Sunday, May 19, 2013 - 2:56pm
A species of ant known as "crazy ants" enjoys nesting in electronics, which, confusingly, isn't good for the ants or the electronics.
insects stories
Thursday, May 2, 2013 - 1:38pm
A team of researchers have created a digital camera that replicates the curved compound structure of an arthropod's eye.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013 - 6:29pm
This colony of flies is one pretty tech savvy bunch, since the bugs can send out their own messages on Twitter.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013 - 3:40pm
The structure of cicada wings can destroy bacteria, and it's the first natural material we've found that does it.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 - 1:01pm
The cockroach has been the scourge of restaurants and big cities throughout history, but a roboticist may have developed a way to mimic their legendary crawling speed.
Friday, November 2, 2012 - 12:02pm
By now it's well known that scientists are experimenting with insect-electronics hybrids, resulting in some rather interesting scenarios, including remote-controlled insect drones. Now an artist has taken that idea to its next logical conclusion by creating a concept insect army.
Thursday, March 29, 2012 - 3:19pm
Aphids eat plants. It's what they do. To try to get them to top devouring plants that we want to eat, we can try to kill them off with chemicals, or we can just genetically engineer a new strain of wheat to emit aphid panic pheromones. It doesn't kill the bugs, but it does scare them away.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011 - 10:48am
DARPA is funding the research of miniature cameras and microphones that could be mounted like backpacks on beetles-turned-spies. That's not even the best part — the sensors will be powered by an insect's own wing movements, meaning fully independent insects able to explore the world's most dangerous places.
Thursday, November 3, 2011 - 12:47pm
We've already seen laser systems that can target and shoot down mosquitoes, and we'll be honest: it's hard to beat an anti-bug battle laser. A new technique based on lasers and infrared light might be a slightly more realistic way of keeping mosquitoes at bay without having to zap each and every one.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010 - 7:46am
There are a lot of issues out there for science to tackle. You know, the cure for cancer, how to travel beyond our solar system, how to make cloned meat in a lab. But creating prehistoric dragonflies with wingspans of over two feet? Doing more harm than good! We reported on the plans to do this last week, but now you can see the horrifying image above to keep you from sleeping tonight.
