A recent study combining climate data with fossil records of large mammals in Africa found that times of erratic climate change do not lead to major evolutionary changes. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that environmental variability and species turnover may not be closely related.
Researchers aim to replicate buzz pollination using microrobots to understand its importance in agriculture and conservation. The project could lead to stronger motivation for conserving diverse bee species and optimizing fruit and vegetable yields.
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have developed a sustainable, pollen-based 'paper' that can be printed on and reused multiple times. The paper's non-toxic properties make it an attractive alternative to conventional wood-based paper, which has a significant environmental impact.
Researchers analyzed two peat cores to discover that higher concentrations of charcoal occurred between 9,000 to 4,000 years ago due to larger forest fires. Mangrove pollen found in the earlier period indicates rising sea levels and increased salt, contributing to dry conditions suitable for massive forest fires.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham identified a new gene, Highlander, that regulates self-incompatibility in plants. The discovery opens up new avenues for improving crop yields and resistance to disease.
A study published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry found that pesticide levels are low in nectar and pollen collected by honey bees in urban and suburban areas across the US. Chemical analyses detected 17 pesticides in nectar and 60 in pollen samples, with 73% of all samples containing no detectable pesticide residues.
Scientists have discovered the orf137 gene responsible for male sterility in tomato plants, enabling the development of an efficient F1 hybrid breeding system. The study also demonstrates targeted mutagenesis and homologous recombination mechanisms underlying this trait.
Researchers found that soybean plants adjacent to pollinator habitats produce larger seeds due to increased bee visitation. The presence of pollinators also influences the bee communities in soybean fields, with bees leaving for outside flowers less likely.
A new study from the University of Georgia reveals that pollen begins expressing its own genome at a specific point in its life cycle. This discovery has significant implications for plant breeding, as it allows researchers to predict how plant species adapt to environmental changes and potentially speed up crop development.
A new study found that Australian bushfires are linked to British colonisation and climate change, with forests becoming denser and more flammable due to the increase in woody biomass. Indigenous burning practices ceased after colonial settlement, leading to an increase in shrub cover and unprecedented wildfires.
A new study analyzing pollen samples from 19 modern-day European countries reveals the Black Death's mortality varied widely across Europe. While some areas suffered devastating impacts, others experienced no significant loss of life.
Researchers discover unique bat-pollination system in Fiji's kuluva trees, highlighting co-dependence between species and urgent conservation needs. The novel chiropteropisteusis system sheds light on the evolution of flowering plants and threatens tree and bat species.
A diverse pollen diet and varied landscape contribute to better colony growth and more offspring for young queens. This diversity also reduces the negative effects of infestation with parasitic wax moth larvae.
Researchers at USTC reconstructed precipitation patterns in East Asian monsoon region during the Holocene and proposed a driving mechanism. The study suggests that low-latitude seasonal insolation changes, modulated by Western Pacific Subtropical High, control monsoon precipitation variation.
A new study analyzing microfossils in European glaciers reveals earlier-than-expected evidence of air pollution and the roots of modern invasive species problems. The analysis provides non-stop context for major historical events like droughts or famines, helping scientists better understand current climate change.
Airborne pollen concentrations in Betula microphylla-dominated wetland of Ebinur Lake, Xinjiang, are influenced by meteorological factors such as temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and direction. The study found that airborne pollen composition corresponds to local vegetation and reflects long-distance transported pollen taxa.
Ancestral puebloans in Chaco Canyon thrived for over a millennium through indigenous agriculture and water irrigation, but their activities led to environmental degradation. The researchers found significant changes in the local woodlands beginning around 600 B.C., contributing to severe erosion and cropland deterioration.
Researchers created a paper-like material that folds itself into new shapes in response to environmental humidity, with potential applications in self-folding envelopes and boxes. The material's ability to morph on demand could lead to the development of autonomous origami robots and other complex shapes.
Researchers from Göttingen and Hohenheim found hand pollination used worldwide for 20 crops, including apples and vanillas. The method can reduce losses and improve crop quality, but also brings challenges due to labor intensity and cost.
Researchers developed a pollen-based hybrid ink that can be used to fabricate parts useful for tissue engineering, toxicity testing and drug delivery. The ink is biocompatible, flexible and low in cost, allowing for the creation of customized flexible membranes tailored to human skin contours.
The University of Exeter has developed a virtual safe space tool called BEE-STEWARD to test different land management techniques for bumblebee survival. The tool provides a computer simulation of bumblebee colony survival in a given landscape, allowing researchers and farmers to predict the impact of their decisions.
Researchers found that semi-natural habitat patches complement existing flower strips in protecting pollinators, attracting a greater number of species and providing year-round flowers. These small structures, such as hedgerows and overgrown fences, offer potential retreats and nesting sites for overwintering bumblebees.
Certain floral bacteria can induce pollen germination, allowing them to access nutrients. This discovery could have implications for the biology of pollen digestion and its impact on pollinators.
Two new articles explore the spatially variable exhumation of the central Appalachian Mountains and constraints on the paleoelevation history of Colombia's Eastern Cordillera. The studies use thermochronology and palynological records to reconstruct ancient tectonic events.
A study finds that tree pollen can transport COVID-19 virus particles longer distances and increase the risk of infection in crowded environments. Researchers used a computational model to simulate how pollen affects airborne virus transmission.
Researchers discovered that sweat bees use patterns in the canopy overhead to navigate, finding their way home even in extremely low light conditions. This unique navigation system has implications for military applications, such as navigation for drones.
A new plant species has been found to deceive pollinators by emitting a scent that mimics decomposing insects. The flower of Aristolochia microstoma traps 'coffin flies' in its chamber, allowing them to deposit pollen before escaping unharmed.
Researchers analyzed global pollen data to study the global rate of change in vegetation, finding a worldwide acceleration in compositional change between 4.6 and 2.9 thousand years ago. Human influence on terrestrial ecosystems exceeds climate-driven transformation during this period.
A global survey of fossil pollen reveals Earth's plant communities are changing at least as quickly today as they did when the last ice sheets retreated around 10,000 years ago. Human influence on ecosystems began with early civilizations and agriculture, deforestation, and urbanization.
Researchers found that plants on the opposite side of a road received significantly less pollen than those on the same side, with effects varying by road size and bee species. The study suggests modifying existing pedestrian overpasses to include planter boxes could help facilitate pollinator movement.
A recent study published in Science found that human activities have significantly altered biodiversity on 27 islands across different regions over the past 5,000 years. The researchers discovered a marked acceleration of species composition changes after human colonization, particularly on islands settled within the last 1,500 years.
A new study found that Amazonian depopulation and forest regrowth began centuries before European arrival, rejecting the hypothesis of widespread reforestation contributing to reduced atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Forest pollen records suggest land abandonment and regrowth started 300-600 years prior to European contact.
Researchers uncover a new fossil beetle species from mid-Cretaceous amber, shedding light on the earliest pollinators of flowering plants. The discovery shows that short-winged flower beetles visited angiosperms in the Cretaceous, leading to a direct link between early flowering plants and their insect visitors.
A Cretaceous beetle fossil, named Pelretes vivificus, has been found to have fed on pollen from early flowering plants, providing conclusive evidence of the intimate association between ancient pollinators and angiosperms. The discovery sheds light on the origin of this mutualistic relationship.
A study of 53,000 Danish blood donors found that hay fever and asthma rates have tripled since the 1970s, with symptoms occurring earlier in life. The large biobank provides valuable insights into genetic-environmental interactions and immune system responses.
A team of scientists has created a reusable, biodegradable sponge made from sunflower pollen that can absorb oil contaminants from contaminated water sources. The pollen sponge outperforms commercial oil absorbents in terms of absorption capacity and reusability.
Researchers at Kumamoto University found that adult nocturnal fishflies feed on pollen at night, visiting flowers and feeding on nectar. This discovery sheds light on the terrestrial life of adult fishflies, which was previously unknown.
A study analyzing pollen data from 1990 to 2020 found that the pollen season has shifted substantially over the past 30 years, with some species starting as early as January. This increase in duration and intensity can lead to more severe health issues, including inflammation in the lungs and negative impacts on the cardiovascular system.
Researchers combined healthcare data with ecological techniques to identify potential links between airborne pollen and human health. The study found connections between certain grass species and respiratory health issues, suggesting a roadmap for refining pollen forecasts in the future.
A new study suggests that environmental DNA can help better understand which grasses are the worst offenders for outdoor allergens. The research found substantial variability in airborne pollen from different grass species and identified a disproportionate influence of certain grasses on relevant health outcomes.
A 47-million-year-old fly fossil found in Vienna revealed that flies played a significant role in ancient pollination. The fly's stomach contents showed pollen from various plant species, suggesting its importance in pollen dispersal and biotic interactions.
Research shows that airborne pollen can account for 44% of variation in Covid-19 infection rates, with humidity and air temperature also playing a role. High pollen concentrations weaken immune response to viruses, leading to increased respiratory illnesses.
Researchers found that certain species of pollen advanced their seasons by up to 2 days per year, while others moved theirs 0.5 days earlier on average, impacting local health and allergy patterns. The study highlights the importance of accounting for pollen transport in understanding climate change's effects on the environment.
Researchers have identified a candidate gene and two deleterious mutations underlying male sterility in sugi trees, enabling selective breeding to reduce pollen load. This breakthrough has the potential to alleviate pollen allergy issues in Japan and globally.
Researchers at Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg found that phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) controls various aspects of cell growth in pollen tubes by influencing the distribution of enzymes and resulting effects on cytoskeleton stabilization and pectin secretion.
Researchers found that climate change contributes to longer and more severe pollen seasons in the US, affecting respiratory health and viral infections. Pollen counts increased by 21% between 1990 and 2018, with a significant impact on allergy sufferers.
The US is ill-prepared to confront disease outbreaks and food-supply threats caused by airborne organisms due to fragmented research. Unifying atmospheric biology research could improve the country's response to pandemics and other national security threats.
A biologist's review articles on insect color vision and plant-pollinator interactions highlight the complexity of these relationships, which involve deception, chemical warfare, and biomechanical trickery. Plants have evolved fine-tuned pigments to attract pollinators, but insects have also co-evolved with them.
A study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B reveals how flowers with two distinct sets of anthers gradually present their pollen to bees over multiple visits. This 'pollen dosing' strategy allows flowers to limit the amount of pollen a bee can remove, maximizing pollination efficiency.
Researchers found that bumble bees collect a wide range of pollen from different plant species to satisfy their protein needs, whereas honey bees focus on a limited number of target plants. This study highlights the importance of considering diverse foraging behavior in nature conservation efforts.
Researchers found evidence of an export economy based on cash cropping in ancient Greece, primarily through olive cultivation, centuries before the Roman conquest. The study uses pollen records as a new source of quantitative data to measure landscape change and market integration.
A team of scientists developed machine-learning models to differentiate among several existing Amherstieae legume genera and classified existing pollen accurately over 80% of the time. The results support previous hypotheses suggesting that Amherstieae originated in Africa and later dispersed to South America.
Researchers developed a new method to identify fossil pollen using super-resolution microscopy and machine learning, allowing for the classification of previously unknown legume groups. The trained models achieved 90.3% accuracy in identifying samples from ancient Africa and South America.
A novel method for automated pollen analysis has been developed by combining imaging flow cytometry with deep learning, allowing for accurate species identification and quantitative findings in just 20 minutes. The new tool was tested on 35 plant species and achieved an accuracy rate of 96%, outperforming traditional microscopy methods.
Researchers discovered that the KATANIN enzyme plays a crucial role in moderating mechanical properties of papilla cell walls, allowing correct pollen tube orientation and successful fertilization. This finding suggests KATANIN's potential role in the success of flowering plants on Earth.
A new study using fossil pollen samples suggests that North America's plant biomes are experiencing low landscape resilience, similar to the end of the Pleistocene megafauna extinctions. The researchers found that forests persisted longer than grasslands and recovered more slowly if the ecosystem contains high plant biodiversity.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals how pollen tubes grow up to a thousand-fold to reach the ovule, creating electrical activity at the cell membrane and promoting faster growth. The findings have implications for understanding seed production, fungal growth, and neuronal development, and may lead to improved food crop v...
A global data analysis reveals that intensive land use decreases wild plant reproductive success and pollination due to lower pollinator abundance. Highly specialized plants are most affected, while those relying on domesticated honey bees may have more protection.
Rising carbon dioxide levels and changes in the environment may contribute to increased prevalence of respiratory allergies, autoimmune diseases, and neurologic conditions such as autism. Disruptions to gut bacteria have also been linked to these disorders, highlighting the need for a greener lifestyle and reduced exposure to antimicro...
A new study has dissected the unique phenomenon of fertility-sterility transition at molecular level using systems biology approach in a single environment-sensitive genic male sterile (EGMS) line of pigeonpea. The research identified key transcription factor REVEILLE1 regulating auxin levels to explain fertility transition.