February 16, 2021
Climate change likely drove the extinction of North America’s largest animals
New research suggests that overhunting by humans was not responsible for the extinction of mammoths, ground sloths, and other North American megafauna (Nature Communication, February 2021) more »
January 14, 2021
How plants produce defensive toxins without harming themselves
Defense and autotoxicity: Researchers elucidate the biosynthesis and mode of action of diterpene glycosides in wild tobacco (SCIENCE, January 2021), more »
December 29, 2020
Using a tree's natural defenses
Sybille Unsicker is investigating how black poplars defend themselves against voracious insects (Max Planck Research 3/2020) (pdf)
September 28, 2020
Surplus sugar helps whiteflies detoxify plant defenses
This pest insect uses sugar from its food to prevent the activation of the mustard oil bomb in cruciferous plants (Nature Chemical Biology, September 2020) more »