These Weird Bagworm Moths Build Log Cabins of Twigs to Live and Die In

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

The nest of a female bagworm. (Credits: Will478/Shutterstock) Is that a cluster of miniature Lincoln Logs hanging off a branch? Not quite — what may look like a meticulous assortment of twigs is actually the home of a bagworm moth. These bug architects spend most of their short lives weaving homes out of plant debris. As larvae, the silky worms find a place to settle down and feed, such as a leaf or the branch of a tree. Then, they crawl around and collect materials like twigs, dirt ...read more

Do Soda Taxes Actually Work? Here’s What the Science is Telling Us

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

Teas, sodas, sports drinks, more: A broad variety of beverages contain caloric sweeteners, but beverage taxes don’t treat them equally. For example, 100% fruit juice generally gets a pass for nutritional reasons, even though it contains plenty of sugar that’s chemically no different than sugar added artificially. In a similar vein, among public health researchers and policymakers there’s disagreement on whether to tax sweetened milk, because the added sugar may make it more lik ...read more

This Weird Spider-Bot Could Soon Crawl on the Moon

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

The tiny rover only weighs a little over two pounds. (Credit: Spacebit) The United Kingdom is sending a small, four-legged robot to the moon in 2021. The tiny rover, which looks like a cross between a spider and a children’s toy, will be the first moon rover for the U.K. It will also be the first rover with legs to walk on the moon. Created by the private U.K.-based company, Spacebit, the tiny rover will fly on a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket, and be launched from Cape Canaver ...read more