For humans hair is like an accessory, we spend money cutting it, styling it, and coloring it; almost everything we do with our hair is for superficial reasons (except for cilia in our intestines, nasal cavity etc). Animals have fur for protective purposes, to keep warm in the summer or perhaps camouflage....

The University of Central Florida has taken a leap through time and devised a method of harvesting ethanol from garbage items. Sound familiar? Yes, this scenario is not unlike the DeLorean in the popular science fiction movie, Back to the Future. It may be true that the future of clean ethanol lies in...

When we made the transition a little over a decade ago from the nineteenth to the twentieth century, many believed that we were finally closing the door on one of the most notably problematic and violent centuries in world history. Not only were two major World Wars fought during this period, but major...

You may have heard of solar power, but what about harnessing power via photosynthesis?   Controlled by humans, solar panels can generate electrical power through photovoltaic cells.  As opposed to solar panels, photosynthesis employs only the natural sources of plants and the sun to convert solar...

Originally shipped to the United States in the 1930’s to help reduce soil erosion, the Chinese bush clover (Sericea lespedeza) is now being used to promote the health of pasture-grazing mammals. When the Chinese bush clover is put into pelleted form, it can be added to livestock’s feed.  When consumed...

The cycle of agricultural life across the globe occurs as a series of chain reactions. Scientists are now becoming acutely aware of the immense cross industrial impacts that stem from a few seemingly harmless practices in the agricultural world. Today’s featured study is one that investigates the impact...

Studies have shown that the yields of many different plant species decrease by as much as 30% when the temperature has surpassed 86 degrees Fahrenheit.  Such a profound decline in crop yields would harm producers and consumers alike, and it appears that this problem may get worse with global warming....

As I was reading this article today, I realized that for some reason I tend to prefer learning about genetic research over other sub disciplines in Biology. The more knowledge we have about the specific functions of genes, the better chance we have of curing genetic diseases.  Research into the viral...

The principle of “an eye for an eye” found in the Code of Hammurabi of ancient Babylonian origin has been understood by anthropologists and other social scientists as being a peculiar characteristic of human social interaction for centuries. Although it may seem that we are the only species of life...

In the western United States, extreme weather conditions threaten vegetation, wildlife, and surrounding communities.  With conditions ranging from heavy snow in the winter to severe drought and wildfires in the summer, the plant life in these areas takes a brutal beating by Mother Nature.   Under...

Every time I read about agricultural research, I notice that the focus is always on the need for food. More specifically, the need to be able to grow more plants with fewer resources so that we can alleviate world hunger. A lot of the studies I have read and written about focus on cures for fungal infections...

In the battle to survive and thrive in today’s world of unpredictable climate change, it may be that the invasive and non-native plants reign supreme.   Charles C. Davis, an assistant professor at the Harvard Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, recently published his findings from...

In many of my previous articles, I have often discussed the rather interesting phenomenon of plant communication. While this is undoubtedly an amazing testament to the inherent complexity of plant life, evolutionarily, the ability for plants to be able to communicate with one another is more of a pragmatic...

There will be blood in a football game that sets two bitter rivals against each other. However, not all of the players are on the field with a mindset of inflicting permanent pain upon the other team. Some players, the good sportsmen, will be kind enough to help lift their counterpart up after a rough...

America has long embraced the wide use and consumption of genetically modified or GM foods in daily life. But now, there seems to be a new buzz in the air about using the benefits of genetically modifying trees to increase the rate of growth in the United State’s southeastern forests. A proposition...

As humans we have seen and heard about multiple kinds of influenza viruses. Currently, one of the problems caused by H1N1 infection is being able to distinguish the symptoms of a sick person. Doctors and researchers have been trying to figure out the best ways to differentiate the symptoms of H1N1 from...

It is a common belief that going out at night is much more dangerous than going out during the day. Although reasons for fearing the dark differs amongst humans, the fear is usually rational and can often prevent unnecessary tragedies. As a teenager, I was often irked when my parents refused to let me...

If asked to identify three poisonous entities that can be found in nature, what first comes to mind?  A snake? A spider? How about an almond tree? Although almonds may have many health benefits associated with their consumption, the nectar of an almond tree actually has quite the opposite effect. After...