WURZBURG, Germany, Jan. 22 -- The University of Wurzburg issued the following news release: * * * Diversity in the village, wasteland in the meadow * Intensive land use by humans is considered a key driver of global insect mortality and the decline in biodiversity. A research team led by Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg (JMU) has now analysed the Bavarian insect world in a comprehensive study. Using state-of-the-art DNA identification methods, the scientists have identified around 12,  more

WILLIMANTIC, Connecticut, Jan. 23 (TNSjou) -- Eastern Connecticut State University issued the following news: * * * Study reveals scorpion venom is not sterile, opening new paths for antibiotic research By Kyle Berson A new study published today by biologists at Eastern Connecticut State University has revealed that scorpion venom contains complex microbial communities, challenging the long-held scientific belief that venom is sterile and opening new pathways for potential antibiotic discove  more

RIVERSIDE, California, Jan. 22 -- The University of California Riverside campus issued the following news: * * * Stingrays inspire smarter ocean robots * Using robotic fins, researchers at the University of California, Riverside have learned how stingrays are able to swim with impressive control. These insights could help underwater vehicles avoid disastrous ground collisions. In the wild, rays fall into two broad camps: pelagic, like manta rays, soaring far above the ocean floor, and bent  more

LOGAN, Utah, Jan. 22 -- Utah State University issued the following news: * * * USU Biochemists Say Resurrected Ancient Enzyme Could Explain Early Life on Earth, Beyond * Nitrogen, upon which all life on Earth depends, may hold the key for explaining how early life on the planet evolved and how it could evolve on other planets. "All living organisms need nitrogen to survive and, though it's all around us, we can't access it directly," says Utah State University biochemist Lance Seefeldt. "E  more

LEXINGTON, Virginia, Jan. 23 (TNSjou) -- Virginia Military Institute issued the following news: * * * Biology Professor Publishes Article Maj. Alison Burke, assistant professor and health professions advisor in the Department of Biology at Virginia Military Institute, recently had a research article published in PLOS One, a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Burke, whose specialty is molecular microbiology, explained the article highlights information about four newly discovered viruses that   more