The future of a fog oasis. Scientific American Guest Blog, August 19, 2011. In a fast-disappearing desert oasis, scientists are trying to bring a forest back to life – and discovering the imprint of a lost civilization amidst the vanishing trees.
Hummingbirds catch flying bugs with the help of fast-closing beaks
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Hummingbirds catch flying bugs with the help of fast-closing beaks. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, July 19, 2011. The shape of a hummingbird’s beak allows it to snatch up flying insects in a mere fraction of a second — with greater speed and power than could be achieved by jaw muscles alone.
Building a better strawberry
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Building a better strawberry. Raleigh News and Observer, June 27, 2011. Scientists and chefs team up to breed a hardier, tastier North Carolina strawberry.
Stable temperatures boost montane biodiversity
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Stable temperatures boost biodiversity in tropical mountains. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, June 8, 2011. The diversity of plants and animals in tropical mountain ranges may have something to do with the stable seasonal temperatures found near the equator relative to higher latitudes.
Songbirds tweak their tunes in different ways to cope with clamor
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Songbirds tweak their tunes in different ways to cope with clamor. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, May 26, 2011. Some birds that live near noisy sites can alter their songs to deal with din. But closely related species with similar songs may tweak their tunes in different ways, says a new study. Picked up by US News and World Report and Science Magazine.
Eat your fruit; it’s good for you
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Eat your fruit; it’s good for you. Raleigh News and Observer, May 16, 2011. Plant scientist Mary Ann Lila hopes to pinpoint the natural compounds in blueberries and other fruits that explain their medicinal powers.
Coping with climate change
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Coping with climate change. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, May 11, 2011. Can we predict which species will be able to move far or fast enough to keep up with rising global temperatures? A new study says the secrets to success in the face of a warming world are still elusive.
Marine snails get a metabolism boost
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Marine snails get a metabolism boost. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, May 3, 2011. Most of us wouldn’t consider slow-moving snails to be high-metabolism creatures. But at one point in the distant past, snail metabolism sped up, says a new study in the journal Paleobiology.
Toxic frogs are more physically fit
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Treadmill tests for poison frogs prove toxic species are more physically fit. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, March 29, 2011. The most toxic, brightly colored members of the poison frog family may also be the best athletes. Story picked up by Wired Science, Discovery Channel, and MSNBC News.
New study pinpoints why some microbial genes are more promiscuous than others
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New study pinpoints why some microbial genes are more promiscuous than others. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, March 16, 2011. A new study of more than three dozen species — including the microbes responsible for pneumonia, ulcers and plague — settles a longstanding debate about why bacteria are more likely to steal some genes than others.
To age is primate
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To age is primate. Duke Today, March 10, 2011. For a long time scientists thought that humans aged more slowly than other animals, especially given our relatively long life spans and access to modern medicine. But now, the first-ever comparison of human aging patterns with those in chimps and other primates suggests the pace of human aging may not be so unique after all. Picked up by Discovery News, US News & World Report, ABC News, MSNBC, Science Magazine, USA Today, CBS News, and NPR’s Science Friday.
Evolution drives many plants and animals to be bigger, faster
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Evolution drives many plants and animals to be bigger, faster. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, March 7, 2011. For the vast majority of plants and animals, the ‘bigger is better’ view of evolution may not be far off the mark, says a new study of natural selection.
The secret life of yeast bread
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The secret life of yeast bread. Raleigh News and Observer, January 31, 2011. Have you ever wondered why bread rises? Why sourdough bread tastes different from French? A chemist demystifies the science and craft behind one of our most familiar foods.
Biological clock ticks slower for female birds who choose good mates
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Biological clock ticks slower for female birds who choose good mates. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, January 18, 2011. In birds as in people, female fertility declines with age, but some female songbirds can slow the ticking of their biological clocks by choosing the right mates. Picked up by MSNBC.
The worms within
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The worms within. Scientific American Guest Blog, December 17, 2010. Some of the worms and germs we’ve been warding off may actually keep us well. One solution, some scientists say, is to welcome them back.
Primates are more resilient than other animals to environmental ups and downs
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Primates are more resilient than other animals to environmental ups and downs. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, December 1, 2010.What sets mankind’s closest relatives — monkeys, apes, and other primates — apart from other animals? According to a new study, one answer is that primates are less susceptible to seasonal ups and downs. Picked up by TIME Magazine.
Scientists look at crops, bugs and animals
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Scientists look at crops, bugs and animals. Raleigh News and Observer, November 8, 2010. When most people think about genetic engineering, they usually think of genetically modified crops like corn and soybeans. Now, the debate over transgenics is turning from plants to mosquitoes and other pests.
Single parenthood doesn’t pay off for plants
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Single parenthood doesn’t pay off for plants. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, November 8, 2010. Plants that can pollinate themselves are more likely to go extinct, says a new study of the nightshade plant family.
N.C. Zoo works without borders
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N.C. Zoo works without borders. Raleigh News and Observer, September 20, 2010. Researchers at the NC zoo use high tech tracking tools to save wildlife and wild places far beyond the park gates.
Scared snails opt for single parenthood rather than wait for a mate
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Scared snails opt for single parenthood rather than wait for a mate. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, August 16, 2010. Solitary snails in search of a mate put off parenthood as long as possible in the hopes that a partner will appear. But scared snails settle for single parenthood much sooner than their calm counterparts, says a new study. Picked up by USA Today, the Dallas Morning News, and LiveScience.
Penguin males with steady pitch make better parents
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Penguin males with steady pitch make better parents. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, July 12, 2010. Courtship calls help penguin females decide which males are likely to be devoted dads. Picked up by the New Zealand Herald and the Post and Courier.
Why you should never arm wrestle a saber-toothed tiger
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Why you should never arm wrestle a saber-toothed tiger. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, July 2, 2010. Saber-toothed cats may be best known for their supersized canines, but they also had exceptionally strong forelimbs for pinning prey before delivering the fatal bite. Picked up by Discover Magazine, Science News, MSNBC, and Science.
Ants forecast forests’ future
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Ants forecast forests’ future. Raleigh News and Observer, June 28, 2010. Ants and other insects may not be the first things you spot on a walk in the woods, but N.C. State biologist Rob Dunn believes they have something important to say about the future of forests under climate change.
Competition puts the brakes on body evolution in island lizards
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Competition puts the brakes on body evolution in island lizards. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, June 18, 2010. Anolis lizards compete in ways that shape their bodies over evolutionary time, says a new study in the journal Evolution.
Thriving in thin air
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Scientists uncover the genetic secrets that allow Tibetans to thrive in thin air. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, June 7, 2010. A new study pinpoints the genetic changes that enable Tibetans to thrive at altitudes where others get sick. Picked up by Discovery News, Irish Times, and the New York Times.