The new draft examination syllabuses for biology ask pupils to reason more explicitly and give teachers clearer guidance, even as the school subject of biology is reduced in scope.
Fieldwork is not simply research conducted elsewhere. Isolation, hardship and social dynamics expose women to sexual and gender-based violence, writes Eve Afonso.
Wild guppies spend twice as much time near conspecifics when food becomes available unexpectedly and briefly. By seeking company more often, they appear to increase their chances of finding food.
When a bee stings, the sting tears free from its abdomen. Yet even after detaching, it continues to bore deeper into the skin and pump venom. How the sting manages this independently had long been a mystery. Australian biologists have used high-speed cameras to reveal what lies within this stinging organ: a biological micropump with a double piston provides a constant supply of venom, even after the sting has come free (PNAS, 12 October).
Staatsbosbeheer wants to close its seven outdoor centres and reorganise public outreach in a different way. Following a wave of responses, the organisation has temporarily postponed the final decision and the centres will remain open for longer. But the question remains: are such physical spaces necessary for nature conservation?
Long-lived migratory birds experience a great deal, and thanks to new and established techniques all of it can be tracked in precise detail. Wouter Vansteelant loves telling stories about the birds and his research. 'People respond to them with enthusiasm.
Small dogs generally live longer than large dogs. American research shows that this difference in ageing rate is also reflected in the epigenetic profile of dogs.
