Hydrocarbon afterglow reveals reproductive cheaters
An 'honest indicator' has been discovered by a scientific team at Arizona State University that reveals reproductive cheating. But before you run out to buy an infidelity identification kit, know that it only works for ants. view more (2009-01-12)
Herbivory discovered in a spider
There are approximately 40,000 species of spiders in the world, all of which have been thought to be strict predators that feed on insects or other animals. Now, scientists have found that a small Central American jumping spider has a uniquely different diet: the species Bagheera kiplingi feeds predominantly on plant food. view more (2009-10-13)
Ants, not evil spirits, create devil's gardens in the Amazon rainforest, study finds
For the first time, scientists have identified an ant species that produces its own natural herbicide to poison unwanted plants. view more (2005-09-22)
Scientists find new clues to explain Amazonian biodiversity
Ice age climate change and ancient flooding-but not barriers created by rivers-may have promoted the evolution of new insect species in the Amazon region of South America, a new study suggests. view more (2008-07-23)
Genes and nutrition influence caste in unusual species of harvester ant
Researchers trying to determine whether nature or nurture determines an ant's status in the colony have found a surprising answer. view more (2008-08-19)
When cave crickets go out for dinner, they really go, researchers say
Cave crickets travel farther from their homes to forage - by about double - than their previously reported range, researchers have discovered. view more (2005-09-08)
Nature offers guidance on organising dynamic networks
Today, for many, computer networks are an indispensable infrastructure that interconnects people, places and organisations. But increasingly they are beginning to creak as their complexity grows. Biological systems through years of evolution can offer clues on how to cope, as a research project has demonstrated. view more (2006-05-30)
Chickadee, nutchatch presence in conifers increases tree growth, says CU-Boulder study
Chickadees, nuthatches and warblers foraging their way through forests have been shown to spur the growth of pine trees in the West by as much as one-third, according to a new University of Colorado at Boulder study. view more (2007-08-02)
A question of height
Intelligent countryside management could improve the survival chances of animal and plant species threatened by climate change. view more (2009-07-06)
Parasitoid turns its host into a bodyguard
There are many examples of parasites that induce spectacular changes in the behaviour of their host. Flukes, for example, are thought to induce ants, their intermediate host, to move up onto blades of grass during the night and early morning. view more (2008-06-04)
Feeling itchy?
Just when you thought it was safe to go to bed, the bed-bug is returning to UK cities. Many urban infesting organisms are in decline. Worryingly, the bed-bug is bucking this trend. One London borough has seen infestations increase nearly ten-fold in the last ten years. Bed-bugs are not known to spread any diseases, but their bites are a severe... view more... (2004-04-02)
Some like it hot: Worms at deep-sea vents favor a fiery 45-55°C
Scientists have found that worms dwelling at deep-sea hydrothermal vents opt for temperatures of 45-55 degrees Celsius (113-131 degrees Fahrenheit) when given a choice of conditions, giving them the highest thermal preference of any animal studied to date. view more (2006-04-14)
New genetic analysis forces re-draw of insect family tree
The family tree covering almost half the animal species on the planet has been re-drawn following a genetic analysis which has revealed new relationships between four major groups of insects. view more (2006-10-27)
Grizzly bears feast on diverse diet
There's no such thing as picky grizzly bears—they'll eat almost anything they can find. A new University of Alberta study that tracked food habits of the Alberta grizzly bear living in the foothills sheds some light on the animal's varied diet and their activity pattern. view more (2007-02-15)
MIT reveals the tangle under turbulence
Picture the flow of water over a rock. At very low speeds, the water looks like a smooth sheet skimming the rock's surface. As the water rushes faster, the flow turns into turbulent, roiling whitewater that can overturn your raft. view more (2007-03-29)
For horned lizard, horns alone do not make the species
How do you recognize a new species? A thorough study of the million-year evolution of California's horned lizards, sometimes referred to as "horny toads," shows that when it comes to distinguishing such recently diverged species, the most powerful method integrates genetic, anatomical and ecological information. view more (2009-07-22)
Bizarre bug wears host's skin
Oxford scientists have discovered a particularly macabre method one parasite (Strepsiptera) has for disguising itself in its insect host: it wraps itself in a piece of the host's own body tissue. In this way the strepsipteran masquerades as 'self', and is protected from the insect's immune system. The mechanism whereby Strepsiptera flourish... view more... (2003-06-03)
How does one sex grow larger than the other?
Why are males larger than females in some animal species (such as most mammals), females larger than males in others (such as most insects), and why are the sexes alike in yet other species (such as several birds)? view more (2007-01-30)
Homebound termites answer 150-year-old evolution question
Staying at home may have given the very first termite youngsters the best opportunity to rule the colony when their parents were killed by their neighbors. view more (2009-10-06)
UU Research Pushing Back the Frontiers of Space
Cutting edge research at the University of Ulster into how to make complex computers and communications systems manage themselves could power the next generation of US space probes, it was revealed today. view more (2004-12-01)
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