Latest research
Video: Can we rely on honeybees for pollination?
By Rebecca Nesbit, press officer at the Society of Biology Insect pollination improves production in around 75% of global crops, and both wild pollinators and managed honeybees are important. Recently, EU agricultural and biofuel policies have led to an increased area of insect pollinated crops. But do we have enough honeybees to pollinate them? In … Continue reading
Video: yeast, past and future
As well as its role in brewing and bread making, yeast can be used in biorefineries to make biofuels for transport and is a key model organism in synthetic biology. Engineered strains could produce future foods and pharmaceuticals. No wonder the National Collection of Yeast Cultures has some interesting stories, as explained by this video … Continue reading
Would you be fooled by a fly? Play a game to find out!
Christopher Taylor, a PhD student at the University of Nottingham, invites you to play an insect game to assist with his research. In the natural world, not everything is what it seems. Deception is rife, and it can be hard to know whether to trust your senses. What first looks like a dead leaf might … Continue reading
Sustainable energy from oil (plant oil that is)
In advance of the Society of Biology’s Policy Lates discussion on algal bioenergy, Rebecca Nesbit looks at some of the hurdles we need to overcome to produce liquid fuel from plants in a more sustainable manner. First generation biofuels are made from starch, sugars, fats and oils, but often come from food plants. This has … Continue reading
Are you being brainwashed in your sleep? (in a good way)
Jenni Lacey, marketing assistant as the Society Biology, shares new research which could offer a molecular basis for why we need sleep. I’m someone who confidently claims to need no more than 7 hours sleep and, when necessary, happily survive on 6 hours. I’m reassured that my claims are justified by a range of sources: … Continue reading
A bigger bite than Dracula!
Lily Brinn is an intern at the Society of Biology, who has a serious addiction to Marmite. The ocean hosts a wide range of biology, most of which is still to be discovered. In October this year another new species was discovered and this time its venomous. Ever been stung by a lobster, No? Well … Continue reading
Why climate change will likely be worse than the models predict
Dr Aaron Thierry is a quantitative ecologist who recently graduated from The University of Sheffield’s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences. He is extremely concerned about the level of understanding of the urgency of large scale carbon reductions and feels that scientists are morally obliged to raise awareness of the risks we now face. In … Continue reading
Measuring species success
by Thomas Padfield, Lecturer of Biology. I was recently discussing evolution with a friend of mine in a pub. He studies neuroscience and prescribes to the commonly held view that humanity is the most superior and successful species found on our planet. To me this seems to be a rather outdated and perhaps creationist viewpoint, … Continue reading
Allergies: what are they?
A guest post by Michael Ravitsky of FactoryPure.com I have had a sensitive system for as long as I’ve been alive – I had to have my tonsils and adenoids removed when I was 5 – and I have always been very allergic to dust. I have got quite used to keeping a pack of … Continue reading
Would you like termites with that?
Lauren Hoskin is a recent graduate in microbiology. She is interested in a career in science communication and writes for her own blog, Science Says as well as for the Student Hubs blog. Many problems faced by humans do not have simple answers, especially in the area of food security. How will we feed nine … Continue reading