists
Regardless of what you may think of insects – if you even think about them at all – they make up around 90% of animal species on the planet and without them we’d see the collapse of ocean and land ecosystems that could ultimately lead to the end of all… Continue reading The sky-high mountain superhighway used by billions of tiny travelers
When it comes to protein sources that are more eco-friendly than traditional livestock, two of the most promising candidates are insects and microalgae. Scientists have now devised a method of using waste from the former as food for the latter.Continue… Continue reading Protein-rich microalgae is cooked up by some unlikely wild chefs
Inspired by a carnivorous plant, scientists have created a sticky spray that could kill pest insects as effectively as traditional toxic pesticides. And what’s more, it’s derived from plain ol’ vegetable oil.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: Wagen… Continue reading Sundew-inspired spray may turn crop plants into pest-catchers
A newly discovered ant has been aptly named after the creepiest of all Harry Potter villains, Lord Voldemort. Like the lord, the ant is pale, slender, and it lives in the dark – unlike Mr. Voldemort, however, the ant did not give young Harry his lightn… Continue reading Freaky ‘Leptanilla voldemort’ ant earns its name in the darkness
Would you want to eat this beetle? Probably not, as it appears to be covered in fungus. That “fungus” is actually hair, however, which the recently discovered insect may use to put off would-be predators.Continue ReadingCategory: Biology, ScienceTags: … Continue reading Freaky-looking new longhaired beetle owns its fungal flair
We humans like to think we’re so clever, but in many cases nature has beaten us to the punch with a better version. The newest example comes from a humble insect that’s probably in your own backyard, which makes nanoscale soccer balls that hide it from… Continue reading Common bug’s tiny, complex balls bestow UV-blocking superpowers
It’s a question we’ve all wondered at some point in our lives: why do insects spend their evenings swarming around and bopping into artificial lights? Scientists have now come up with an answer using high-speed cameras and motion capture tech to map ou… Continue reading Insects aren’t attracted to lights at all – they just get vertigo