News | Archive (April 2007)
Plants do not emit methane
— 27 Apr 2007 | EnvironmentA recent study in Nature suggested that terrestrial plants may be a global source of the potent greenhouse gas methane, making plants substantial contributors to the annual global methane... — full story
Tracking genes for self-pollination in Arabidopsis
— 27 Apr 2007 | BiologySome plants need a partner to reproduce. Pollen from one plant pollinates the stigma of another, and a seed is formed. But other plants can self-pollinate, a handy survival mechanism... — full story
Hibernating bears conserve more muscle strength than humans on bed rest do
— 24 Apr 2007 | BiologyA fascinating new study from the recent issue of Physiological and Biochemical Zoology quantifiably measures the loss of strength and endurance in black bears during long periods of... — full story
Prehistoric mystery organism confirmed as giant fungus
— 23 Apr 2007 | Geology and palaeontologyScientists at the University of Chicago and the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, have produced new evidence to finally resolve the mysterious identity of what they... — full story
The first rainforest of our planet unearthed
— 23 Apr 2007 | Geology and palaeontologyA spectacular fossilised forest has transformed our understanding of the ecology of the Earths first rainforests. It is 300 million years old. The forest is composed of a bizarre mixture... — full story
The mountain gorillas of Uganda increase in number
— 20 Apr 2007 | BiologyThe most recent census of mountain gorillas in Ugandas Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - one of only two places in the world where the rare gorillas exist - has found that the population... — full story
Study shows three genetically distinct groups of chimpanzees
— 20 Apr 2007 | BiologyThe largest study to date of genetic variation among chimpanzees has found that the traditional, geography-based sorting of chimps into three populations - western, central and eastern... — full story
New bird genus discovered in the Solomon Islands
— 20 Apr 2007 | BiologyNew genera of living birds are rare discoveries - fewer than one per year is announced globally. David Steadman and Andrew Kratter, ornithologists at the Florida Museum of Natural History,... — full story
Why some aphids can not stand the heat?
— 20 Apr 2007 | BiologyFor pea aphids, the ability to go forth and multiply can depend on a single gene, according to new research. An overheated aphid with a mutation in that gene can not reproduce. The... — full story
The secret of what makes plants flower unlocked
— 19 Apr 2007 | BiologyThe study reveals the likely mechanism by which the Arabidopsis plant flowers in response to changes in day length. Earlier research had shown that plants leaves perceived seasonal... — full story