One of the most striking examples of evolutionary transition in all biology history is the evolution of modern birds. Their group of land vertebrates is the most diverse on Earth, with more than 10,000 extant species worldwide (Brusatte et al. 2015). This evolutionary transition from an animal very much alike Tyrannosaurus rex, date back to …
Pesticides are chemicals generally used in agriculture, in order to prevent diseases, pests, weeds and other kinds of plant pathogens. The final aim of pesticides is to maintain high quality in agricultural production and yield and also improve the external appeal of fruits and vegetables. Despite sometimes not being noticed by the public, there some …
“Nature produces individuals, and nothing more. She produces them in such countless numbers that we are compelled to sort them into kinds in order that we may be able to carry them in our minds. This sorting is classification— taxonomy (Bessey 1908).” The science of identifying and classifying organisms (taxonomy) is responsible for categorizing the …
From elephants to star-nose moles to proboscis monkeys to hammerhead sharks, some animals have really odd noses. Let’s talk noses. For humans, noses enable us to smell and breath, as well as providing us a place to perch our sunglasses. Animals rely more on their noses, particularly their sense of smell. It enables them to …
As reptiles, alligators are cold-blooded and need the heat of their surroundings for their body warmth. Fortunately, alligators are found in tropical and subtropical habitats so it is not uncommon for them to experience freezing temperatures. Weather patterns in recent years, however, have gone awry and occasionally, a cold snap hits a normally balmy region. …
The Pickerel frog, Lithobates palustris, is unique among North American frogs. Common in the clear, cool ponds and streams of the northeastern and eastern United States and Canada, as well as the coastal swamps and marshes of the south, the Pickerel Frog is plentiful in the wild. In fact, International Union for Conservation of Nature …
A picturesque feature of many ponds is the lily pad. One glance at Monet’s famous paintings and you’ll see that water lilies are beautiful, delicate, and unusual, floating on the surface of the water. Water lilies are unique plants that have adapted to their watery environment and harness the power of surface tension to keep …
There is still little known about what biologically may predispose individuals to depression, but researchers are getting closer to solving the mystery. As of late, scientists have discovered a biomarker that they believe may be an indicator of depression in adults. A new study conducted by Stanford University and The Rockefeller University discovered that people …
What if we aren’t alone in the universe? This is a question that has long been asked here on Earth, but a new study suggests that maybe we should be asking the opposite – what if we are alone in the universe? Would it really be all that bad? Researchers from Oxford University’s Future of …
There are several dangerous animals out in the wild, but what about plants? As it turns out, plants can be just as dangerous as some of the other creatures found in Mother Nature, and the Giant Hogweed is proving this very point. According to news reports, the Giant Hogweed is popping up around Virginia, and …