Flowers emit scented chemicals to attract pollinators, but this perfume—and how pollinators interact with the plant—can go through profound changes as a crop becomes domesticated.
Category: 5. Biology
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Domestication has changed the chemicals that squash flowers use to attract bees
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550-pound Ice Age kangaroos could still hop
Kangaroos have likely been hopping across the planet for much longer than…
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Too Many Koalas? Scientists Warn of Looming Ecological Collapse in South Australia
A booming koala population in South Australia is creating an urgent conservation dilemma, prompting scientists to test innovative, humane solutions to prevent long-term ecological harm. Research led by Dr. Frédérik Saltré of the Australian…
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A desperate race is on to resurrect newly-named 'zombie' tree
A recently identified tree species in Queensland has been given the name “zombie” by scientists who say ambitious assistance is needed to reverse its “living dead” status.
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Growth chambers could enable reproducible plant-microbe data across continents
Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to study plant microbiomes—communities of microbes living in and around plants—could help improve soil health, boost crop yields, and restore degraded lands. But there’s a catch: AI needs…
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Stingrays inspire smarter ocean robots: The physics of fin motion
Using robotic fins, researchers at the University of California, Riverside have learned how stingrays are able to swim with impressive control. These insights could help underwater vehicles avoid disastrous ground collisions.
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Copper-carrying compound targets and kills MRSA bacteria by mimicking iron
A research team at the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Tucson is developing a drug that works in combination with copper to kill bacteria, including those that cause MRSA, a type of staph infection that is resistant to usual…
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Hemp Roots Hold Untapped Cancer-Treatment Potential
How can hemp roots be used to treat pediatric cancer? This is what a recent study published in the Journal of Cannabis Research hopes to address as a team of researchers investigated how the phytochemical…
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Researchers seek worldwide solutions to conserve coral reefs
Coral reefs, the “rainforests of the sea,” provide habitats for 25% of all marine life. Critical to global biodiversity, they are essential for food supply, culture and recreation and coastal protection from hurricanes for communities around the…
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How a potential antibiotics ban could affect apple growers
Antibiotic resistance in human and animal health is at the forefront of public debate, but it’s a less well-known issue in plant agriculture. However, antibiotics are important tools in fruit production, and their efficacy hinges on avoiding…
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