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Ancient horsetail reveals space-like water isotopes, reshaping climate clues
4 months ago•Source: Earth.com
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37.085 min•4 months ago
Garlic halts insect reproduction by taste, study finds
A Yale-led study shows garlic does more than repel pests: when fruit flies and two mosquito species taste the garlic compound diallyl disulfide, it activates the TrpA1 receptor and triggers bitter/ fullness signals that stop feeding and, crucially, reproduction. The effect is taste-based (not smell) and wasps lacking TrpA1 are unaffected. This points to garlic-derived compounds as targeted, safer pest-control tools, and the researchers also introduce phytoscreen as a simple method to screen plant substances for behavioral effects on insects.
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Deceptive berries boost a cloning yam's bird-driven spread
A rare asexual yam, Dioscorea melanophyma, produces berry-like bulbils that trick birds into dispersing vegetative clones; birds perceive bulbils as real fruit, enabling endozoochory-based spread with a median distance of about 230 meters and occasional transfers beyond 500 meters, helping seedless plants expand without seeds.
2025's Indoor Plant Trend: The Scented, Year-Round Blooming Flower
The porcelain flower, or hoya, is a popular indoor plant in 2025 known for its delicate, fragrant, and beautiful star-shaped flowers, easy care, and air-purifying qualities, making it an ideal exotic addition to home interiors.