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BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Since 1971, Oregon has used a flea beetle against tansy ragwort; 7 years later, the state said the biocontrol had cut infestations by 90%In Oregon, a tiny flea beetle has emerged victorious in the battle against toxic tansy ragwort, a notorious invasive weed that has plagued ...- Since 1965, Florida has used the alligatorweed flea beetle to control invasive mats; once established, it can cause them to collapse within about 3 monthsA small but mighty insect, the alligatorweed flea beetle, has proven to be an efficient guardian against the spread of invasive alligatorwe...
- In 1888, USDA sent an entomologist to Australia to collect vedalia beetles for California’s cottony cushion scale; within a year, the pest had sharply declinedThe cottony cushion scale insect threatened California's citrus growers with devastation. The USDA took action by sending a scientist to Au...
- In 1990, Utah officials killed more than 99% of the fish in a 17,000-acre reservoir; years later, it became a top trout fisheryIn 1990, Utah wildlife officials took the bold step of using rotenone to eradicate over ninety-nine percent of the fish biomass in the rese...
- In 2009, researchers acquired a laboratory colony of Aedes aegypti in Delhi and kept it without insecticide pressure. 17 years later, 10 micrograms killed 97.91% of females, yet survivors rapidly activated detoxification enzymesA Delhi study reveals mosquitoes surviving common insecticide treatments. This survival gap suggests a potential early warning of developin...
- In 2026, EDP APAC deployed 13,312 solar panels on more than 30,000 pontoons in Singapore’s Strait of Johor. Today, marine growth has increased floater mass by nearly 43%, putting buoyancy and electrical connectors at riskEDP APAC deployed 13,312 solar panels across 30,000 pontoons in Singapore’s Strait of Johor. Today, heavy marine growth is threatening the ...
- In the 1990s, a predatory flatworm was released in Samoa to control giant African snails; it later drove native island snails toward extinctionBiological control efforts introduced the New Guinea flatworm to Pacific islands. This predator began hunting native land snails, pushing t...
- Quote of the day by Samuel L Jackson: ‘Everybody has to learn that the world works in very specific ways, and you are not...’: What the Pulp Fiction actor teaches us about accepting what we cannot controlSamuel L Jackson’s widely attributed reflection on life highlights the importance of accepting what lies beyond our control. He observes,“E...
- In 1960, Japan’s future emperor took 18 bluegills home from Chicago. Their descendants multiplied into millions and invaded Lake BiwaA significant ecological problem arose from a 1960 gift of bluegills to Japan's Crown Prince Akihito. These fish propagated swiftly, infilt...
- In 1864, a bottle of Guinness was brewed under Queen Victoria; 162 years later, divers recovered it from a shipwreck, where its preserved yeast may help recreate the taste of Victorian stoutA 162-year-old Guinness bottle has been pulled from a shipwreck in the English Channel, opening a rare window into Victorian brewing. The s...
- In 1917, botanist Joseph Rock introduced albizia to Hawai‘i for reforestation. Now it has infested thousands of acres in O‘ahu and eastern Hawai‘i IslandIntroduced to Hawaii in 1917 as a solution for reforestation, the Albizia tree quickly established itself as an invasive species. By 2018, ...
- From gut bacteria to the brain, a chemical, sodium butyrate traveled through the bloodstream after traumatic injury, where 4 months of treatment helped scientists reduce inflammation, protect brain cells and made seizures less frequentPost-traumatic epilepsy treatment: Researchers are exploring sodium butyrate to prevent post-traumatic epilepsy after brain injuries. This ...
- 10th-grade student turns coconut husk into a natural filter that can remove microplastics from seawaterA 10th-grade student in Hawaii began with a project to filter polluted seawater using coconut husks. Her research later found naturally occ...
- Scientists from King’s College London turned an agricultural waste product into a bone-healing scaffold; keratin from sheep’s wool produced more natural-looking regenerated bone than collagen in animalsSheep’s wool may soon have a surprising medical purpose. Scientists at King’s College London turned wool-derived keratin into a bone regene...
- In 2024, managers deliberately cooled the Colorado River to protect the Grand Canyon from invasive smallmouth bass. 2 years later, no bass recruitment had been detected, but the effort cost $19.1 million in replacement powerManagers at Glen Canyon Dam used an unusual strategy to protect native Colorado River fish from invasive smallmouth bass: they deliberately...
- 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...
- In 1955, Hawaiʻi released a predatory snail to control giant African snails; it climbed into native forests and helped wipe out rare tree snailsIn Hawaii, the introduction of the rosy wolfsnail was intended to combat a pest, but it drastically backfired. Instead of targeting its int...
- In 1884, Louisiana displayed South American water hyacinth for its lavender flowers; within decades, floating mats covered 126,000 Florida acres and blocked waterwaysOriginating in 1884, water hyacinth transformed into a significant nuisance for Florida by the 1950s. This aggressive floating plant overto...
- 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...
- After years of study, scientists recreated the chemistry of two deadly plants in the laboratory. The breakthrough produced a surprising pathway to new painkillers, malaria treatments, cancer drugs, and greener pest-control solutionsDeadly plants like wolfsbane and larkspur hold a powerful secret. Scientists have finally recreated their complex biosynthesis inside engin...
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