The phrase, "Trees are the lungs of the earth", is no longer just a noble sentiment; it's now scientific fact. Australian researchers have proven that forests play a crucial role in maintaining rainfall patterns along the Amazon river.
"The bottom line is for the first time we can tell the difference
between moisture that has been transpired through the plants, and water
that has come through the rest of the water cycle," she said.
"Trees play a critical role in moving heavy-water molecules through
the cycle. This is the first demonstration that deforestation has an
observable affect on rainfall."
Continue reading "Let it rain" »
Tiny mites are giving beekeepers and farmers a BIG headache:
In their years in North America, the eight-legged pests have
devastated wild bee colonies and radically altered beekeeping. The
pinhead-sized mite — the Varroa destructor — feeds on honeybees and
their larvae. In some areas, they've destroyed as many as 60 percent of
the hives.
Reproducing quickly and in a closed environment, the mites have
developed a resistance to pesticides — a trait they've been able to
spread to their progeny faster than scientist have been able to develop
new compounds to fight them off.
Continue reading "Big bee problem" »