Category: 5. Biology
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These fungi-eating, fairy-like plants aren’t extinct after all
In a phenomenon that sounds straight out of a sci-fi movie or kooky musical, there are some plants on Earth that actually eat other organisms. The genus Thismia, commonly called fairy lanterns, is a rare but widely dispersed plant genus that is primarily spread across tropical regions of Asia, Australia, and South America and the…
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The Weight of Responsibility: Biomass of Livestock Dwarfs That of Wild Mammals – Environment | Weizmann Wonder Wander
We often think that our world is an infinite realm comprising great plains, jungles and oceans, teeming with wild animals featured in memorable nature shows like the BBC’s Planet Earth. But the first global census of wild mammal biomass, conducted by Weizmann Institute of Science researchers and reported today in PNAS, reveals the extent to…
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‘Mommy brain’ doesn’t capture how the brain transforms during pregnancy
Pregnancy shrinks parts of the brain. That sounds bad. Throw in the forgetfulness and fogginess, or “momnesia,” that many moms report, and what’s left is the notion that for the brain, the transition to motherhood is a net loss. “I see it on social media all the time,” says neuroscientist and therapist Jodi Pawluski of…
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Understanding the Link Between Gum Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex, chronic inflammatory disease that is thought to affect about one percent of the world’s population. RA happens when a person’s own antibodies attack joint tissue, causing painful swelling, stiffness, and redness. Some research has suggested that there is a link between RA and gum disease. Gum disease is estimated…
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Sweet Potato Flour Offers A Healthy Gluten-Free Substitute
For many people, ingesting gluten can cause gastrointestinal issues due to Celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or other conditions. For those with these conditions, more traditional wheat flour can lead to stomach pain, nausea, and in some cases intestinal damage. There have been many mass-market products that use gluten-free flours in order to offer dietary…
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Agriculture, Aquaponics, and Floral Hemp Production | Mona Farnisa, MS Student at the University of Nevada, Reno | Grad Student Highlights
This interview series is focused on the graduate student experience across all STEM fields that allows them to get their research, or corresponding graduate coursework, out in front of a large global audience and share their experiences in graduate school. Our goal is to inspire the next generation of STEM students to pursue graduate studies…
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Sea stars are key to protecting vulnerable kelp forests
There’s a case to be made that the world’s greatest forests are not terrestrial. That’s in large part due to kelp. Like their less watery counterparts, kelp forests play an important role in carbon cycling across the planet, converting carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis and sequestering the carbon beneath the ocean’s surface. Kelp forests…
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Diet changes in early life can reduce risk of digestive issues in dogs
We all know that there are certain foods that dogs just can’t eat, including toxic options like chocolate. There are other foods, however, that while not lethal, can lead to a range of health and digestive issues for your canine friend. As a pet owner, you may be wondering what you can and can’t feed…
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Neandertals Hunted and Feasted on Giant Prehistoric Elephants
Recently, research further concluded that Neandertals were carnivores based on results from zinc isotope analysis. We know they likely ate meat, but questions remained regarding what type of meat they likely ate. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait long to learn about at least one component of the Neandertal diet: prehistoric elephants. A new study…
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Oldest ancient ‘marine crocodile’ found off the UK Coastline
Along the coast of Dorset, England, is a geologic wonder called the Charmouth Mudstone Formation. Here, you can find people enjoying nature’s views, fossil hunting, and walking along the Jurassic coast where now-extinct life once thrived and where prehistoric peoples once inhabited the landscape from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. The Jurassic Coast was declared a UNESCO…