Archive for the ‘Life Science’ Category

Assembly-lines don’t work for ants! - Thursday, November 27th, 2008

Specialization may work in factories, but it does not make ant colonies more efficient. As the conventional wisdom about social insects goes topsy-turvy, what’s an ecologist to think?

Fish prove: The eyes have it! - Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

The color, vision and genetics of an African fish all vary depending on the clarity of its home waters. A new study suggests how species can form without geographic barriers.

Electric eye learns from animal eye! - Thursday, August 7th, 2008

Lenses cannot project a perfect image on the flat back of a camera, so images are distorted at the edges. A revolutionary camera solves this problem by curving the light detector.

At last: Parasites get some respect! - Thursday, July 24th, 2008

Along the coast of Baja, California, a new study finds that parasites outweigh top predators. What does this mean for ecology, and what is the story with “castrating parasites”?

Coral reefs: Massive threats to survival around the globe - Thursday, July 10th, 2008

Coral reefs are the ocean’s biodiversity hotspots, but a new study finds that one-third of reef-building corals are under some threat of extinction.

Song of the crocodile - Thursday, June 26th, 2008

How does momma croc know when to dig up the young? How do the embryos know when to start hatching? The secret’s in the song…

Alcohol: Molecule curbs drinking among rats; are humans next? - Thursday, June 12th, 2008

Injecting a protein in the brain stifles the drive to drink among lab rats; one dose lasts three hours or more. Does GDNF offer a new angle on alcoholism?

Learning to read mouse pee - Thursday, May 1st, 2008

Mice can tell the sex, mating status and identity of another mouse — all from sniffing urine. A new study of how mice read pheromones also gives insight into the human sensory apparatus…

Bring in the clones: Sand dollars make small change - Thursday, March 20th, 2008

Minute sand dollar larvae, tasty morsels in a sea of famished fish, have a clever way to help ensure their genes are passed to the next generation.

Caterpillar camouflage - Thursday, February 21st, 2008

Presto-chango! Caterpillar larva looks like a bird dung — and then like a leaf. New study points a finger at hormonal balance…

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