All living organisms that inhabit the planet may be divided into two distinct groups based on their feeding habits; autotrophs and heterotrophs. Autotrophs are those organisms that use inorganic molecules to manufacture the organic material they need to survive; these…
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Cedrus libani is a mountainous species of cedar tree that is native to the Mediterranean regions of the Middle East. Evergreen and coniferous, the Cedar of Lebanon can grow up to 40 metres in height with its large trunk nearly…
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Australia is a land of many wonders. The scenery is breathtaking and the animals are as diverse as they are unusual. It is home to some of the most deadly animals on the planet, but also several of the most…
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LIgnin is a substance found in vascular plants, usually within the cell walls and also between cells themselves. It is largely a supportive structure and is part of the secondary thickening of tall plants. It is a major constituent of…
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From the time of the first humans, classification of organisms has been a useful, even necessary tool. Primitive classification schemes sorted things into simple, utilitarian categories: edible and inedible, dinner for you and you are dinner for it, dangerous and…
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The focus of the stem cell debate is whether the research destroys life, or could save it. Embryonic stem cells are harvested from developing embryos when there are about 140 cells in a hollowed balled structure called the blastocyst. In…
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Whether it’s gaining or losing body mass, the two may appear to be at opposite ends of the spectrum, but the science of both still deals with basic factors like lifestyle choices/habits, diet, exercise and managing stress levels. Body mass…
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Bacterial cells synthesize proteins in the same manner as mammalian cells do. Both cells start synthesis by DNA polymerase transcribing double-stranded DNA into single-stranded messenger RNA (mRNA). The resulting transcript is then translated by ribosomes, another form of RNA into…
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In 1858, Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace released a joint scientific paper which introduced the concept of evolution by means of natural selection. This paper, along with Darwin’s subsequent publication, “The Origin of Species,” changed the way science and society…
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In late winter or early spring, white-tailed buck deer (Odocoileus virginianus), develop two hard, bony antlers that are elongated and branched. They are on the forehead, between the ears and are used for defense and in battle with other bucks…
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