Looking at nature we see symmetric arrangements in flower petals, simple spirals in snail shells, repeating branching patterns in fern leaves and lung structures, and regular arrangements of proteins in many biomolecules. But why are these symmetric and regular structures so common in biology? There... click to read more

The extinction of the dinosaurs from space rock is possibly the most famous of all mass extinctions. This ~12 km wide asteroid, about twice as tall as Kilimanjaro, impacted a reef off the coast of the Yucatán peninsula and caused tsunamis, earthquakes, and seiches. Molten... click to read more

Climate change and human activities impact living creatures in complex ways. In response, organisms may acclimate to those challenges during their lifetime or adapt over several generations, through genetic changes. Organisms with characteristics matching best their new environment, such as size at reproduction, will spread... click to read more

Stable cereal production plays an important role in maintaining a food supply for the world’s growing population. However, seed-borne bacterial diseases can limit crop production and quality. This has been aggravated in recent decades by changes in both the global climate and modern farming techniques.... click to read more

There are approximately 3,500 known mosquito species out there, but contrary to common belief, the ability to transmit viruses to humans is the privilege of only a few of them. Among this very private club, Aedes aegypti, also known as the yellow fever mosquito, is... click to read more