Dylan Miller examines how parasitic wasps manipulate the hosts like caterpillars and what this behaviour might tell us about human brains.
“Parasites have had millions of years of evolution to perfect methods for targeted and absolute behaviour control. Understanding these methods could illuminate new tools for neuroscience research.”
Brains abhor expending resources to maintain anything they find isn’t ‘needed’ anymore. The components of neurons (the main signalling cells in the brain) don’t last forever and require regular upkeep. Keeping every part of these cells in shape takes a lot of energy, biological materials, and space. All of this places limits on how many […]
The Hornets Recently the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) has been in the news due to some recent sightings in North America. They are also known to some as ‘murder hornets’, which is a bit much and presumes an answer as to whether hornets can even commit murder in a legal sense (manslaughter hornets perhaps?). […]
