300yearold

The 1725 Newsham fire engine inspired the authors to examine the Windkessel effect and capture the physics behind the enduring technology of a steady stream of water under pressure. Credit: Photo used courtesy of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Museum PurchaseStabilizing the flow of water in pumping systems marked a significant breakthrough in the 18th century.Today, the technology behind water pressure is widespread, benefiting anyone who takes a shower, irrigates a garden, or combats fires. However, in the 17th…

Contrary to popular belief that bilateral floral symmetry increases pollination accuracy, a new study found that flower orientation, particularly horizontal presentation, significantly stabilizes bee entry angles, not symmetry. This discovery calls for a reevaluation of the adaptive significance of bilaterally symmetrical flowers in angiosperms. Credit: University of TsukubaIn the natural world, it’s not uncommon to see flowers from unrelated <span class="glossaryLink" aria-describedby="tt"…

The year was 1737 and, due to the large diversity of plants and animals collected by naturalist explorers in different parts of the world, Linnaeus saw the need to develop a logical system to classify and group this material in a systematic way. It’s a system that’s stood the test of time – his basic formula is still in use. The naming convention applies to all biological organisms: plants, animals and bacteria. Each species receives a name…