Science Articles

A 7-year-old Labrador retriever named Leo is back to hiking trails with his owner, five months after successfully recuperating from a total ankle replacement procedure conducted in January for the first time in Florida at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine’s Small Animal Hospital.

Vanilla, an expensive ingredient to import and buy, is the basis of a project led by a UF/IFAS scientist in Homestead to establish a south Florida-grown vanilla industry based on the bean.

Increasingly, consumers want plants that support wildlife, such as pollinators. That’s why UF/IFAS researchers are combining hard and social sciences to ensure you get the “certifiably” wildlife-friendly plants you seek.

A global risk-assessment tool shows 33 nonnative aquatic species worldwide pose a “very high risk” of becoming invasive in current and future climate conditions.

Crayfish exposed to low levels of antidepressant medication behaved in ways that could make them more vulnerable to predators.

A new study shows that mosquitoes can adjust to rapid changes in temperature, indicating that mosquitoes normally dormant during winter may become active year-round due to climate change.

An international research team has described a new species of Oculudentavis, providing further evidence that the animal first identified as a hummingbird-sized dinosaur was actually a lizard.

Researchers from the University of Florida, and Taiwan’s National Chiao Tung University have developed a rapid and sensitive testing method for COVID-19 biomarkers. These researchers previously demonstrated detection of biomarkers relevant in epidemics and emergency medicine, such as the Zika virus, heart attacks, and cerebral spinal fluid leaks.

UF researchers hope to eventually help growers get rid of weeds without vanquishing their fruit. Additionally, robots may replace tractors as the means for delivering the spray in the field. Getting rid of weeds is critical for growers in Florida’s $300 million-a-year strawberry industry because weeds hinder fruit yield.

To solve the elusive medical mystery of why many adults have both high blood pressure and depression, University of Florida Health researchers took a long, in-depth look at one suspected culprit: gut bacteria.

The first comprehensive study of tooth evolution in frogs is bringing the group’s dental history into focus. Florida Museum of Natural History researchers analyzed CT scans of nearly every living amphibian genus to reveal that frogs have lost teeth over 20 times during their evolution, more than any other vertebrate group.

Hurricane season officially starts June 1, but it’s never too early to prepare.
Over the next six months, we must stay alert to news reports and be ready to face a tropical storm or hurricane in the state of Florida.

Agriculture is the second largest industry in Florida, but uncertainty of the industry’s future labor force remains, as the average age of the farmer increases each year. UF/IFAS works to address this disparity through youth outreach programs that increase agriculture literacy early on.

Florida Museum of Natural History scientists have found the first nest of Florida’s extraordinarily rare blue calamintha bee and added a new location to its known range: Ocala National Forest. They also confirmed the insect feeds on a second, but highly endangered, host plant.

In Florida, the threatened American Crocodile plays an important role in the waterways and environment that we live in and enjoy. Among their attributes, their health, breeding and survival status tell us a lot about the current state of the Florida Everglades as well.