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A Satellite Of Our Own

The regular daily and monthly rhythms of Earth's only natural satellite, the Moon, have guided timekeepers for thousands of years. Its influence on Earth's cycles, notably tides, has also been charted by many cultures in many ages. More than 70 spacecraft have been sent to the Moon; 12 astronauts have walked upon its surface and brought back 382 kg ...

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ASatelliteOfOurOwn
Biology

Why is Red-Green Colorblindness a 'Guy Thing?'

Colorblind girls and women are rare, while men who can't match their socks are relatively common. The reason is a genetic phenomenon called sex-linked inheritance. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. ... Continue reading

ColorBlindness
Biology

The Strange Case Of Phineas Gage

Long before the advent of neuroscience, brain injuries have been used to deduce how the brain is organized into separate regions handling separate tasks. Consider the case of Phineas Gage, a ... Continue reading

PhineasGage
Biology

Butterflies In Your Brain

The idea behind chaos theory is that complex systems have an inherent element of unpredictability. The human brain certainly qualifies as a complex system. It is also a chaotic system. It does not ... Continue reading

ButterfliesInYourBrain
Biology

California Condor

Archaeological evidence indicates that condors have been revered by western Native Americans for thousands of years and played a major role in their legends and rituals. Condors were considered sacred ... Continue reading

CaliforniaCondor

Send In the Lady

LadybugsOne of the world's most recognizable insects is the ladybug. Ladybugs belong to a family of insects called Coccinellid, with about 5,000 species identified. But this little insect is more than just another pretty face, for the ladybug has been enlisted to fight in the front lines in our eternal war against insect predators. And with a reported 15% of all food and ornamental crops damaged or destroyed by insect pests, we can use all the help we can get.

Biological control is nothing new. For centuries farmers have sought the help of not only ladybugs, but praying mantis, wasps and mites as well. With recent concerns about the overuse of pesticides, there has been a renewed focus on fighting insects with their natural predators. The ladybug is well equipped for the job. In both the larval and adult stages, they prey on many soft-bodied bugs, including aphids and scales.

Like anything else though, you can have too much of a good thing. Nature is a balance, not only on a global, but also on a regional and local level. If the balance is thrown off, unexprected consequences may result. With this in mind, many farmers are using a combination of pesticides and natural insect control. And one of their favorites is the ladybug. Need help getting rid of those aphids? Send in the lady.