insects – Page 4 – The Loh Down On Science

Zombie Antz

July 30, 2019 Bahareh Sorouri

News flash: Zombies. . . ARE REAL. This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying… I don’t mean the human living dead, but troves of zombie ANTS??!! It happens when a parasitic fungus hijacks their brains.The fungus releases chemicals into the ants that compels them to

Towering Termites

July 17, 2019 Chloe Groome

Are your next building contractors. . . TERMITES? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. These pesky bugs are a nightmare for homeowners. But – surprise! Turns out some termites are quite the little architects! African termites build towering skyscrapers out of dirt and termite spit.

Water Walker

July 8, 2019 Jessica Monterrosa Mena

Can you teach a robot to swim? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Aquatic robots? That’s crazy talk! This is because heavy machinery and electrical components reduce a robot’s agility in water. Enter Robert Wood from Harvard’s Microrobotics Laboratory. He created an AMPHIBIOUS robot —

Antwater Rafting

July 4, 2019 Loh Down Staff

The ants go rafting one by one. Hoorah! Hoorah! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science, saying: No, ants don’t raft one-by-one. Many types of ants are social, and act as a team . . . or in this case a crew! A team of scientists

Sweet Bee

June 24, 2019 Krista Fruehauf

What’s the BUZZZZ on BEEZ? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Honey bee populations have majorly declined in recent years. It’s called colony collapse disorder, and its cause has eluded beekeepers and scientists. Until now! Nancy Moran and researchers at University of Texas, Austin found

Bugburger

June 7, 2019 Loh Down Staff

Hungry? Pass the crickets, please! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. And the newest buzz on healthy eating! Edible bugs may not be on the menu for most Westerners. But, they are used as a food source in many other parts of the world. Scientists

Baking Bedbugs

May 17, 2019 Albert Soto

The newest gizmo for airport security. . . ovens? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Bed bugs have been making a worldwide comeback by evolving pesticide resistance. Gross! How can we stop them?! Enter Catherine Loudon, an entomologist at the University of California, Irvine. She’s

Silky Secrets

May 14, 2019 Krista Fruehauf

My spidey senses are… silky? This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. By weight, spider silk is stronger than steel! However, perfectly reproducing this versatile material has proven difficult. How do spiders successfully spin silk? Lucas Parent at Northwestern University and David Onofrei at San Diego

Counting Bee

May 13, 2019 Van Wifvat

Counting really IS the bees knees! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. We count on bees to serve as nature’s top pollinator. Speaking of counting… How DO bees keep track of all those flowers? At Queen Mary University of London, Vera Vasas studies how bees

What to Expect When You’re Expecting Spiders

April 25, 2019 Victoria Lim

The itsy-bitsy spider… grew bigger in its cozy nest! This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. Dogs, cows and humans all nurse their young. But ever wonder how SPIDERS nourish their babies? YIKES! Zhanqi Chen from the Chinese Academy of Sciences investigated a species of jumping