Not everything that tastes bitter is potentially harmful—but why?

A bitter taste is traditionally considered a warning sign of potentially toxic substances. But not all bitter substances are harmful. For example, some peptides and free amino acids taste bitter, even though they are non-toxic, ...

JWST reveals protoplanetary disks in a nearby star cluster

The Orion Nebula is a favorite among stargazers. It's a giant stellar nebula out of which, hot young stars are forming. Telescopically to the eye it appears as a gray/green haze of wonderment but cameras reveal the true glory ...

Scientists find chemical that stops locust cannibalism

Plagues of locusts that darken the skies and devastate all things that grow have been recorded since Biblical times, and today threaten the food security of millions of people across Asia and Africa.

Oribatid mite uses hydrogen cyanide for defence

The common oribatid mite species Oribatula tibialis is an extremely clever poisoner, as an interdisciplinary team of researchers under the leadership of the TU Darmstadt has shown and published in the Proceedings of the National ...

A peachy defense system for seeds

ETH chemists are developing a new coating method to protect seeds from being eaten by insects. In doing so, they have drawn inspiration from the humble peach and a few of its peers.

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