Australian wasp becomes arachnophobe’s hero
The notorious redback spider has a predator of its own. The Agenioideus nicricornis wasp is less than a centimetre long, but what it lacks in stature it makes up for in deadly hunting...
View ArticleWhy do whales and humans have such long menopause?
Long menopause allows killer whales to care for sons. Biologically speaking, menopause is a bizarre concept. Very few species have a prolonged period of their lifespan when they no longer reproduce....
View ArticleFighting tuberculosis with soil bacterium
A natural compound found in soil kills antibiotic-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Current antibiotics are rapidly losing their medicinal potency as bacterial strains continuously mutate,...
View ArticleScientists discover how bees develop optimised traplines
Brainiac bumblebees buzzing with mathematical solutions. With the arrival of spring comes the familiar buzz of bees, however their pirouettes from flower to flower are anything but random....
View ArticleMeet a flavour creator
Willy Wonka novelty lab or just a little disturbing? Chemists working in flavour laboratories are responsible for developing the taste of a wide range of food products found in your local supermarket....
View ArticleProtein could give IVF couples hope
One protein is critical for the beginning of life. As we learned in our high school biology classes, pregnancy occurs when an egg and a sperm fuse, either in the womb or in...
View ArticleA new viral treatment for acne has been developed
Viruses that live on the skin naturally quash acne-causing bacteria. Although acne is not life threatening it does affect millions of people and can leave severe emotional and physical scars. There is...
View ArticleSee-through soil will improve crops
The mysterious world of the rhizosphere revealed. Understanding soil processes is essential for addressing global issues of food security, disease transmission and climate change. However, techniques...
View ArticlePlastic and print power
Plastic solar cells could pave the way for a clean energy industry. Plastic may soon replace silicon when it comes to making solar cells; building developers are already looking at ways to integrate...
View ArticlePreschoolers think like scientists
Child’s play is very similar to scientific experiments. When toddlers are playing with blocks, you shouldn’t assume that they’re just placing them randomly. They may be conducting a basic scientific...
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