The symbol of U.S. freedom, the American bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, has gone from the brink of extinction to a burgeoning population in under 50 years thanks to help and protection from the Endangered Species Act. This holiday week seems like a portentous time to announce that after years of decline due to habitat degradation and disappearance,…
A collaboration between scientists at Harvard University and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering claims to have developed a bionic leaf. Using bacterium the artificial vegetation is turning sunlight into liquid fuel. Once the bionic leaf splits water into hydrogen and oxygen the soil bacterium Ralstonia eutropha consumes the hydrogen gas converting it into protons…
After years of research scientists have discovered a sea slug which is able to integrate genes from the algae it ingests and use them to perform photosynthetic processes, similar to a plant. The emerald green sea slug, Elysia chlorotica, is able to photosynthesize using the algal genes and can survive for months solely on energy produced…
Colony collapse has been a hot topic since the large decline of honeybee populations was noted several years ago. Since then many theories postulating various causes have made the rounds, each one has its merits and detractors and in the end it is possible that all are contributing factors. The most recent theory suggests that stress…
Researchers at the University of Georgia have successfully cryogenically frozen germplasm from hemlock trees being wiped out around the country by the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. This may be the first step in eliminating these invasive tree pests. Their method includes a new way of cloning the few trees they have found that are actually fighting off…
A Princeton University research team has found that termites can actually slow the desertification process by creating small oases of plant life. Their results suggest that not only prevent the spread of deserts into semi-arid ecosystems and agricultural lands but can also increase their resilience to climate change. In the arid savannas and grasslands termite…
On Friday, January 30th after 2 failed attempts NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive Satellite (SMAP) was finally launched on a Delta 2 rocket. The SMAP have been in development for almost 2 decades, once it is in orbit at 426 miles above the Earth’s surface it will measure soil moisture content. This data is critical…
World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on February 2, but the importance of wetlands should be recognized throughout the year. Wetlands are a critical part of the watershed, these ecosystems; act as a sink for stormwater, filter and purify water, grow rice crops feeding millions, provide habitat for wildlife, help prevent coastal erosion and flooding and…
2015 has been named the “International Year of Soil” (IYS) and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) has developed activities to support educational outreach, assigning a theme for each month of the year. February’s theme is “Soils Support Urban Life”. Over 80% of the population in the U.S. resides in urban areas, while there…
We hear a lot about honeybees now, with colony collapse posing a large, ominous threat to our agricultural industry and therefore populations, but often overlooked are the wonders and benefits of native bees. Native bees are incredibly diverse, with over 4,000 known species, they also display unique behaviors and biological quirks. Wildlife photographer, Clay Bolt,…
