Stick insect

How stick insects honed friction to grip without sticking

19 February 2014

Scientists have discovered that, when upright, stick insects don’t stick. Instead, they deploy special hairy pads designed to create huge amounts of friction from the tiniest of pressure increases - ensuring that the insects grip but don’t stick.

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Cuckoos impersonate hawks by matching their 'outfits'

17 October 2013

Evolutionary trick allows cuckoos to mimic the plumage of birds of prey, and may be used to scare mothers from their nests so that cuckoos can lay their eggs. Mimicry in cuckoos may be more much more widespread than previously thought.

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Amazonia at a crossroads

17 October 2013

The Amazon rainforest faces an uncertain future – one that an international research network hopes to help steer towards sustainability.

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