Study finds that bees “read” the electric field of a flower. First-ever detection of electric-field detection by animal not in water makes evolutionary sense, but how come nobody ever saw this before? More
Come hither, says plant
Interdependence of organisms
Bacteria: Social critters!?
Bacteria: you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all? Not. There’s a chemical war going on in that Petri dish, and a new study identifies specialist “super-killers” can kill off a broad range of competitors. Could “bacterial soldiers” help us fight resistance to antibiotics? More
Final score: Mustard-bomb plant 1, mouse 0
Plants and animals are in a constant struggle for survival and reproduction. Plant toxins prevent most animals from eating their seeds and destroying them. No kidding: A desert mouse is smart enough to eat edible fruit flesh without triggering the “mustard-oil bomb”! More
Putting the brakes on fish invasions
Ecologists are desperate to forestall a devastating invasion of the Lakes. Can electric fences block carp from Lake Michigan, or should canal be closed? More
Cooperation: It’s in the bird’s brain!
Plain-tailed wrens in the Andean cloud forest sing a complex, two-part song, where timing is everything. New research shows that both parties keep a memory of the full song in their brain, even though they only sing half of it. More
A Story of the Bacterium and the Fly
Bacteria can help or harm their hosts. Now we hear how one genus of bacteria can multiply fly reproduction. In this symbiosis, both parties benefit. This bacterium also alters insect immunity, and could lead to new tactics for killing horrific parasites. More
Maggots, leeches, parasitic worms
Three gross “biotherapies”: Leeches suck blood after surgery. Maggots clear dead tissue from wounds. Parasitic worms fight ulcerative colitis. More
Sustaining symbiosis – new clues
To hide from hungry fish, this animal houses luminous bacteria. But what prevents the bacteria from reproducing and killing the squid? At last, a genetic a balancing mechanism is revealed. More
Imitation: Better than flattery?
Imitation is a social glue in human society. We like people who imitate us. We call them friend. We will even tip them better! A new study finds similar responses in monkeys… More
Microbial bliss
Scientists are proving that intestinal bacteria can help health — but for what conditions? Should you take probiotic supplements or eat foods with beneficial bugs? What does the science say — and not say? More
Bush creates huge Pacific reserves
Three giant new reserves, extend 50 miles out from shore, will protect coral reefs, fish, clams, and other life forms. But how effective are marine protected areas? More
At last: Parasites get some respect!
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”? More
Bring in the clones: Sand dollars make small change
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. More
Life within: New study shows beneficial bacterial invasion
Without trillions of bacteria in our guts, we die. But how do these bacteria colonize the bug-free human infant just after birth? New study details bacterial balancing act. More
A Brotherhood of Chimps
Cooperation is a classic human trait, but chimps do it too. A new study sheds light on the “what’s-in-it-for-me” angle of cooperation: It’s good for your genes.
More