How do flies find every stinky garbage dumpster? A biologist explains their sensory superpower

Flies often beat out competitors for food because of their specialized sensing organs called antennae.

Christine Picard, Associate Professor of Biology, Indiana University • conversation
Sept. 4, 2023 ~6 min

Why young squash bugs must eat poop

Squash bugs carry a gut bacterium that's key to their development into adults, but don't have it as nymphs. New findings reveal how they get it.

Carol Clark-Emory • futurity
Aug. 25, 2023 ~10 min


Why moths might be more efficient pollinators than bees and butterflies

But pesticides and climate change are threatening moths’ future.

Max Anderson, South West Landscape Officer for Butterfly Conservation • conversation
Aug. 16, 2023 ~7 min

More than half of life on Earth is found in soil – here's why that's important

With more than one species for every person on the planet, soils are the most diverse habitat on Earth.

John Quinton, Professor of Soil Science, Lancaster University • conversation
Aug. 16, 2023 ~7 min

Bats are avoiding solar farms and scientists aren’t sure why

New research has found that bats avoid solar farms – but the findings should not hinder the transition to renewable energy.

Gareth Jones, Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol • conversation
Aug. 9, 2023 ~7 min

Smell training for locusts offers clues to learning

A study investigates the behavior of locusts and how the neurons in their brains respond to appealing and unappealing odors.

Beth Miller-WUSTL • futurity
Aug. 9, 2023 ~7 min

Ivy, dandelions and other common wildflowers are often seen as weeds – but they're a crucial resource for pollinating insects

Native common wildflowers provide large amounts of pollen and nectar for insects – but many are undervalued by the public.

Nick Balfour, Research Technician in the School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex • conversation
Aug. 7, 2023 ~7 min

Robot goes after spotted lanternfly eggs

An autonomous robot could help control the spread of invasive spotted lanternflies by destroying their eggs.

Carnegie Mellon • futurity
July 27, 2023 ~3 min


Cicadas could hold the secret to self-cleaning surfaces – new study

Cicadas don’t need to bathe to stay clean.

Sreehari Perumanath, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, University of Warwick • conversation
July 12, 2023 ~6 min

Not all repellents are equal – here's how to avoid mosquito bites this summer

Two mosquito physiology experts explain which repellents work better than others and how to protect yourself this summer.

Hailey A. Luker, Ph.D. Student in Biology, New Mexico State University • conversation
July 10, 2023 ~8 min

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