In 1772, Benjamin Franklin sent Chinese tallow seeds to Savannah, Georgia; the government planted more along the Gulf in 1900, and the tree now covers 185,000 hectaresIn the late 1700s, a shipment of 1772 seeds sparked a significant invasion of non-native trees across southern U.S. forests. The federal pl...
25 Aug, 2026, 02.00 PM IST
In a recent study, University of Freiburg researchers coated Colombian water tanks for about $2 a year. Weeks later, dengue cases fell, showing one application could provide long-term protection against the tiger mosquitoDengue mosquito control: A simple coating on household water containers reduced dengue cases by forty-five percent in Colombia. This inexpe...
24 Aug, 2026, 02.36 AM IST
How to clean dust from your phone speaker: Easy DIY methods to restore clear soundOver time, dust and debris can obstruct your phone's speaker, diminishing sound quality. To restore audio clarity, use a dry cotton swab to...
24 Aug, 2026, 12.34 AM IST
In 1992, engineers began protecting 55 km of Ottawa River shoreline with local rounded gravel. 19 years later, 80–90% of the banks were covered by indigenous vegetationOttawa River banks were protected using rounded granular material over fifteen years ago. This method halted erosion and created a riparian...
22 Aug, 2026, 11.41 PM IST
In a multi-decade study, engineers used 12-inch coconut-fiber blankets to secure riverbanks. Years later, deep-rooted plants turned them into living barriers that resist erosion and floodsHow a 12-inch coconut fiber roll can hold a failing streambank together is easier to understand than it looks. The simple coir log slows ru...
22 Aug, 2026, 07.10 PM IST
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...
21 Aug, 2026, 06.30 PM IST
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...
20 Aug, 2026, 10.38 PM IST
In 2024, Tornyol Systems showed how a 1.4-ounce drone could detect and hunt mosquitoes using ultrasonic sensors. Two years later, the Paris startup recorded its first autonomous kill, but the victim was 1 moth, not a mosquitoA Paris startup just recorded its first autonomous insect kill using a 1.4-ounce drone. Tornyol Systems built the quadcopter with ultrasoni...
20 Aug, 2026, 08.00 PM IST
How to open a coconut without hammer: 5 clever methods to break the hard shell at homeHow to open a coconut without hammer: Cracking open a coconut doesn’t require a hammer. You can use common household items instead. Techniq...
20 Aug, 2026, 11.58 AM IST
3 ingredient DIY floor cleaner: Why this lemon, vinegar and eucalyptus mix is becoming a popular home cleaning hack; how it works and how to make itThe resurgence of natural cleaning methods is transforming Indian homes. This simple DIY cleaning solution not only shines floors but also ...
19 Aug, 2026, 07.58 PM IST
SC upholds hanging as mode of death penalty; dismisses PIL for alternative way to execute death row prisonersThe Supreme Court has dismissed a plea seeking an alternative method of execution for death row convicts, rejecting the challenge to hangin...
18 Aug, 2026, 01.53 PM IST
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, ...
17 Aug, 2026, 07.56 PM IST
In 1905, Hawaii introduced mosquitofish to fight mosquitoes. More than 100 years later, the fish is threatening native wildlifeAn invasive species, mosquitofish, introduced to Hawaii in 1905 poses a significant threat to the islands' native freshwater ecosystem. The...
17 Aug, 2026, 05.18 PM IST
How a mosquitofish brought in to kill mosquito larvae became major freshwater ecosystem problemA fish introduced to Hawaii over a century ago now threatens native freshwater wildlife. The mosquitofish, brought to control mosquitoes, n...
17 Aug, 2026, 11.34 AM IST
In 2025, Harvard University developed a chemical coating for insecticide-treated bed nets that blocks malaria parasites inside mosquitoes instead of killing the insects. It produced a breakthrough that could fight malaria without increasing insecticide resistanceScientists have discovered novel compounds that prevent the transmission of malaria parasites in mosquitoes. These innovative chemicals can...
10 Aug, 2026, 10.56 PM IST
In 2016, Singapore began releasing millions of non-biting male mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia. Years later, the bold experiment produced one of the world's most successful dengue-controlScientists using mosquitoes to fight dengue: Singapore has embarked on an ambitious project, deploying Wolbachia-infused male mosquitoes to...
10 Aug, 2026, 06.54 PM IST
In 2009, scientists revealed the world's most annoying insect, mosquito, turned out to have a romantic sideMosquitoes engage in a captivating courtship ritual, producing harmonious melodies through the rhythm of their wing beats. This phenomenon ...
03 Aug, 2026, 11.45 PM IST