Margaret Coulombe

The desert city of Phoenix depends on an extensive canal system to bring water to farms and homes. But artificial lakes and canal systems along with extensive groundwater pumping have had unintended effects on the ecosystem, scientists say. --by Margaret Coulombe

Does nature or nurture determine an ant's place in society? A little of both, for one species of harvester ant, at least. This kind of flexibility allows the colony to respond to changing conditions successfully.

The Vortis Insect Suction Sampler vacuums bugs off of plants. Researcher Stan Faeth uses the tool to study what kind of bugs inhabit particular plants, and their relationships to them. --by Margaret Coulombe

Microbial symbionts live in the guts of animals, the interiors of corals, and the roots of plants. They help plants take up nutrients and help cows break down cellulose, but they can also be harmful to their hosts. Stan Faeth wants to understand the relationship between symbionts, their hosts, and their role in everything from conservation to cancer cures. --by Margaret Coulombe

Room for experiments on the Space Shuttle or the International Space Station is hard to come by. Sometimes scientists have to mimic the effects of space right here on Earth. --by Margaret Coulombe

Scientists have learned plenty about how life in outer space affects the human body. But what about germs and other nasty microorganisms? Cheryl Nickerson wants to know how disease-causing pathogens themselves are affected by space travel. --by Margaret Coulombe

One day soon a biosensing nanodevice may eliminate long lines at airport security checkpoints and revolutionize health screenings for diseases like anthrax, cancer and antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Even more incredible than the device itself, is that it is based on the world's tiniest rotary motor: a biological engine measured on the order of molecules. --by Margaret Coulombe (Read the full text in SOLS News)

Nitrogen pollution from agricultural and urban runoff is a serious threat to ocean ecosystems. Nitrogen, in the form of nitrates, could generate algal blooms, create oceanic "dead zones" and kill coral, fish and shellfish in coastal zones. Researchers have discovered that small organisms in streams and rivers can filter out excess nitrogen before it reaches the oceans. However, overloading streams with too many nitrates reduces their filtering ability. --by Margaret Coulombe

When you visit the beach, the ocean always looks the same--but that doesn't mean it isn't changing. A new study has taken a comprehensive look at human impacts on marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, estuaries, and pelagic waters. The results show that none of Earth's oceans have escaped human influence. Now, oceanic maps from the study can help policy makers determine where human activities are most likely to cause negative effects. (Read the full story) --by Margaret Coulombe

The majority of people on Earth will soon live in megacities--urban areas with populations of 10 million or more. What will these future cities look like? And how will their populations meet the unique environmental challenges of the megacity? --by Margaret Coulombe