Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Zoology Ecology: Research
Published

Haiku may shine a light on humans' relationship with insects      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Haiku poems have reflected humans' experiences in nature for hundreds of years, including observations of bugs and other wildlife. Recently, researchers analyzed which insects were mentioned the most in haiku -- with butterflies, fireflies and singing insects such as crickets topping the list.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General
Published

Researchers harness AI for autonomous discovery and optimization of materials      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Today, researchers are developing ways to accelerate discovery by combining automated experiments, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. A novel tool that leverages those technologies has demonstrated that AI can influence materials synthesis and conduct associated experiments without human supervision.

Biology: Biochemistry Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Researchers create realistic virtual rodent      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

To help probe the mystery of how brains control movement, scientists have created a virtual rat with an artificial brain that can move around just like a real rodent. The researchers found that activations in the virtual control network accurately predicted neural activity measured from the brains of real rats producing the same behaviors.

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

Trash-sorting robot mimics complex human sense of touch      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers are breaking through the difficulties of robotic recognition of various common, yet complex, items. Their layered sensor is equipped with material detection at the surface and pressure sensitivity at the bottom, with a porous middle layer sensitive to thermal changes. An efficient cascade classification algorithm rules out object types in order, from easy to hard, starting with simple categories like empty cartons before moving on to orange peels or scraps of cloth.

Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature
Published

Lazy predator: A new species of mountain pitviper from China      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered a new species of medium-sized venomous snake in Yunnan, China. Ovophis jenkinsi is dark brownish-grey in color with trapezoidal patches on its back. It is endemic to China's Yingjiang County and is not difficult to find in the wild. In the future, researchers plan to collect more information about this new species, including its appearance, distribution, and habits.

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

Four-legged, dog-like robot 'sniffs' hazardous gases in inaccessible environments      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Nightmare material or truly man's best friend? A team of researchers equipped a dog-like quadruped robot with a mechanized arm that takes air samples from potentially treacherous situations, such as an abandoned building or fire. The robot dog walks samples to a person who screens them for potentially hazardous compounds.

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

Researchers create skin-inspired sensory robots to provide medical treatment      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have created innovative soft robots equipped with electronic skins and artificial muscles, allowing them to sense their surroundings and adapt their movements in real-time.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular Biology: Zoology
Published

A protein that enables smell--and stops cell death      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

While smell plays a considerable role in the social interactions of humans -- for instance, signaling fear or generating closeness -- for ants, it is vitally important. Researchers have found that a key protein named Orco, essential for the function of olfactory cells, is also critical for the cells' survival in ants.

Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Microbiology Biology: Zoology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Mushroom stump waste could be inexpensive, healthy chicken feed supplement      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Feed costs for producing broiler chickens accounts for 60% to 70% of total production costs, and stump waste from the production of button mushrooms comprises nearly 30% of total mushroom weight. Marrying the two has the potential to reduce both cost and waste, especially in Pennsylvania, which is a national leader in the production of broiler chickens and button mushrooms.

Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Fish out of water: How killifish embryos adapted their development      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The annual killifish lives in regions with extreme drought. A research group now reports that the early embryogenesis of killifish diverges from that of other species. Unlike other fish, their body structure is not predetermined from the outset. This could enable the species to survive dry periods unscathed.

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

Liquid metal-based electronic logic device that mimics intelligent prey-capture mechanism of Venus flytrap      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team has developed a liquid metal-based electronic logic device that mimics the intelligent prey-capture mechanism of Venus flytraps. Exhibiting memory and counting properties, the device can intelligently respond to various stimulus sequences without the need for additional electronic components. The intelligent strategies and logic mechanisms in the device provide a fresh perspective on understanding 'intelligence' in nature and offer inspiration for the development of 'embodied intelligence'.

Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Research Ecology: Sea Life
Published

How do you know where a fish goes?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An acoustic transmitter -- or tag -- emits unique signals or 'pings' when scientists want to study the long-distance movement of marine animals. However, this method has limitations. Using a movement model, researchers reconstructed animal tracks and leveraged an iterative process to measure the accuracy and precision of these reconstructions from acoustic telemetry data. Results demonstrate how researchers can apply these techniques and measure the accuracy and precision of the methods to their study sites.

Biology: Zoology Computer Science: General
Published

Seeking social proximity improves flight routes among pigeons      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study looked at the social influences on pigeon flight routes. Comparing the flight patterns of pairs of pigeons to a computer model, the researcher found that flight paths are improved as younger birds learn the route from older birds and also make route improvements, leading to overall more efficient routes over generations.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Nature Ecology: Sea Life
Published

Fish in schools have an easier time swimming in rough waters      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Swimming through turbulent water is easier for schooling fish compared to solitary swimmers, according to a new study.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Biology: Zoology Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Tiny roundworms carve out unique parasitic niche inside pseudoscorpion's protective covering      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In a parasitic first, a Baltic amber specimen has revealed that millions of years ago tiny worms known as nematodes were living inside of and feeding on the outer protective layer of pseudoscorpions.

Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Sea Life Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Flapping frequency of birds, insects, bats and whales described by universal equation      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A single universal equation can closely approximate the frequency of wingbeats and fin strokes made by birds, insects, bats and whales, despite their different body sizes and wing shapes, researchers report in a new study.

Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: Sea Life Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Fishy mystery of marine reptile solved      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The identity of a prehistoric marine reptile has finally been revealed after experts discovered that some of its remains actually belonged to fish.

Archaeology: General Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Zoology Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Paleontology and Archeology Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Blood sausages and yak milk: Bronze Age cuisine of Mongolian nomads unveiled      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Bronze cauldrons were used by the inhabitants of the Mongolian steppe around 2,700 years ago to process animal blood and milk. This is shown by a protein analysis of archaeological finds from this period.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Sea Life
Published

'Open gates' in warming Arctic are expanding salmon range      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New research has connected warming ocean temperatures to higher Pacific salmon abundance in the Canadian Arctic, an indicator that climate change is creating new corridors for the fish to expand their range. Salmon haven't historically been seen in large numbers in the Arctic Ocean and its watersheds, but in recent years incidental catches by subsistence fishermen have occasionally surged. Researchers working together with communities in the western Canadian Arctic, connected those salmon booms with a sequence of warm, ice-free conditions in the Arctic Ocean north of Alaska.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Biology: Zoology
Published

Exercising during pregnancy normalizes eating behaviors in offspring from obese mice      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Maternal obesity impacts the eating behaviors of offspring via long-term overexpression of the microRNA miR-505-5p, according to a new study.