Researchers studied 20 French solar farms; beneath the panels, pollinators fell 76%, and plant-pollinator interactions plunged 86%Recent studies indicate that shading from solar panels significantly impacts pollinator numbers and interactions with plants. Notably, bee ...
112 million years ago, a rainforest thrived in what is now Ecuador; amber from the lost Early Cretaceous forest preserved insects, pollen, and a strand of spider webScientists discovered ancient amber in Ecuador's Napo Province, dating back 112 million years. This amber contains preserved insects and sp...
Since 1997, Florida has released Australian insects to help control melaleuca in the Everglades; its invaded range has shrunk by nearly 75% alongside herbicide and mechanical removalIn Florida's Everglades, Australian insects played a crucial role in curbing the spread of invasive melaleuca trees. By targeting these tre...
From 2011 to 2013, California researchers thinned crowded forest stands near Pinecrest to help trees withstand drought; mortality fell from 34% to 11%A study near Pinecrest, California, examined forest thinning's impact during a severe drought. Thinning significantly reduced tree mortalit...
In 1988, USDA scientists released just 88 flea beetles in North Dakota; their descendants multiplied into hundreds of millions across North AmericaIn North Dakota, a targeted release of flea beetles marked the beginning of a successful biological control initiative. These beetles flour...
In the 1800s, Americans planted tamarisk for windbreaks and erosion control; by 2005, the tree had spread across western river systems and become a major management concernTamarisk was originally brought in for various practical applications, but it has since proliferated across western waterways. This invasiv...
Mummy 4 movie in making with original cast: Check who's returning, plot, release date, and other detailsNuman Acar joins The Mummy 4 cast, which is a legacy sequel. Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz will reprise their iconic roles from the origi...
In 2023, researchers in a West African nation tried to discover which pizza do lizards prefer and won an Ig Nobel Prize for its discoveryA curious study in Togo unveiled rainbow lizards choosing four-cheese pizza instead of their usual insect diet. Observations made near a so...
Scientists name newly discovered beetle after One Piece's Luffy—and the reason goes beyond animeScientists have named a newly discovered beetle genus after the anime character Luffy. This tribute stems from the insects' unusually long ...
In 1974, a Spainish rancher imported 2,000 kg of American crayfish from Louisiana. 50 years later, it has become an invasion nobody could stopAn American red swamp crayfish invasion reshaped Spain's Guadalquivir River basin and Doñana National Park. This destructive biological inv...
Canada’s innocent-looking ‘butcher bird’ looks harmless but mercilessly stabs its prey on thorns and barbed wire: Meet the tiny songbird with a terrifying hunting secret, now facing threats in SaskatchewanCanada’s innocent-looking northern shrike, nicknamed the “butcher bird,” has a shocking hunting habit that makes it unlike most songbirds. ...
Japanese invasive beetle grubs are quietly killing lawns from below: Why skunks and moles may be your best friends to save your yardSkunks digging in yards are often searching for insect food sources. Japanese beetle grubs are a common culprit weakening grass from below....
In 2007, a tiny ghost-white beetle revealed the secret to the world's brightest white paintNature's whitest white beetle is giving scientists a new way to rethink modern materials. The tiny Cyphochilus beetle creates an intensely ...
2008, Spain destroyed susceptible pines within 3 km after finding pine wood nematode in one tree; that outbreak was eradicatedA microscopic worm, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, caused a severe pine tree outbreak in Spain. Officials initially eradicated one infestation...
Brazilian ecologist who migrated to the US in 1976 discovered why mosquitoes love human bloodMosquito attraction to human study: Walter Leal discovered nonanal, a compound humans and birds produce. This natural chemical proves irres...
In 2001, a USDA scientist released beetles to destroy an invasive tree, but they eliminated 94% of an endangered bird's habitat along one riverAn invasive beetle introduced to control tamarisk trees has devastated flycatcher nesting grounds. This beetle, released by the USDA, succe...
In 1935, an Australian entomologist shipped 102 cane toads from Hawaii to fight crop beetles; 2,400 were released before anyone tested the planAustralian scientists introduced toxic cane toads to control sugar cane pests in 1935. These toads failed to eat the target beetles and spr...