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11/30/2018 / By Edsel Cook

An engineering feat: Different types of silk in a spider web allow it to effectively capture prey

To human eyes, a spiderweb looks beautiful yet delicate. However, the strands are tough enough to survive contact with much larger animals. At the same time, they are also small enough to evade the notice of the prey that the web is intended to reveal and ensnare. Intrigued by this duality, a group of researchers […]

08/29/2018 / By David Williams

PTSD in birds: Living with noise pollution gives them chronic stress, hypervigilance, anxiety

Can animals show symptoms just like humans do when suffering from conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? It’s more likely than you think. As it turns out, birds can be under so much stress that they start to exhibit signs of PTSD, even if only temporarily. This is according to a study conducted by […]

08/28/2018 / By Zoey Sky

Human activity is causing wildlife to become more nocturnal

Based on the findings of a recent study, the accelerated growth of human activity around the world is gradually making wildlife more nocturnal. Earlier research has already proven that animals will change their spatial patterns to avoid humans, whom they fear. However, the study, titled, “The Influence of Human Disturbance on Wildlife Nocturnality,” presumes that one day, animals may […]

08/10/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

New artificial photosynthesis device to be used to harvest clean hydrogen fuel

Science is not new to seeking inspiration from nature. A photochemical diode capable of artificial photosynthesis could be the latest solution to obtaining clean energy, says research published in the journal Nature Communications. The device is comparable to a conventional solar cell – they are, in fact, made from almost the same materials. It uses […]

06/26/2018 / By Frances Bloomfield

Trees sweat too! One species of eucalyptus found to release water during extreme heat

Sweating is our body’s way of keeping cool under high temperatures. Without sweat, our body temperature would go up and we would overheat. In fact, sweating is truly an effective way of maintaining a stable temperature that some trees do it too. This remarkable discovery was uncovered by a team of researchers led by scientists […]

06/07/2018 / By Carol Anderson

Children raised in rural environments and surrounded by animals develop stronger immune systems

It’s said that being in rural areas has enormous benefits to our physical health. We’ve also been told that growing up in an environment where we’re exposed to animals and nature reduces the risk of developing asthma and some other diseases. A more recent study, however, found that growing up in a place close to nature […]

03/20/2018 / By Ethan Huff

Study of microbes found in cow stomachs could lead to energy extraction breakthrough, aiding in production of biofuels

To develop new techniques in maximizing food and fuel production in the modern age, researchers from The University in Edinburgh in the United Kingdom are turning to an unlikely source for answers: The living bacteria inside the guts of bovine animals. A new study claims that microbes may be the solution to figuring out how […]

03/19/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Research on brain development shows influence of nature, green spaces and physical activity on children’s brains

If you want your children to have smarter brains, sharper memories, and longer attention spans, raise them in a home with lots of greenery and plenty of physical activity. That’s because two Spanish studies discovered that nature and exercise exert strong influences upon brain development and mental health, reported a Waking Times article. The Institute for Global Health […]

02/12/2018 / By Frances Bloomfield

Wild rice is the “canary in the coal mine” for lakes and streams – Researchers use it to track water quality

Determining the health of a lake or a stream could be done by looking for the presence of wild rice. According to a team of researchers from the University of Minnesota, wild rice is to these bodies of water as a canary is to a coal mine. Their sensitivity to their surroundings is an indicator of […]

01/20/2018 / By Zoey Sky

Our relationship with nature is vital to mental well-being: Scientists have tracked how we are affected by exposure to trees, the sky, birdsong in real-time

City life is often fast-paced, and you might feel overwhelmed because of all the hustle and bustle. Some individuals resort to the calming effect of nature to deal with the stress of city life, and the mere sight of birds in flight or sunlight shining through trees is enough to make them feel at peace. A […]

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