In 1965, renowned bee biologist Charles Michener described a new species of masked bee from “an entirely unexpected region,” the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. Michener named the bee Hylaeus…
Category: Life
Intelligence and Focus: How the Brain Tunes Out Distractions
Summary: Researchers made a breakthrough in understanding how the brain manages to focus in noisy environments, distinguishing between enhancing relevant information and tuning out distractions. Their study explores the intricate…
Older monarch caterpillars binge on toxic milkweed goo
Maybe science has misunderstood the dining style of big monarch butterfly caterpillars. What insect watchers have called defense against the toxic latex a milkweed plant oozes may not be avoidance…
Decoding Emotions: Beyond Senses in the Human Brain
Summary: A new study explores how the human brain constructs emotions, regardless of sensory input. By analyzing brain activity in individuals with and without sensory deprivations while they experienced the…
Unlocking Synaptic Mysteries: The Role of FAM81A Protein
Summary: Researchers have identified a critical protein, FAM81A, that plays a pivotal role in forming postsynaptic protein agglomerations, essential for synaptic function in the brain. By analyzing 35 previous studies,…
International Women’s Day 2024 – Functional Ecologists
To celebrate International Women’s Day 2024, we are excited to share a collection of blog posts showcasing the work of some of our new Associate Editors. In each post, our…
Drawings Shape Math Problem-Solving Skills
Summary: Researchers uncovered the connection between individuals’ drawings and their arithmetic problem-solving strategies. By analyzing the illustrations produced by both children and adults when tasked with solving simple mathematical problems,…
This is the first egg-laying amphibian found to feed its babies ‘milk’
In the middle of the night in a humid coastal rainforest, a litter of pink, hairless babies snuggle with their mother. They stir and squeak for milk, their mother obliges,…

