season
Rain in Spain is on the decline
A study led by the University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR) has studied precipitation trends in Spain’s 10 hydrological basins over the 1946 to 2005 period. The results show that precipitation has declined overall between the months of March and June, reduci…
Hormones dictate breeding success in birds
Some animals produce more offspring than others do. Hormones like prolactin and corticosterone can exercise a crucial influence on the behaviour of birds in the breeding season and therefore on their reproductive success. Scientists from the Max…
Researchers devise computer model for projecting severity of flu season
Researchers have developed a statistical model for projecting how many people will get sick from seasonal influenza based on analyses of flu viruses circulating that season. The research, conducted by scientists at the National Institutes of Health, …
Brain changes found in football players thought to be concussion-free
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A study by researchers at Purdue University suggests that some high school football players suffer undiagnosed changes in brain function and continue playing even though they are impaired.
“Our key finding is a previously …
Winter drought stress can delay flowering, prevent fruit loss in orange crops
LAKE ALFRED, FL — Successful mechanical harvesting of perennial fruit crops requires efficient, economical harvesting systems that do not reduce trees’ production life or diminish fruit quality. Most of the world’s citrus is now harvested manua…
The pros and cons of Miscanthus — uses more water, leaches less nitrogen
URBANA — In the search for the perfect crop for biofuel production, Miscanthus has become the darling to many. But in an effort to not be charmed by its enormous potential for biomass production, researchers at the University of Illinois are…
Scientists discover key to Christmas Island’s red crab migration
One of the most spectacular migrations on Earth is that of the Christmas Island red crab (Gecarcoidea natalis). Acknowledged as one of the wonders of the natural world, every year millions of the crabs simultaneously embark on a five-kilometr…