Making Headlines
Being bugged by wasps? They're just bored and will die soon
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Michael Lacasse ,CBC News London ,The queens have left the colony and worker wasps are looking for food to keep themselves busy
Migratory songbirds change breathing pattern to fly at high altitude
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Jeff Renaud ,Western News ,Groundbreaking study reveals how avian species are pushing physiological limits to escape climate change effects
Mushrooms thriving in Nova Scotia's wet summer, say foragers
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Josefa Cameron ,CBC News Nova Scotia ,'There are possibly more chanterelles than I have ever seen'
Obituary- Professor Robert Bernard van Huystee
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Department of Biology ,Renowned for his pioneering work in plant complex peroxidase enzymes, Prof. van Huystee had "a passion for the university life, faculty and students at Western and his family."
Western grad offers field work opportunity to Black, Indigenous, racialized students
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Megan Stacey ,Western News ,Weekend biology program at provincial park builds new skills, relationships
Swarms of flying ants are emerging across Ontario right now
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Jack Landau ,blogTO ,Masses of flying ants are congregating in mating swarms across Ontario, just the latest disgusting fact to think about as you try to squeeze those last few days out of patio season.
Could miniscule organisms help the world meet its climate goals?
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Isabelle Gerretsen ,BBC Future Planet ,With global greenhouse gas emissions reaching an all-time high last year, many scientists and world leaders are now arguing that new technologies which can capture carbon and store it underground are needed to help the world meet its climate goals.
Harmless but hated, the ubiquitous earwig is a 'fascinating' bug with bad PR
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Andrew Lupton ,CBC News London ,Graham Thompson is a Western University entomologist and self-described "big-time bug guy." He has no problem getting up close and personal with all sorts of creepy crawlies, including ones known to bite, sting, suck blood or feed off human hosts.
Seeing more Canada geese than normal? It's because their goslings are growing up
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Michael Lacasse ,CBC News London ,If you've been noticing more Canadian geese recently across the city of London, Ont., you're not alone. Park goers are reporting seeing more of the familiar bird this summer, especially compared to this time last year.
Study lays out full extent of humans as global predators — and it’s a big problem
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Ivan Semeniuk ,Globe and Mail ,Humans collectively prey on nearly 15,000 wild vertebrate species, roughly one third of all varieties on the planet
The tallest poison ivy in the world is in Ontario, says Guinness
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Sheena Goodyear ,CBC As It Happens ,Plant is so high that, at eye level, it 'looks like a hairy creature from Stranger Things'
Conifer needles found to consume oxygen when times are hard
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Umea University ,PhysOrg ,Plants give us oxygen through photosynthesis—this is commonly taught in school. An international research team has now shown that, particularly in early spring when low temperatures coincide with high light, conifer needles consume—not produce—oxygen
Gut health the key to a healthy honeybee
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Marek Sutherland ,CTV News London ,Concern over the health and longevity of bees has grown over the years. “They get exposed to all kinds of things. First of all, monoculture crops. That is not necessarily the most nutritious thing for them,” said Western University biology Professor Graham Thompson.
Probiotics positively influence honeybee health, Western research finds
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Crystal Mackay ,Western News ,Research team studies how changing honeybee gut microbiota contributes to hive health and influences social behaviour
Termite infestations are on the rise in Toronto — and not just downtown, experts say
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Michael Smee ,CBC News Toronto ,Even in the suburbs, the tiny pests may be eating your home from the inside out
Can mushrooms save the world? This Ontario farmer thinks so
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Colin Butler ,CBC News London ,Mushrooms are a booming business for wellness, industry and, of course, food
Noticing more mosquitoes? It could be because of the heat wave
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Michael Lacasse ,CBC News London ,Experts say conditions are ripe for the bloodsuckers to be born earlier than usual
‘There are people who will help’: Biology grad cherishes undergrad journey
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Megan Stacey ,Western News ,Alyssa Harvey weathered health challenges, learned powerful lessons on path to her degree
When a loved one dies: how academia can support bereaved colleagues
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Jyoti Madhusoodanan ,Nature ,Finding time and space to grieve for a partner, child or friend can be complicated for researchers — and the peers who support them.
Avian-flu threat means now isn't time to allow backyard chickens: Expert
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Calvi Leon ,The London Free Press ,With avian flu threatening flocks in Ontario, now is not the time to consider allowing backyard chickens, St. Thomas politicians are being told.
