https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/food-environment/2024/air-pollution-is-bad-for-pollination https://10.1146/knowable-072924-1 Contaminants can alter plant odors and warp insects’ senses, disrupting the process of pollination

]]> Air pollution makes it harder for bees to smell flowers doi:10.1146/knowable-072924-1 Mon, 29 Jul 2024 00:00:29 GMT Food & Environment Katarina Zimmer https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/living-world/2024/jenny-graves-chromosomes-genes-evolution-origins https://10.1146/knowable-071724-1 Jenny Graves has spent her life mapping genes and comparing genomes. Now she’s created a musical opus about evolution of life on this planet — bringing the same drive and experimentalism she brought to the study of marsupial chromosomes.

]]> Of genes, chromosomes and oratorios doi:10.1146/knowable-071724-1 Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:17 GMT Society Marla Broadfoot https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/mind/2024/animals-change-social-habits-old-age-macaques-deer-sheep https://10.1146/knowable-071524-1 In patterns that may sound familiar, long-term studies reveal what elderly deer, sheep and macaques are up to in their twilight years

]]> It’s not just us: Other animals change their social habits in old age doi:10.1146/knowable-071524-1 Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:00:15 GMT The Mind Tim Vernimmen https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/physical-world/2024/how-animals-exploit-and-negotiate-physics https://10.1146/knowable-071024-1 Cats twist and snakes slide, exploiting and negotiating physical laws. Scientists are figuring out how.

]]> Animals use physics? Let us count the ways doi:10.1146/knowable-071024-1 Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:10 GMT Physical World Tom Siegfried https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/living-world/2024/evolution-of-cichlid-fishes-east-africa https://10.1146/knowable-070224-2 Groups of cichlid fishes in East Africa radiated into thousands of species within dazzlingly short periods of time. How did they do it?

]]> One fish, two fish, 3,000 fish ... doi:10.1146/knowable-070224-2 Tue, 02 Jul 2024 00:00:02 GMT Living World Curtis Abraham https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/food-environment/2024/the-impact-of-the-us-mexico-border-wall-on-biodiversity https://10.1146/knowable-062724-2 Scientists on both sides of the border are working to understand how the barrier is affecting the area’s biodiversity. Meanwhile, communities try to save animals left without access to water.

]]> Nature interrupted: Impact of the US-Mexico border wall on wildlife doi:10.1146/knowable-062724-2 Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:27 GMT Food & Environment Iván Carrillo https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/living-world/2024/most-common-species-wombat-is-least-understood https://10.1146/knowable-062024-2 Australia’s iconic marsupial has been viewed as a food source, pest, mascot and, now, a conservation concern. Scientists are breaking down myths — using genetics, robots and citizen science — and finding new ways to protect the animals.

]]> The most common wombat is also the least understood doi:10.1146/knowable-062024-2 Thu, 20 Jun 2024 00:00:20 GMT Living World Amber Dance https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/food-environment/2024/the-scientific-mission-to-save-the-sharks https://10.1146/knowable-061224-2 Despite increasing protection measures, these fish are among the world’s most endangered animals. New tests to detect species being traded, as well as population studies, aim to help save them.

]]> A scientific mission to save the sharks doi:10.1146/knowable-061224-2 Wed, 12 Jun 2024 00:00:12 GMT Food & Environment Angela Posada-Swafford https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/food-environment/2024/reducing-methane-emissions-from-livestock https://10.1146/knowable-061024-1 New tools for lowering methane emissions from livestock are on their way

]]> Cleaning up cow burps to combat global warming doi:10.1146/knowable-061024-1 Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:10 GMT Food & Environment Bob Holmes https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/living-world/2024/how-magic-can-help-us-understand-animal-minds https://10.1146/knowable-060524-1 By performing tricks for birds, monkeys and other creatures, researchers hope to learn how they perceive and think about their world

]]> Abracadabra! How magic can help us understand animal minds doi:10.1146/knowable-060524-1 Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:05 GMT Living World Betsy Mason https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/living-world/2024/life-of-the-narwhal-martin-nweeia https://10.1146/knowable-060324-1 An independent scientist working with the Inuit has unraveled many mysteries of the one-tusked ‘unicorn of the sea’

]]> A lifetime of love for the charismatic narwhal doi:10.1146/knowable-060324-1 Mon, 03 Jun 2024 00:00:03 GMT Living World Nicola Jones https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/food-environment/2024/how-to-save-the-everglades https://10.1146/knowable-053024-2 From Burmese pythons and Asian swamp eels to Old World climbing ferns, South Florida hosts hordes of non-native animals and plants. What can be done about the ecological havoc they are wreaking?

]]> Invasive species are transforming the Everglades doi:10.1146/knowable-053024-2 Thu, 30 May 2024 00:00:30 GMT Food & Environment Katarina Zimmer https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/health-disease/2024/how-do-we-sense-the-need-to-urinate https://10.1146/knowable-052924-1 How do we sense the need to urinate? The basic urge is surprisingly complex and can go awry as we age.

]]> To pee or not to pee? That is a question for the bladder — and the brain doi:10.1146/knowable-052924-1 Wed, 29 May 2024 00:00:29 GMT Health & Disease Emily Underwood https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/living-world/2024/animal-patterns-spots-stripes-explained-turing-mechanism https://10.1146/knowable-052324-2 More than 70 years ago, mathematician Alan Turing proposed a mechanism that explained how patterns could emerge from bland uniformity. Scientists are still using his model — and adding new twists — to gain a deeper understanding of animal markings.

]]> Spots, stripes and more: Working out the logic of animal patterns doi:10.1146/knowable-052324-2 Thu, 23 May 2024 12:00:23 GMT Living World Amber Dance https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/food-environment/2024/scientists-combat-honeybee-threat-yellow-legged-hornet-spread-us https://10.1146/knowable-052324-1 An invasive yellow-legged wasp has been decimating beehives in Europe — and bedeviling Georgia since last summer. Researchers are working nest by nest to limit the threat while developing better eradication methods.

]]> The hornet has landed: Scientists combat new honeybee killer in US doi:10.1146/knowable-052324-1 Thu, 23 May 2024 00:00:23 GMT Food & Environment Hannah Hoag https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/health-disease/2024/cbd-for-dogs-and-cats-the-science https://10.1146/knowable-051524-1 Though studies are still mixed, and products often inconsistent, many scientists have hope that cannabidiol can help canines and other furry patients suffering from arthritis, allergies and anxiety

]]> Fit for a dog? The latest science on CBD for pets doi:10.1146/knowable-051524-1 Wed, 15 May 2024 00:00:15 GMT Health & Disease Ula Chrobak https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/living-world/2024/parasitoid-wasps-domesticate-viruses https://10.1146/knowable-050724-2 To protect and rear their young, some insects have transformed wild viruses into tiny biological weapons

]]> The wasps that tamed viruses doi:10.1146/knowable-050724-2 Tue, 07 May 2024 00:00:07 GMT Living World Nala Rogers https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/food-environment/2024/evolution-of-koji-mold-soy-sauce-sake https://10.1146/knowable-050124-1 Today the koji mold is a master fermenter, but it has a checkered past

]]> From toxic fungus to soy sauce superstar doi:10.1146/knowable-050124-1 Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:01 GMT Food & Environment Rachel Ehrenberg https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/living-world/2024/the-amphibians-that-evolved-parental-care https://10.1146/knowable-042924-1 From poison frogs to worm-like caecilians, some amphibians are hardworking and surprisingly creative caregivers

]]> The tender art of tadpole parenting doi:10.1146/knowable-042924-1 Mon, 29 Apr 2024 00:00:29 GMT Living World Tim Vernimmen https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/living-world/2024/meet-the-aquatic-spiders https://10.1146/knowable-042424-1 Some make nests inside seashells, others tote bubbles of air on their backs. The spiders that went back to water evolved lots of slick survival strategies.

]]> They swim and they spin: Meet the aquatic spiders doi:10.1146/knowable-042424-1 Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:24 GMT Living World Amber Dance