World

Bombardier beetles possess a unique defense mechanism involving explosive chemical sprays. These insects mix chemicals to create a hot, noxious spray for protection. Their specialized internal structures allow them to survive these powerful self-inflicted explosions. Bombardier beetles can fire their chemical bombs multiple times before needing to escape. These fascinating insects have evolved remarkable adaptations…

How cloning one seed of the Queen of Sheba orchid changed its fate Science and innovation can do wonders that are even beyond the cource of nature. The future of an entire species sometimes depends on something so small it’s almost invisible. Wondering what and how? Well, conservation scientists in a Kings Park (Western Australia)…

Wildlife conservation often depends on projects that begin with strong local knowledge but struggle to secure funding beyond a few years. Around the world, many endangered animals survive because of small organisations working with limited staff, modest budgets and long-term commitment rather than high-profile attention. While those efforts have prevented extinctions in some places, they…

Russian drone targets Ukrainian vegetable seller in ‘Safari’ attack Ukraine on Tuesday accused Russia of committing a war crime after footage emerged showing a Russian drone pursuing and striking a vegetable seller in the southern city of Kherson, leaving the civilian wounded.Video footage shows a drone pursuing a man around a van being used as…

Representative Image (Image Credit: Canva) Madagascar has earned a reputation as one of the world’s greatest biodiversity hotspots, yet it continues to surprise scientists. A new study published in Vertebrate Zoology has identified seven previously unknown species of diamond frogs belonging to the genus Rhombophryne. The discovery brings the total number of recognised diamond frog…

Tropical forests have been heavily degraded because of human activities. (Representational photo) Planting trees across vast areas may not be the only way to restore damaged tropical forests, according to a new study. Instead, small patches of native trees can gradually help degraded forests recover.The study was carried out by Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG)…

When a shipment arrives at a port, inspectors are usually focused on what’s inside the containers. But sometimes, the biggest biosecurity risk isn’t the cargo at all, it’s the wooden pallet or crate carrying it.A new study published in Biological Invasions suggests that this has been the case for woodwasps, a group of wood-boring insects…

Quote of the day by former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga. When Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga sat down with Australian journalist Michael Maher in July 2005 for an interview on the ABC program Foreign Correspondent, her presidency was drawing to a close. Asked about the allure of supreme political office, Sri Lanka’s first female president brushed…

Career quote of the day by Warren Buffett. For those who are confused about their career, Warren Buffett has a simple solution. He inherited it from his father, Howard Buffett, and passed it on to his children too, and shared it in his speeches on many occasions. The advice is that one should look for…

The Kestel family donated their vacant farmhouse to the New Lenox Fire Protection District. (Patch media photos) A farmhouse that had been in one family for four generations ended its long history by helping train firefighters before it was burned down in Illinois.The Kestel family donated their vacant farmhouse on Cedar Road, south of Laraway…