Tag: Evolution - Page 3
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Tobacco Plants Chemically Summon Insects to Defend Themselves Against Caterpillar Attack
I admit there's no direct connection between this next one and sustainability, but from a science perspective it's just too interesting to pass by: New research shows that tobacco plants have evolved a "chemical SOS" signal
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Saving the Earth by Shrinking Humans
If you have run out of controversial topics for dinner conversation, or websites to stumble upon, here's one for you. The Incredible Shrinking Man project researches and reviews the "implications of genetically
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Mark Moffett, Adventures Among Ants (Audio Interview)
Image credit: Mark Moffett If we never grew up and stopped playing in the dirt, says Mark "Dr. Bugs" Moffett, we'd never lose our fascination with ants. Alas, most of us have lost touch with the insect friends of our childhood. Mark Moffett is one of the
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The Secret to Biodiversity is in the Soil
Mankind has long been fascinated by biodiversity, even imagining species beyond the natural realm. We have learned to appreciate the value of biodiversity by enjoying the variety in nature, and by benefiting from
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Survival of the Nicest? Social Darwinism is Biomimicry Gone Wrong
From shark-inspired skin for cars, through permaculture, to using biomimicry to design cities, there are
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Think Giraffes Can't Swim? Science Proves They Can
It's long been thought that giraffes, with their tall necks and spindly legs, were incapable of swimming--unlike virtually every other mammal on the planet. But thanks to a team of researchers, who are strangely curious about such things, it's been
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Bonobos May Say "No" With a Shake of the Head
The latest research on bonobos is hinting that, along with being so genetically similar to primates, we may share some social gestures. Observed by researchers in the past, new footage of bonobo behavior has captured non-verbal
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Amphibious Hawaiian Caterpillar Proves Evolution is Cool
Scientists at the University of Hawaii have discovered the first truly amphibious insect. Daniel Rubinoff and Patrick Schmitz observed larvae from the endemic moth
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The World's Strongest Insect Does it All for Love
Let's say you weighed around 150 pounds and needed to lift a stack of six double-decker buses. Impossible, right? Well, if you were a dung beetle, such a feat would be no problem. Theses beetles are so strong in fact, they
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Insect Sperm Battle Inside Colony Queens
When an insect queen ventures onto the mating scene, she certainly makes the most of it, coupling with as many as 90 males each half-hour. That's because during the mating process for "social insects" like ants, bees, and termites, the highly prized
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Socotra: The Most Alien-Looking Place on Earth? (Slideshow)
The island of Socotra may lie a mere 150 miles off the coast of Africa, but judging from its strange and exotic
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How Nature Inspired the Alphabet
32,000 years ago, ancient humans gathered in a cave in Lascaux, France, where, by firelight, they created the first hand-drawn forms--scenes depicting man's
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All-Black Penguin Discovered, Seems Underdressed
Photo via Andrew Evans of the National Geographic King Penguins are notorious for their prim, tuxedoed appearance--but a recently discovered all-black penguin seems unafraid to defy convention. In what has been described as a "one in a zillion kind of
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Monogamous Frogs Stay Together 'Til One Croaks
While monogamy in the animal world is not unheard of, frogs have long been considered among the most promiscuous creatures. But, as revealed in a recent study, at least one species of frog mates with the same partner for
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Island's Endangered Trees Seem From Another World
In the Indian Ocean, about 150 miles off the Horn of Africa, lies an archipelago of which the island of Socotra is a part. Unlike most island landforms, Socotra was not formed by volcanic activity, but was once attached to the African mainland. Indeed,
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Newly Discovered Wasp Species Enslaves Spiders
Spiders spend a lot of time crafting their webs in hopes of making a meal out of all manner of winged insect--but a recently discovered species of wasp is found to use the spider's engineering prowess to its own advantage. Through a
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How Nature Inspired the Symbol of Love
From the seeds of the silphium plant, to ancient coins and candy hearts--the symbol of love has come a long way.
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Wasps Help Fig Trees Have Sex Over Long Distances
Life has never been too easy for the African wasp Certosolen arabicus--having a lifespan of two days, after all, doesn't afford them much 'me' time. But, if there is one thing that makes their 48 hours of life worth living, it would
