ÑÇÖÞAV

The Marvel universe isn't the only place where insects and other invertebrates have superpowers. Mason faculty, staff, and students are studying and explaining the many roles these creatures play on our planet, learning more about a bug's life—and the big world surrounding them—every step of the way. Here's a recap of some of those stories.Ìý

Monarch butterflies teach us how to protect them through their grand migration

Many creatures migrate to warmer habitats for the winter, but no insect does so quite as uniquely and spectacularly as the monarch butterfly, an endangered species.ÌýUndergraduates from theÌý‘s Wildlife Ecology and Conservation programÌýtagged monarch butterflies on their journey south to help researchers better understand their grand migration.ÌýRead more.Ìý

Honeybees and their honey could help solve crimes

An unlikelyÌýcollaborationÌýbetween Mason’sÌýÌýand theÌýnewÌýoutdoorÌýForensic Science Research and Training Laboratory couldÌýyieldÌýcriticalÌýadvances in forensic science.ÌýRead more.

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Bees can see ultraviolet (UV) colors, which are invisible to the human eye

When a bee sees a flower, it knows where to land thanks to its ability to see UV color patterns on the petals. A team at the helps reveal what pollinators see, and why it matters for the future of conservation.ÌýRead more.Ìý

Fruit fly behavior may reveal the impact of genes and disease on sleep

Assistant Professor of NeuroscienceÌý's teaching lab in the is using fruit flies to learn about the impact of genes and disease on sleep. Undergraduate researchers are investigating novel sleep-related genes by manipulating them genetically to see how they affect sleep and activity behavior. Researchers are also increasing and decreasing sleep in Alzheimer's disease model flies to determine how this impacts their Alzheimer's symptoms.Ìý

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Worms are soil magicians

Worm bin composting in Mason's turns biodegradable waste into healthy soil.Ìý.

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