IN THE LAB
What Makes Silkworms Male Or Female?
Scientists have made the surprising finding that piRNA rather than proteins determines sex in silkworms.
Crooning In The Concrete Jungle
The Mientien tree frog seeks out the open concrete drains commonly found in Taiwan to amplify its mating call, a study shows.
Putting Light Into Motion
Exposure to UV light leads to mechanical strain in crystals, causing them to burst violently and travel distances hundreds of times their size, NUS scientists demonstrate.
Three Institute Collaboration Releases 3,000 Rice Genomes
A collaborative effort between the CAAS, BGI and the IRRI has published the genomes of 3,000 rice varieties, amounting to 13.4 terabytes worth of data.
Parasitic Fig Wasps Equipped With Zinc-Tipped Drills
The parasitic fig wasp pierces the tough outer layer of figs with a zinc-toothed ovipositor that is as hard as dental cement.
The Link Between MSG, Obesity And Fatty Liver
Scientists have found that MSG consumption leads to obesity in mice which cannot be reduced by calorie restriction.
Why Do Girl Babies Survive Better?
The secret to baby girls' enhanced ability to survive to birth could lie in a risk-averse strategy, according to a study of placental gene expression.
Unusual Parenting Behavior Observed In Asian Frogs
The efforts of C. hansenae in caring for their young prevent the eggs from drying out and could act as a buffer against environmental pressures.
Zeroing In On The Proton’s Magnetic Moment
Scientists can now directly measure the magnetic moment of a single proton with high precision, which may enable them to answer why matter exists.
