Tropical Heliconius butterflies are well known for the bright colour patterns on their wings. These striking colour patterns not only scare off predators — the butterflies are poisonous and are distasteful to birds — but are also important signals during mate selection. Evolutionary biologists have now exploited the diversity of warning patterns of various Heliconius …
How butterflies choose mates: Gene controls preferences Read More »
A research consortium made a recent discovery that the natural molecule trigonelline present in coffee, fenugreek, and also in the human body, can help to improve muscle health and function. A research consortium made a recent discovery that the natural molecule trigonelline present in coffee, fenugreek, and also in the human body, can help to …
New research finds a direct communication path between the lungs and the brain which may change the way we treat respiratory infections and chronic conditions. The lungs are using the same sensors and neurons in the pain pathway to let the brain know there’s an infection. The brain then prompts the symptoms associated with sickness. …
Research finds a direct communication path between the lungs and the brain Read More »
A healthier diet is associated with a reduced dementia risk and slower pace of aging, according to a new study. The findings show that a diet-dementia association was at least partially facilitated by multi-system processes of aging. Until now, the biological mechanism of this protection was not well understood. A healthier diet is associated with …
High temperatures during critical periods of the reproductive cycle of sheep result in 2.1 million fewer lambs produced in Australia each year, costing sheep farmers an estimated $97 million annually. High temperatures during critical periods of the reproductive cycle of sheep result in 2.1 million fewer lambs produced in Australia each year, costing sheep farmers …
Sheep: Excess temperatures cause low flocking concerns Read More »
Around 32 per cent of the world’s population live in countries that do not adhere to the World Health Organization’s recommendations on safe limits of arsenic in drinking water. Around 32 per cent of the world’s population live in countries that do not adhere to the World Health Organization’s recommendations on safe limits of arsenic …
Millions are at risk using high arsenic water for cooking Read More »
Forests and streams are separate but linked ecosystems, existing side by side, with energy and nutrients crossing their porous borders and flowing back and forth between them. For example, leaves fall from trees, enter streams, decay and feed aquatic insects. Those insects emerge from the waters and are eaten by birds and bats. An international …
Forest, stream habitats keep energy exchanges in balance, global team finds Read More »
In 2020, a line of severe thunderstorms unleashed powerful winds that caused billions in damages across the Midwest United States. A new technique that incorporates satellite data could improve forecasts — including where the most powerful winds will occur — for similar severe weather events. In 2020, a line of severe thunderstorms unleashed powerful winds …
Satellite data assimilation improves forecasts of severe weather Read More »
Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are showing up in ever more devices, and the increasing use of this technology means more lithium is expected to find its way into the environment as a contaminant. In new research, a team has explored how this ion accumulates in a common Southern crustacean, the crawfish, with implications for the environment …
Crawfish could transfer ionic lithium from their environment into food chain Read More »
The largest living animal, the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) which averages about 27 meters in length, has slowly recovered from whaling only to face the rising challenges of global warming, pollution, disrupted food sources, shipping, and other human threats. In a major new study, biologists have taken a stock of the number, distribution and genetic …
Scientists weigh up current status of blue whale populations around the world Read More »