Researchers have shown for the first time that bumblebee colonies are more likely to become infested with bumblebee wax moths as they are closer to nearby honeybee hives, which can likewise host these potentially devastating parasites. As the distance to the apiaries decreased, bumblebee colonies were less productive, while their workers showed a weaker general immune response to pathogens and parasites. The authors advise honeybee keepers to keep apiaries away from habitats rich in bumblebees, which are important pollinators but declining worldwide.

A new study aimed at understanding perceptions of obesity management and the use of anti-obesity medicine by employers and employees in the U.S. is published in the peer-reviewed journal Population Health Management.

It’s a game a lot of us played as children—and maybe even later in life: unspooling measuring tape to see how far it would extend before bending. But to engineers at the University of California San Diego, this game was an inspiration, suggesting that measuring tape could become a great material for a robotic gripper. The grippers would be a particularly good fit for agriculture applications, as their extremities are soft enough to grab fragile fruits and vegetables, researchers wrote. The devices are also low-cost and safe around humans.

Multi-institution team of agronomists question statistical methods used to predict yield potential and "yield gaps" for major crops. In some cases, yield potential is overestimated, while in others it can be underestimated. It's important to have accurate information so that worldwide agriculture can meet the food demands of the growing global population. 

Floodplains—low-lying areas adjacent to rivers and streams—can play a crucial role in reducing flood impacts, helping to protect lives, agriculture, and infrastructure by influencing how water moves across the landscape. New research by the University of Vermont (UVM) shows that not all floodplains function in the same way. The study reveals that varying topographic features affect a floodplain’s ability to ease flood water’s momentum and impact.