Archive for the ‘Diversity and adaptations of organisms’ Category

  • New Zealand Bugs Do Mouse Work!

    Small rodents spread lots of seeds in nature, but they were absent from New Zealand. Do giant grasshoppers replace mice and rats in transporting seeds?


    Thursday, March 16th, 2006
  • Evolutionary Mystery: Bizarre Beetle Horns

    They may seem like the lowliest members of the animal kingdom, but dung beetles around the world sport a spectacular diversity of ‘horns.’ The strange appendages have forced biologists to reassess their understanding of evolution.


    Thursday, October 13th, 2005
  • Cranes when Walking: Why the Weird Head Action?

    The gawky walk of a bird: The head is still, then it lunges forward. A new study tells why. (Hint: It’s not just to look funny.)


    Thursday, April 14th, 2005
  • When Birds Fly

    Birds musta gotten a lesson from fighter planes: Bird wings get lift from a leading edge vortex, just like fighter planes.


    Thursday, December 9th, 2004
  • Shark Dangers: How Overblown?

    New shark repellent tested. How common are shark attacks? Meet the social shark. Learn why some people are fascinated by this cold-blooded killer.


    Thursday, August 12th, 2004
  • Spider Feet Stick, but How?

    Spiders stick to surfaces with tiny hairs, using van der Waals forces. Small critters use small forces to big advantage.


    Thursday, April 29th, 2004
  • Hibernation: The Biggest Sleep

    Hibernation gives clues about tissue preservation, organ transplants, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, brain behavior, and mating behavior. As the sun goes away, we look into the long snooze.


    Saturday, October 11th, 2003
  • Snails Declining in New York

    Rock climbing may be harming snail populations along the Niagara Escarpment.


    Thursday, May 1st, 2003
  • Elephant on the Run!

    Stanford researchers learn that fast-moving elephants are running, not walking.


    Thursday, April 17th, 2003
  • Herbicide from Nature

    Spotted knapweed produces a chemical that fights other weeds. Read about a natural herbicide.


    Thursday, March 6th, 2003


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Image courtesy of Pete Mouginis-Mark, Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii at Manoa

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