SCI-THINK

  When we think of insects and disease vectors our minds probably go straight to the mosquito. After all, mosquitoes carry the parasite responsible for Zika and Dengue fever which affect hundreds of thousands of people every year around the world. In actuality, we can't really blame all of these insects. Only about 4% of them are disease vectors so the majority are harmless for the most part. That doesn't take away the sickness and death toll from these diseases however and scientists have long searched for ways to combat them effectively. And they've just gotten a lot closer by using a "miracle" bacteria. CLICK HERE TO TRY EDIBLE INSECTS DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR! A recent groundbreaking study has shown that by introducing the bacteria Wolbachia into the mosquito can reduce the risk of them spreading the diseases by up to 77%. Wolbachia is not found naturally in the mosquito species that spread Zika and Dengue fever but is harmless to them when intro...

Water is the most important resource for life on earth. As with many other resources, we use a lot more than we need and contaminate it with plastic, manufacturing run-off, and oil spills. Much of the world's population has limited or no access to fresh water and the problem is expected to rise as the population increases. Scientists have now found a way to save water use with ice cubes that don't melt and don't get contaminated. Imagine how much ice we use on a daily basis, especially for shipping and storage purposes. If it's apt to go bad, we need ice (and lots of it) to keep a product fresh. These cubes aren't made of plastic, can be washed and reused multiple times, and are bacteria resistant meaning you don't have to worry about cross contamination. They have a feel like a gelatin desser and can change color according to the temperature. In the future, theyc can be made of agricultural recycled byproducts. Even after being used and reused do...

We often think of bugs as just creepy crawly critters that pester us when we're eating outside or lurking inside our homes. These perceptions are generally due to a lack of knowledge about the importance of insects and how much they contribute to our lives as humans on earth. There are millions of people worldwide that not only rejoice at the sight of these arthropods but they also use them as a protein source. Eating bugs is a worldwide phenomenon except in North America. But there are many good reasons why we should indulge. THEY ARE GOOD FOR YOU Bugs pack more protein per unit than other protein sources such as beef or pork. Edible insects may have superior health benefits due to their high levels of vitamin B12, iron, zinc, fiber, essential amino acids, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and antioxidants as well. GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT Whether it's conserving water, grains, land use, or ecosystems, the insect is far superior to livestock or chickens. Not only d...

  A xenobot might sound like something from a science fiction book or comic book movie but it's very real and now has the ability to reproduce on its own. Scientists first developed these very tiny living robots from the stem cells of frogs. Each is less than a millimetre in size and was not genetically modified in any way. So what is it? Well, it's a living organism that's been "coded" by researchers to have a certain shape. This shape, which was selected by an AI program, allows this living robot to heal itself and, now, reproduce. It's in the way this reproduction takes place that is a surprise. Kinetic reproduction is known to happen on a molecular level but has never been observed at the cellular level or by an entire organism. Until now. Xenobots ingest stem cells into their mouth and, from there, the smaller cells combine to produce more zenobots that look and act just like it's parent. This kind of reproduction can have many benefits. In...

  We all know a few things about the mighty trees that grace our planet. They produce oxygen for other living creatures, they provide a habitat for countless numbers of creatures both great and small, and they're beautiful to look at. But in a city, trees can be a rarity. There's a great reason for city planners to consider adding swatches of trees however. They can reduce the overall land surface temperature by up to 12% C. A recent study in 293 European cities looked at average land surface temperatures in cities that had areas of tree coverage and those that did not. By using satellite images and temperature gauges, there was a difference of up to 12% between the two types of city. We know that the air temperature in cities is higher than rural areas because of things like asphalt and cement interacting with the light to create more heat that releases into the air. But this study showed that not only do trees make the air temperatures cooler but they also signific...