Zombie fungus drives flies to mate with the dead

A fungus has a unique survival method: It "bewitches" male houseflies, enticing them to mate with fungal-infected corpses of dead female flies.

Maria Hornbek-Copenhagen • futurity
July 15, 2022 ~5 min

Here are the most effective things you can do to fight climate change

Our research shows the best changes individuals can make to cut carbon emissions and reduce the effects of climate change.

Max Callaghan, Postdoctoral Researcher in Climate Change, University of Leeds • conversation
July 1, 2022 ~6 min


Blow flies can sniff out chemical weapons

Blow flies can offer a safe alternative for investigating the use of chemical weapons and keep people out of potentially dangerous situations.

Kevin Fryling-Indiana • futurity
March 25, 2022 ~6 min

Why do flocks of birds swoop and swirl together in the sky? A biologist explains the science of murmurations

These coordinated movements of a flock of starlings follow no plan or leader. Scientists used to think the animals must communicate via ESP to create these fast-moving blobs.

Tom Langen, Professor of Biology, Clarkson University • conversation
March 14, 2022 ~7 min

How do flies know where they are in space?

How do flies keep moving in one direction if their head is pointing another way? New research shows that their brains are doing complicated math.

Katherine Fenz-Rockefeller • futurity
Dec. 16, 2021 ~9 min

Sour things reveal commonality between us and flies

A taste receptor sensitive to acidity in fruit flies is in the same group as human sour receptors, research finds.

Harrison Tasoff-UC Santa Barbara • futurity
Dec. 14, 2021 ~8 min

Genetic GPS system of animal development explains why limbs grow from torsos and not heads

Hox genes make sure all your body parts grow in the right place. Understanding how they work can reveal the process of evolution and lead to potential treatments for congenital birth defects.

Ethan Bier, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego • conversation
Nov. 10, 2021 ~10 min

Do flies really throw up on your food when they land on it?

A fly does some of its digesting outside its body before it even eats any food.

Jamie Theobald, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, Florida International University • conversation
Nov. 8, 2021 ~6 min


Reducing air travel by small amounts each year could level off the climate impact

Reducing jet fuel consumption by 2.5% each year could halt aviation’s growing influence on climate change.

Milan Klöwer, Postdoctoral Researcher in Weather and Climate Modelling, University of Oxford • conversation
Nov. 5, 2021 ~7 min

Fruit fly discovery could lead to new ways to treat diabetes

A hormone in fruit flies could clarify how human metabolism is regulated and could pave the way for new ways to treat obesity and diabetes.

Michael Skov Jensen-Copenhagen • futurity
Sept. 13, 2021 ~6 min

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