Researchers from ELTE Eötvös Loránd University and the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network have now experimentally demonstrated that an ectothermic vertebrate infected with a virus actively seeks cooler, rather than warmer, environments to regulate its body temperature. This strategy, known as behavioural cooling, has so far been documented only rarely in the animal kingdom, having previously been reported in a handful of arthropod species infected with bacterial or viral pathogens and in rats infected with bacteria. The new findings suggest that behavioural cooling may also help animals to combat viral infections.

Diallyl disulfide is an organosulfur compound derived from garlic, and R-carvone is a monoterpenoid derived from spearmint. Researchers processed these compounds into oil-in-water nanoemulsions and applied it to the adzuki bean beetle—a known legume pest. The researchers found that the nanoemulsions were highly toxic against the pest, suggesting that they could be a promising environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic pest-control agents.

Using satellite data, researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have identified an unprecedented loss of aboveground biomass in Europe’s forests since 2018. Forests in Central Europe, which have been heavily affected by drought and bark beetle outbreaks, have been particularly impacted. The study also shows that even small increases in disturbed forest area can release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. The findings raise concerns about the European Union's ability to meet its climate goals.

A research paper by scientists from Harbin Institute of Technology proposed an integrate the characteristics of different animals, an insect-scale tripedal piezoelectric robot incorporating multiple biomimetic features.

The new research paper, published on Jul. 23 in the journal Cyborg and Bionic Systems, provided an insect‑scale piezoelectric robot that combines multiple biomimetic features inspired by both fish and seals.

The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, spreads serious pathogens. Ryo Nakao and colleagues explored the genetic structure of native and introduced H. longicornis populations. SNP analysis showed gene flow between clades, suggesting that parthenogenesis evolved multiple times. According to the authors, the ability to evolve parthenogenesis may help explain the spread of this vector species.