Cannibal larvae eat eggs, grow fast, avoid predators
Insects that cannibalize often do so to boost their nutrition, but a new study of Colorado potato beetles suggests another reason for the behavior: to lay low from predators.
View ArticleUS streams carry surprisingly extensive mixture of pollutants
Many U.S. waterways carry a variety of pollutants, but not much is known about the composition or health effects of these chemical combinations. A new in-depth study, however, is providing insight as...
View ArticleTerpenes are the world's most widespread communication medium
If you're small, smells are a good way to stand out. A team of researchers led by the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) has demonstrated for the first time that two different types of...
View ArticleUsing an airplane to measure volatile organic compounds from oil sands...
(Phys.org)—A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in Canada has found that using an airplane to carry emissions reading hardware over mining facilities offers a better way to...
View ArticleLonger-lasting pain relief with MOFs
To treat headaches, back pain or fever, most of us have reached for ibuprofen at one point or another. But we often have to take doses every four to six hours if the pain warrants it. Now scientists...
View ArticleDuring heat waves, urban trees can increase ground-level ozone
Planting trees is a popular strategy to help make cities "greener," both literally and figuratively. But scientists have found a counterintuitive effect of urban vegetation: During heat waves, it can...
View ArticleWhy a crackly crust is essential to a baguette's aroma and taste
An authentic French baguette is one of those key staples that foodies hunt for. Now scientists have gained new insight into why a crisp crust is a must for this quintessential bread. They report their...
View ArticleWorld's first success in asymmetric borylation of ketones
A team of Hokkaido University researchers has developed the world's first method to achieve the catalytic asymmetric borylation of ketones, a breakthrough expected to facilitate the development of new...
View ArticleResearchers work with dogs to sniff out chemicals that identify human remains
Researchers from the University of Leicester are working with police forces in the UK to improve the accuracy of police dogs in identifying human remains in criminal investigations.
View ArticleUndersea life holds promise for killing tuberculosis
A team of researchers at the University of Central Florida has discovered a potential new weapon in the fight against tuberculosis, and it lives in the Little Mermaid's realm.
View ArticleScientists equip chemical sensors with 'traps' to detect toxic substances
Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University and the University of Chemistry and Technology (Prague, Czech Republic) have created novel chemical sensors for Raman spectrometers, devices that measure...
View ArticleAir quality measurements in the sky over Europe
It looks like a bucket list for city trips, but it's the current route of the HALO research aircraft. Until the end of July, atmosphere researchers from all over Germany will study air pollution above...
View ArticleNew green solvent could help clean our air
French researchers have patented an eco-friendly liquid mixture that could help trap harmful pollutants from the air. The non-flammable solvent contains urea and choline salt, a common ingredient in...
View ArticleLasers zap decontaminates from soil
There might be a new and improved way to rid contaminated soil of toxins and pollutants: zap it with lasers. By directly breaking down pollutants, researchers say, high-powered lasers can now be more...
View ArticleMaking 3-D printing safer
Within the past decade, 3-D printers have gone from bulky, expensive curiosities to compact, more affordable consumer products. At the same time, concerns have emerged that nanoparticles released from...
View ArticleTeam gathers unprecedented data on atmosphere's organic chemistry
For a few weeks over the summer in 2011, teams of scientists from around the world converged on a small patch of ponderosa pine forest in Colorado to carry out one of the most detailed, extended survey...
View Article'Something wicked (smelling)' this way comes—the science of fabrics and odors
Researchers from New Zealand's University of Otago have used advanced technology to find out why three common fibre types differ in how they take in and release body odor.
View ArticleFueling a cleaner combustion
An additive for conventional fuel comprised of oxygenated organic compounds could help reduce the release of pollutants into the atmosphere during the combustion of fossil fuels. Researchers from KAUST...
View ArticlePurple plant is on the defensive
While lavender has long been known for its strong scent and soothing oils, a UBC researcher is exploring the plant's ability to create natural pesticides.
View ArticleGadgets: Nothing to sneeze at! Desktop device monitors indoor air quality.
I recently tested the Awair, Air Quality Monitor, which tracks the five key factors of air quality including chemicals such as volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide, dust, humidity, and...
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