This bug is a ticking time bomb of killer fungus. On a leaf in the Peruvian Amazon, a fly’s exoskeleton bursts open. Seven fungal stems emerge, flaring outward in a twisted bouquet. The fungus already took control of the fly’s mind and body — now, it’s time to find aContinue Reading
The Aztec Empire flourished in the Valley of Mexico between A.D. 1325 and 1519 and was the last great civilization before the arrival of the Spanish in the early 16th century. The Aztec Empire flourished in central Mexico during the Postclassic period of Mesoamerican history, from approximately A.D. 1325 toContinue Reading
This helps protect the tadpole-like fish from the cold. Scientists drilling deep into an iceberg off Greenland have discovered a fish with glowing green antifreeze coursing through its veins. The juvenile variegated snailfish (Liparis gibbus) contained the “highest expression levels” of antifreeze proteins ever reported, a new study found. SimilarContinue Reading
Time-lapse video reveals the surprising way debris-filled mucus moves out of a sponge’s body The next time you spot a sea sponge, say “gesundheit!” Some sponges regularly “sneeze” to clear debris from their porous bodies. As filter feeders, sponges draw in water through inlet pores — called ostia — andContinue Reading
In 2013, scientists said that around five out of the millions of invertebrates, including butterflies, were at risk of extinction. These beautiful creatures have shown signs of a significant decline in population and conservationists have been fighting for a law to be implemented to protect butterflies. The annual Big ButterflyContinue Reading
It has always been a mystery why men tend to die, on average, several years younger than women. A recent study by researchers from the University of Virginia School of Medicine suggests that losing male sex chromosomes as men age causes scarring in heart muscles that can lead to life-threateningContinue Reading
Parasite transmission was lower when the insects landed on long, narrow flowers Bees that land on short, wide flowers can fly away with an upset stomach. Common eastern bumblebees (Bombus impatiens) are more likely to catch a diarrhea-inducing gut parasite from purple coneflowers, black-eyed Susans and other similarly shaped floraContinue Reading
Protein powders are effective at helping to build muscle shortly after a workout. But can protein shakes help you gain weight? Protein shakes can help you lose weight, get lean and build strength and endurance. But can protein shakes help you gain weight too? Protein shakes are an effective wayContinue Reading
The book showcases the diverse sensory abilities of other creatures Emerald jewel wasps know what cockroach brains feel like. This comes in handy when a female wasp needs to turn a cockroach into an obedient zombie that will host her larvae and serve as dinner. First, the wasp plunges itsContinue Reading
The detector is set to run at its highest energies yet. The Large Hadron Collider has been turned back on today (July 5) and is set to smash particles together at never-before-seen energy levels. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. Located atContinue Reading