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The very hungry, angry caterpillars

Researchers observed that monarch caterpillars become more aggressive in the absence of milkweed, their primary food source. The study revealed that limited food availability triggers an attack response among caterpillars, highlighting a previously unexplored aspect of insect behavior.

SourceCell Press·JournaliScience·DateNov 19, 2020

New primary care tool to prescribe referrals for community health and social services

A new primary care tool, CommunityRx-H3, has been implemented to prescribe referrals for community health and social services. The study found that practice facilitators play a key role in implementing quality improvement initiatives, but face barriers such as limited time and lack of integration with the EMR system.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateNov 10, 2020

Nature-inspired solutions to sustainably increase crop yield

GAIN4CROPS project uses nature-inspired approaches to enhance photosynthetic efficiency in sunflowers, promoting climate-resilient crops and sustainable agriculture. The research could lead to decreased land, nitrogen, and water usage, aligning with efforts to conserve biodiversity and reduce environmental impact.

Biodiversity hypothesis called into question

A new study reveals that species are better equipped to thrive in both abundant and scarce food environments, contradicting the long-held 'gleaner-exploiter' trade-off theory. The researchers argue that a risk-taking trade-off to access food is more likely, explaining the diversity of biological species.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 21, 2020

Stop! Grand theft water

Researchers developed a novel framework and model to analyze drivers of water theft and deterrents. The study found that social attitudes, institutions, and future supply uncertainty contribute to water theft, highlighting the need for stronger deterrents.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalNature Sustainability·DateAug 26, 2020

'Like a video game with health points,' energy budgets explain evolutionary body size

A new model of animal energy budgets reveals that resource variation is a key mechanism driving evolutionary body size. By considering factors such as metabolism, reproduction costs, and offspring energy delivery, the model shows that larger bodies provide more room for energy storage, helping animals survive uncertain environments.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 18, 2019

The global phosphorus crisis

A team of 40 experts from industries, universities, and research institutes worldwide warn that the world's limited phosphate resources are being overexploited and wasted. Without sustainable management, phosphorus will eventually run out, threatening global food security.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateSep 26, 2019

Ignoring cues for alcohol and fast food is hard -- but is it out of our control?

Researchers have shown that people's general inability to ignore reward cues is not just a lack of control, but rather a limitation of their executive control processes. In an experiment, participants struggled to resist fast food and alcohol cues when under cognitive pressure or high memory load. The findings suggest strengthening exe...

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalPsychological Science·DateJul 8, 2019

Solving the ancient mysteries of Easter Island

Researchers used quantitative spatial modeling to explore the relationship between ahu construction locations and subsistence resources on Rapa Nui. The study found that ahu locations are consistently linked to proximity to freshwater sources, suggesting a critical role for water availability in ancient island society.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 10, 2019

Bees need it colorful

Scientists discovered that bees' quality of life is highest in gardens and biodiverse forests, while lowest in plantations. The decline of biodiversity is linked to bee extinction due to the lack of sufficient food and resources.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 22, 2018

Why life on Earth first got big

Researchers found that early ocean organisms grew tall to disperse their offspring and colonize their surroundings. The study suggests that reproduction was the main reason life on Earth got big during the Ediacaran period.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateJun 25, 2018

Can a rude waiter make your food less tasty?

Research by Jaehoon Lee suggests that lower class individuals are more likely to assume food will be less delicious due to poor service, while higher class people do not typically make this assumption. This holistic view of life creates a 'carryover effect', leading to negative judgments about other aspects of the consumer experience.

SourceSociety for Consumer Psychology·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateNov 29, 2017

A badger can bury a cow by itself

A team of researchers observed an American badger burying a 50-pound calf carcass over five days, marking the first known instance of such behavior. The finding suggests that badgers may play a significant role in sequestering large carcasses, benefiting cattle ranchers by reducing disease vectors and attracting larger predators.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalWestern North American Naturalist·DateMar 31, 2017

The making of music

Researchers propose that infant-directed song, lullabies and play songs for babies and toddlers, may have deep evolutionary roots as a way for parents to signal their children's needs while freeing up time for other tasks. The theory suggests that this type of music developed as an 'arms race' between parents and infants over attention.

SourceHarvard University·JournalEvolution and Human Behavior·DateFeb 24, 2017

Omnipath sends strong signal

Researchers can now analyze biological signaling pathways with unprecedented accuracy thanks to OmniPath, combining 27 public databases on signalling interactions. The tool provides a comprehensive and unified collection of literature-curated signalling pathways based on an analysis of 41,000 scientific papers.

SourceEarlham Institute·JournalNature Methods·DateNov 29, 2016