Biology: Botany Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

Characterization of an emergent plant virus      (via sciencedaily.com) 

High throughput sequencing (HTS) data is set to improve our knowledge of Physostegia chlorotic mottle virus biology, epidemiology, and genetic diversity.

Biology: Botany Biology: Evolutionary Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: General Ecology: Research Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Ancestral variation guides future environmental adaptations      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The speed of environmental change is very challenging for wild organisms. When exposed to a new environment individual plants and animals can potentially adjust their biology to better cope with new pressures they are exposed to -- this is known as phenotypic plasticity. New research shows that early plasticity can influence the ability to subsequently evolve genetic adaptations to conquer new habitats.

Ecology: Endangered Species Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Discovery advances biofuel crop that could curb dependence on fossil fuel      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have solved a puzzle that could help switchgrass realize its full potential as a low-cost, sustainable biofuel crop and curb our dependence on fossil fuels.

Biology: Evolutionary Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: General Ecology: Research Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Rapid plant evolution may make coastal regions more susceptible to flooding and sea level rise, study shows      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Evolution has occurred more rapidly than previously thought in the Chesapeake Bay wetlands, which may decrease the chance that coastal marshes can withstand future sea level rise, researchers at the University of Notre Dame and collaborators demonstrated in a recent publication in Science.

Biology: Evolutionary Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

Ancient mint plants may lead to new medicines/products      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The mint family of herbs, which includes sage, rosemary, basil, and even woody plants like teak, offers an invigorating jolt to our senses of smell and taste. Researchers have found that these plants have diversified their specialized natural characteristics through the evolution of their chemistry, which could lead to potential future applications that range from medicine to pesticide production.

Biology: Developmental Biology: Evolutionary Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

AI technology generates original proteins from scratch      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have created an AI system capable of generating artificial enzymes from scratch. In laboratory tests, some of these enzymes worked as well as those found in nature, even when their artificially generated amino acid sequences diverged significantly from any known natural protein.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math
Published

Versatile robo-dog runs through the sandy beach at 3 meters per second      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Meet the new addition to the robo-dog family, 'RaiBo', that can run along the sandy beach without losing balance and walk through grassy fields and back on the hard-floored tracking fields all on its own -- no further tinkering necessary.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math
Published

Person-shaped robot can liquify and escape jail, all with the power of magnets      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Inspired by sea cucumbers, engineers have designed miniature robots that rapidly and reversibly shift between liquid and solid states. On top of being able to shape-shift, the robots are magnetic and can conduct electricity. The researchers put the robots through an obstacle course of mobility and shape-morphing tests.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Fish sensory organ key to improving navigational skills of underwater robots      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have been studying a fish sensory organ to understand cues for collective behavior which could be employed on underwater robots.

Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: General Ecology: Research
Published

Economics trump environment to save big cats, say ecologists      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Rapid economic growth has pushed rare species of big carnivores to the brink of extinction, but ecologists have suggested our appetite to once again live alongside big cats is increasing.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Published

Altered speech may be the first sign of Parkinson's disease      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers attempted to identify early symptoms of Parkinson's disease using voice data. In their study, the researchers used artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze and assess speech signals, where calculations are done and diagnoses made in seconds rather than hours.

Biology: Developmental Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

Botany: Chloroplast from the father      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Under cold conditions, not only the mother plant but also the father plant can pass on its chloroplasts to the offspring.

Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species
Published

Environment law fails to protect threatened species in Australia      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Federal environmental laws are failing to mitigate against Australia's extinction crisis, according to new research.

Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: General Ecology: Research Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Can elephants save the planet?      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers report that elephants play a key role in creating forests which store more atmospheric carbon and maintaining the biodiversity of forests in Africa. If the already critically endangered elephants become extinct, rainforest of central and west Africa, the second largest rainforest on earth, would lose between six and nine percent of their ability to capture atmospheric carbon, amplifying planetary warming.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

New soft robots poised to be more agile, controlled      (via sciencedaily.com) 

One of the virtues of untethered soft robots is their ability to mechanically adapt to their surroundings and tasks. Now they are poised to become even more agile and controlled.

Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: General Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Research Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

New discovery: Endangered Amami rabbit disperses seeds for non-photosynthetic plant      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Seed dispersal is an essential process for the evolution and ecology of terrestrial plants, making discoveries of uncommon seed dispersal agents particularly interesting. Scientists now reveal that the Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) is a major seed dispersal agent for the non-photosynthetic plant Balanophora yuwanensis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first known instance of rabbits serving as seed dispersal agents in Asia.

Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species
Published

More effective protected areas needed to halt biodiversity loss      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Protected natural areas of the UK are struggling to halt declines in insects and spiders that have occurred over the past 30 years, according to a new study.

Ecology: Endangered Species
Published

Mixture of crops provide ecological benefits for agricultural landscapes      (via sciencedaily.com) 

There are often too few flowering plants in agricultural landscapes, which is one reason for the decline of pollinating insects. Researchers ave now investigated how a mixture of crops of faba beans (broad beans) and wheat affects the number of pollinating insects. They found that areas of mixed crops compared with areas of single crops are visited equally often by foraging bees.

Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Collision risk and habitat loss: Wind turbines in forests impair threatened bat species      (via sciencedaily.com) 

In order to meet climate protection goals, renewable energies are booming -- often wind power. More than 30,000 turbines have already been installed on the German mainland so far, and the industry is currently scrambling to locate increasingly rare suitable sites. Thus, forests are coming into focus as potential sites. A scientific team has now demonstrated that wind turbines in forests impair endangered bat species: Common noctules (Nyctalus noctula), a species with a high risk of colliding with rotor blades, are attracted to forest wind turbines if these are located near their roosts. Far from roosts, common noctules avoid the turbines, essentially resulting in a loss of foraging space and thus habitat for this species.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

'Smart' walking stick could help visually impaired with groceries, finding a seat      (via sciencedaily.com) 

For people who are blind or visually impaired, finding the right products in a crowded grocery store can be difficult without help. A team of computer scientists is trying to change that.