Researchers have conducted experiments on locusts in a centrifuge, finding that hypergravity leads to the development of stiffer exoskeletons in the insects. However, excessive gravity can be fatal for them. Additionally, gene editing has been used to create silkworms capable of producing spider fibers tougher than Kevlar. In West Africa, the use of chemicals has been employed to combat a new cotton pest, with Ivory Coast farmers resorting to extra insecticides to protect their crops. However, researchers caution that this may only offer a short-term solution. Furthermore, fern proteins with pest-killing properties have been discovered, including one effective against pests resistant to natural pesticides.
Researchers have discovered fern proteins that kill and deter pests, including one that shows promise against bugs resistant to widely used natural pesticides. https://t.co/XZzYe3hy7p
The use of extra insecticide managed to help cotton farmers in Ivory Coast shield their crop against an invasive species after a new pest wreaked record damage across West and Central Africa last season https://t.co/7LqAgxNhGa https://t.co/NcNXlZu0Su
Insect #exoskeletons react to hypergravity #ProcB https://t.co/uKzDLarzt3 #Biomechanics #Evolution @janhenningdirks https://t.co/V7ILsd8tAN
Ivory Coast farmers saw their cotton crops decimated by an invasive species last year. This year, they've fought back with chemicals, but researchers warn that's only a short-term solution https://t.co/7LqAgxMJQC https://t.co/HfM0x6rxgR
Without pausing to wipe the sweat from their brows, workers in northern Ivory Coast picked cotton by the handful - a crop saved by the use of extra insecticides after a new pest wreaked record damage across West and Central Africa last season https://t.co/H9NOw1k3K1
West Africa counts on chemicals to curb new cotton pest https://t.co/kyttP0BCig https://t.co/xQiZidrxXj
Researchers have used gene editing to make silkworms that can spin spider fibers tougher than the Kevlar used in bulletproof vests. https://t.co/mcWlxFBKDr @NewsfromScience
Study shows exoskeletons of insects become stronger when raised under higher mechanical load @RSocPublishing https://t.co/uobNtUNGWp https://t.co/b5jGqGeWnw
Locusts raised in a spinning centrifuge have stronger skeletons, finds an unusual hypergravity experiment. https://t.co/hYmrtaYCPE
Locusts in a centrifuge that mimics hypergravity develop stiffer exoskeletons – but too much gravity kills them 👇 https://t.co/eUYb72n0Wn