Topic description and stories

Chicory growing on unused land in Cleveland, USA.

Growing wildflowers on disused urban land can damage bee health

16 Apr 2025

Wildflowers growing on land previously used for buildings and factories can accumulate lead, arsenic and other metal contaminants from the soil...

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Pollinators: first global risk index for species declines and effects on humanity

16 Aug 2021

̽»¨Ö±²¥Global South may have most to lose from pollinator loss, with Latin America at particular risk due to crop exports and indigenous cultures.

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Carpenter bee (Xylocopa flavorufa) visiting coffee flower (Coffea arabica)

Pollinator species vital to our food supply are under threat, warn experts

26 Feb 2016

A new report from experts and Government around the world addresses threats to animal pollinators such as bees, birds and bats that are vital to more...

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Bee on a non-iridescent flower

Flowers tone down the iridescence of their petals and avoid confusing bees

25 Feb 2016

Latest research shows that flowers’ iridescent petals, which may look plain to human eyes, are perfectly tailored to a bee’s-eye-view.

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Bombus pascuorum

̽»¨Ö±²¥Life and Death of the Queen Bumblebee

23 Sep 2015

̽»¨Ö±²¥Cambridge Animal Alphabet series celebrates Cambridge's connections with animals through literature, art, science and society. Here, Q is for...

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Buttercup under chin

Why buttercups reflect yellow on chins

14 Dec 2011

Scientists discover why buttercups reflect yellow on chins – and it doesn’t have anything to do with whether you like butter. ̽»¨Ö±²¥new research sheds...

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