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Forbes
08-08-2025
- Science
- Forbes
Why Do Treehoppers Have Such Bizarro Body Shapes?
Treehoppers detect electrical fields emitted by their predators and may also distinguish between electrical fields emitted by their predators and friendly insects. Treehoppers are small, gentle insects that are famous for their astonishing morphological diversity – there's about 3,200 species of treehoppers in over 400 genera and they vary tremendously in shape and include bizarre features such as horns, spines, balls and tridents (Figure 1). But what is the function of their extraordinary body shapes? Could it be for camouflage, mimicry, or perhaps for physical defense? These are interesting ideas, but such explanations don't make sense for the entire family of treehoppers. Based on the recent discovery that bumblebees and their flowers communicate using static electricity (ref), the authors of that study followed up by asking whether the distinctive body shapes of treehoppers might help them detect static electricity, too. 'If we can link treehopper shapes to certain aspects of their electrical ecology, like specific predators which approach from certain angles with particular static charges, this would really begin to strongly support our ideas around static electricity as an evolutionary driver,' lead author, ecological physicist Sam England, said. Dr England is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Museum für Naturkunde–Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, but this particular study was part of the requirements for the PhD at the University of Bristol. Dr England and collaborators investigated this phenomenon by using a picoammeter to measure treehopper static electricity (Figure 2A). They found that these insects retreat from electrical fields. Dr England and collaborators then found that predatory wasps emit electrical fields (Figure 2B,C,D,E) that are significantly different in both magnitude and polarity from those emitted by friendly stingless bees that often protect treehoppers from their predators. This difference in electrical charge suggests that treehoppers may use electroreception to distinguish between friends and foes, and thus provides a powerful evolutionary reason for treehoppers to have sensitive electroreception capabilities. Dr England and collaborators then used computational methods to demonstrate that the extreme body shapes of treehoppers enhance the electric field strength around the treehopper, and this likely increases their sensitivity to static electricity, thereby providing a powerful reason for them to evolve and maintain their weird body shapes. Are all insects capable of electroreception? 'We don't know for certain how widespread this electrostatic sense is, but given the diversity of animals already shown to have it, plus the breadth of ecological functions they use it for, we feel quite strongly that this sense may be very widespread, especially amongst insects and other small animals,' Dr England replied in email. If electroreception is so widespread amongst insects, why aren't they all bizarrely shaped? 'The answer is likely manyfold, but one answer is that evolution is a process dictated by chance and tradeoffs,' Dr England explained in email. For example, although many animals would probably benefit from having the acute vision of an eagle, most lineages haven't evolved the sensory adaptations necessary for such good vision because the random mutations required to start building a highly acute eye haven't occurred in their lineages, or the physiological cost of maintaining such an eye in most species is greater than the survival benefit they would gain from having better vision, making it maladaptive to have such acute vision. 'In the same ways, maybe treehoppers just happened to stumble across the original mutations that allowed them to grow these elaborate pronotums that other insects just didn't get so lucky with,' Dr England observed in email, 'or something about the electric ecology of treehoppers, like the subtle differences we observed between the charges of predators and mutalists of the treehoppers, means they especially benefit from a hyper-sensitive electroreceptive system, that justifies the costly construction of these large electroreceptive structures.' By demonstrating that the extreme morphology of treehoppers increases the strength of electric field stimuli around these animals, Dr England and collaborators suggest that the enigmatic function of their spectacular pronota is partly as an electroreceptor, and that natural selection for increased electrical sensitivity may have contributed to their diverse evolution. 'We think our study provides a really exciting launch pad for investigating static electricity as a driver of organismal morphology more generally,' Dr England said. Dr England and collaborators are planning to investigate how different treehopper morphologies could be adaptive for different electrical environments. Further, there's other insects, spiders, animals – and even plants – that also have really extreme shapes, which in many cases are currently without explanation. 'Our study provides the first evidence of the electrostatic sense potentially driving morphological evolution, but we can't prove this just yet.' Source: Sam J. England, Ryan A. Palmer, Liam J. O'Reilly, Isaac V. Chenchiah, and Daniel Robert (2025). Electroreception in treehoppers: How extreme morphologies can increase electrical sensitivity, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 122(30):e2505253122 | doi:10.1073/pnas.2505253122 © Copyright by GrrlScientist | hosted by Forbes | Socials: Bluesky | CounterSocial | LinkedIn | Mastodon Science | Spoutible | SubStack | Threads | Tumblr | Twitter
France 24
23-07-2025
- Business
- France 24
'Garden of Eden': Albania eyes up growing exotic fruit for Europe
Veteran agronomist Irakli Shkoza's small farm not far from sea in central Albania is a kind of Garden of Eden in the Adriatic sun. With temperatures rising every year, Shkoza hit upon the idea to diversify back in 2019 at a time in his life when others would already have been long retired. The 75-year-old first brought seeds from Africa and America and planted them on his two-hectare (4.9-acre) plot. All plants have adapted very well to the warm local climate. Nestled between rolling farmland and the sea, the Divjaka region was the granary of Albania, with farmers there now growing vegetables and watermelons for local and export markets. Warming planet But rising temperatures and a worker shortage -- the small Balkan nation of 2.7 million has lost 400,000 people in a decade -- have taken their toll on farms. "Exotic fruits need less water and maintenance which makes production costs lower," Shkoza said. Albania's typical Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild winters, has changed due to global warming. By the end of the century, average temperatures in the Western Balkans are projected to rise between 3.5 and 8.8 degrees Celsius, based on a 2022 study, assuming moderate to high greenhouse gas emissions continue. Heatwaves "will probably damage crop yields, particularly in Albania, where average temperatures are highest during the summer", according to researchers Daniel Muller and Max Hofmann from the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies. Agriculture, forestry and fishing accounted for 19 percent of Albania's gross domestic product in 2020. But climate change need not be completely disastrous, Shkoza said, if we adapt to take advantage of it. Albanian farmers need to start producing a lot of exotic fruit crops to profit from their favourable climate, he insisted. "These fruits are very much in demand on the European market, but they come from far away, Latin America, Southeast Asia, New Zealand, Australia." Their transport to Europe has a cost, both financially and in terms of freshness. If they came from Albania not only would they be cheaper, they would be fresher, argued agronomist Altin Hila. The papayas found on European markets are harvested while still green and then brought to Europe where they ripen artificially, said Vasil Nikolovski, a production manager from North Macedonia who has been working in Divjaka for several years. "Here, they can ripen on the trees," he added. "Albania has the capacity to meet European market demands and with exotic fruits exports and could make a turnover of 100 to 200 million euros annually." Abundant harvest Shkoza is already exporting dragon fruit, passion fruit and pepinos, or melon pears which originate in Latin America, to European markets. With other farmers in the Divjaka region, he recently sent 30 tons of kiwano, also known as the African horned cucumber, to buyers in Croatia. "And this year's harvest looks set to be abundant," he said looking at the buds on his dragon fruit flowers. Some 55 kilometres (34 miles) to the west near Elbasan, Lulzim Bullari has started growing kiwis. "We cannot complain about the high temperatures, the last two years kiwi production has been a blessing," he told AFP standing in the middle of his 40 hectares of orchards. The kiwis he grows are almost exclusively for export to Switzerland and the Netherlands. Recently, Bullari has also started growing fig trees from North Africa, which are highly resistant to the mild winter climate, on around 15 hectares. "Luck favours the bold and you have to run to catch it," Bullari said.
Sustainability Times
13-07-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'These Ancient Cells Just Came Back to Life': Scientists Awestruck as 7,000-Year-Old Algae Revived From Baltic Sea Depths, Defying Biological Limits
IN A NUTSHELL 🌊 In a groundbreaking study, researchers revived 7,000-year-old algae from the Baltic Sea, revealing ancient survival strategies. from the Baltic Sea, revealing ancient survival strategies. 🔬 The research, led by the Leibniz Institute , used optimal conditions to awaken dormant diatom cells buried in sediment layers. , used optimal conditions to awaken dormant diatom cells buried in sediment layers. 🧬 Genetic analysis of the revived algae uncovered distinct evolutionary changes over millennia, offering insights into marine adaptation. over millennia, offering insights into marine adaptation. 🌍 This study paves the way for advances in resurrection ecology, helping predict future ecosystem responses to climate change. In the depths of the Baltic Sea, a groundbreaking discovery has emerged, shedding light on the incredible resilience of life. Scientists have successfully revived 7,000-year-old dormant algae, a feat that opens new avenues in understanding the adaptability of marine life over millennia. This remarkable achievement by the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) not only offers insights into the long-term survival strategies of marine organisms but also provides a unique opportunity to study past ecosystems and the evolutionary pathways that have shaped them. The revival of these ancient diatoms marks a new chapter in paleoecology and resurrection ecology. The Science Behind Dormancy and Resurrection Dormancy is a fascinating survival strategy employed by various life forms across the globe. It allows organisms to withstand harsh conditions by entering a state of reduced metabolic activity. Phytoplankton, the microscopic plants at the base of aquatic food chains, particularly rely on dormancy. During unfavorable conditions, like winter's cold and darkness, these organisms sink to the bottom, becoming buried under sediment layers. This state of suspended animation can last thousands of years until conditions improve. The recent study, published in The ISME Journal, explored the resurrection of dormant algae from Baltic Sea sediment cores. This research, part of the PHYTOARK project, aims to use dormant phytoplankton as 'time capsules' to decode ecological history, biodiversity, and climate change impacts over centuries. By reviving these ancient cells, scientists gain a rare glimpse into past marine ecosystems and environmental conditions, offering invaluable insights into how marine life adapts to changing environments. 'We Spent 8 Years Building This': Watchmakers Unveil the Most Complex Timepiece Ever Created in Human History Bringing 7,000-Year-Old Algae Back to Life Led by IOW phytoplankton expert Sarah Bolius, the research team embarked on an ambitious mission to revive dormant diatom cells from sediment cores collected 787 feet below the Eastern Gotland Deep. These cores span nearly 7,000 years, each layer reflecting different climatic periods in the Baltic Sea's history. The samples were retrieved during a 2021 expedition aboard the research vessel Elisabeth Mann Borgese. Using optimal light and nutrient conditions, researchers revived algae from nine sediment samples. The most resilient species was Skeletonema marinoi, a common diatom in the Baltic Sea. Viable cells dating back 6,871 ± 140 years were found, showcasing their extraordinary resilience despite millennia without light or oxygen. Upon revival, these algae resumed growth, division, and photosynthesis, demonstrating the retention of genetic material and biological fitness comparable to modern strains. 'We Found Evidence of Advanced Tech': Archaeologists Say Ancient Egyptians May Have Used Water-Powered Machines to Build the Pyramids The Genetic Secrets of the Resurrected Algae A key aspect of this study is the genetic analysis of the revived algae. Using microsatellite analysis, researchers compared the DNA of algae from different sediment layers, spanning thousands of years. This genetic profiling revealed distinct genetic groups among the algae, highlighting evolutionary changes over time. This discovery is crucial, as it allows scientists to trace genetic adaptations over millennia, offering insights into marine life's evolution and response to environmental changes. By studying living cells, researchers gain a more accurate picture of how organisms reacted to shifts in climate, salinity, and oxygen levels. This genetic analysis provides a deeper understanding of the resilience and adaptability of marine species over long periods. 'We're Entering the Mach 5 Era': US Military's SR-72 Hypersonic Jet Set to Shatter Speed Limits With 2025 Debut Dormancy as a Survival Strategy and Research Tool Dormancy's role as a survival strategy is not unique to algae. Various seeds, crustaceans, and bacteria can remain viable for centuries or millennia in dormancy. However, the successful resurrection of algae after 7,000 years is unprecedented and highlights organisms' potential to recolonize habitats when conditions improve. Resurrection ecology, a growing research area, offers scientists a unique tool to study the past and understand organism adaptation to environmental shifts. By reviving dormant organisms, researchers can conduct 'time-jump experiments', simulating different historical ecological conditions. This approach revolutionizes our understanding of ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate change's long-term effects. The Future of Resurrection Ecology This study's promising results are just the beginning. Revived strains of S. marinoi will undergo further testing under varying conditions to understand their responses to temperature, salinity, and oxygen levels. Coupled with genetic analyses, researchers aim to trace intricate genetic changes over thousands of years. This research could help predict marine ecosystems' responses to future climate changes, offering insights into biodiversity evolution under shifting environmental factors. Resurrection ecology may also reveal the resilience of marine species and ecosystems' recovery potential from human disturbances or environmental changes. As we delve deeper into resurrection ecology, what other secrets from the past might we uncover to help us navigate the challenges of the future? This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (27)
CTV News
09-06-2025
- Science
- CTV News
Invisible smoke from Canadian wildfires detected over Europe: study
An orange-coloured haze, resulting from a nearby wildfire, is seen on a helipad in La Ronge, Sask., in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency Invisible smoke from Canadian wildfires has been detected high above Europe. According to a new study from the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research in Germany, layers of invisible smoke were detected in Europe's atmosphere during the 2023 wildfire season. Similar results were observed again in early June. 'This suggests that the atmosphere over Europe might be more polluted than previously thought, especially during the summer wildfire season,' the study explained. Published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, the study was based on lidar measurements in Leibniz, Germany. Short for Light Detection and Ranging, lidar is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to create three-dimensional models. It works similarly to radar, which uses radio waves. Lidar was able to reveal layers of wildfire smoke that were otherwise invisible on satellite images. 'In the spring and summer of 2023, huge wildfires raged across Canada, with unusual intensity in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia,' the study said. 'With the prevailing westerly winds, large amounts of biomass-burning aerosol were transported towards Europe.' Researchers say these thin layers of smoke in the atmosphere can contribute to ice cloud formation, impacting sunlight and climate on the ground.
Euronews
23-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Does Germany need to return to nuclear power?
Germany was once a world market leader. Today, the industrialised nation is considered the "sick man of Europe". The country is in recession for the third year in a row. Economic experts predict zero growth for this year. The decline is dramatic in the figures. Last year, almost 200,000 companies shut their doors, according to a study by Creditreform. This is the highest figure since 2011. The figures will continue to plummet in 2025. A new high in insolvencies was reported in April. According to the Leibniz Institute, 1626 company insolvencies were registered - 21% more than in April 2024. This even exceeds the figures from the 2008 financial crisis. The high electricity prices in particular are causing problems for industry. Some steel giants are now having to temporarily shut down their production on a single day to protect their company from financial damage. Meanwhile, other companies are relocating their production to Eastern Europe - or even to China. Entire industries are under threat. Foremost among them is the automotive industry: VW, Mercedes and BMW are cutting thousands of jobs. "Made in Germany" has simply become too expensive. The well-known economist Daniel Stelter warned in an interview with Euronews that: "We now only have 24 months to save the energy-intensive industries." The losses suffered by industrial companies to date can no longer be reversed, he said. Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) has correctly recognised Germany's energy cost problem. She is in favour of energy security and lower electricity prices. This is why she wants to subsidise industrial electricity, for example. However, the EU is threatening not to go along with this. Reiche also wants new gas-fired power plants as a solution to the problem - but the price of gas is also higher than ever. Does the minister have the right recipe to save the German economy? Daniel Stelter explains that Minister Reiche is taking the right step. "When the wind isn't blowing and the sun isn't shining, we need a secure supply. Now that we have switched off nuclear power plants and we also want to switch off coal, the only thing left is gas-fired power plants." Only with renewable energies, "it just won't work." However, Reiche's measures have not yet been enough to revive the economy so that Germany can remain an industrial nation. "Anyone who believes that renewable energy in combination with gas-fired power plants will lead to cheap electricity is living in a dream world," Stelter told Euronews. "Many people only ever look at the costs of solar cells and wind turbines. Only when the wind is blowing and the sun is shining is it favourable. In reality, we have to include the system costs such as storage and batteries - then renewable energies are the most expensive!" This is why "Reiche's policy - as it stands today - is actually the continuation of Robert Habeck's policy" and is not suitable for "supplying an industrialised country with energy sustainably and cheaply." Instead of gas-fired power plants, nuclear power plants would be the better solution, says Stelter. "If you ask me personally for my opinion, I would of course not have phased out nuclear power in the same way. And I would now do everything in my power to reverse the nuclear phase-out by reactivating the old nuclear power plants." Energy expert Björn Peters takes an even more critical view. He has just launched his new book on the market entitled "An End to the Energy Transition." In it, he argues that the economy should dare to be more ecologically realistic. "You can't reduce the price of electricity with gas-fired power plants alone. They are very expensive to operate. Gas is expensive. Then there are the CO2 costs on top. That would mean that in the long term you would have producer prices of between 15 and 20 cents per kilowatt hour," says Peters, who says this is too expensive. "That would make us uncompetitive." Instead, the supply must be expanded quickly. "This consists of the decommissioning of nuclear power plants, domestic production of natural gas and CCS, which is CO2 capture from coal-fired power plants. We have enough coal for 200 years. It would be in the interests of national security to continue using coal, but with the appropriate filters." Nuclear power plants such as Brokdorf and Emsland could be reactivated by 2026. There are also six other nuclear power plants that could be recalled. The process could continue into the 2030s. The consequences of the previous "bad energy policy should not be subsidised down", warns Peters. "Of course that won't work." Stelters also emphasises that: "Politicians are focusing on solving the industrial crisis through subsidies - in other words, less taxes and state subsidies instead. That doesn't make sense. The principle is that the greater the supply, the better." Nevertheless, the physicist is optimistic about his expectations of the new Economics Minister. Reiche wants to "seriously take stock" of the economy, he said. "We have spoken to individual government representatives in the last few days. And they at least seem to be reflecting on the nuclear phase-out."
