The shovel-nosed snake, which is found in the Mojave Desert of the southeast United States, has an elongated body and low-friction skin, which allow it to swim through sand rapidly and efficiently. It is shown here in a bed of sand in a Georgia Tech laboratory. (Credit: Jason Maderer)

Slick and slender snake beats short and stubby lizard in sand swimming

Atlanta, GA

For swimming through sand, a slick and slender snake can perform better than a short and stubby lizard.

A filefish, pictured here, can create chemical camouflage by feeding on coral reefs. Credit: Tane Sinclair-Taylor

Fish use chemical camouflage from diet to hide from predators

Atlanta, GA

A species of small fish uses a homemade coral-scented cologne to hide from predators, a new study has shown, providing the first evidence of chemical camouflage from diet in fish.

The smooth dogfish, a shark whose range includes the Atlantic Ocean off the eastern United States, could lose their ability to sense the smell of food if climate change if ocean acidification continues its current pace. Credit: Danielle Dixson

Sharks in Acidic Waters Avoid Smell of Food

Atlanta, GA

The increasing acidification of ocean waters caused by rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels could rob sharks of their ability to sense the smell of food, a new study suggests.

A display of the diversity in male cichlid fish. Researchers have sequenced the genomes and transcriptomes of five species, which offers insight into how diversity evolves. Credit: Ryan Bloomquist.

Sequencing of five African fishes reveals diverse molecular mechanisms underlying evolution

Atlanta, GA

Researchers have sequenced the genomes and transcriptomes of five species of African cichlid fishes and uncovered a variety of features that enabled the fishes to thrive in new habitats and ecological niches within the Great Lakes of East Africa.

Georgia Tech is home to nearly 12,000 trees. 

With a few steps, cities can drastically reduce heat-related deaths

Atlanta, GA

The four-year study completed by Georgia Tech is the first major national assessment of the health of those who live in major cities, the impact of rising temperatures and what city leaders can do to alleviate the crisis.

Georgia Tech researcher Andrew Brown places a finished hollow fiber metal-organic framework (MOF) membrane module into a membrane testing apparatus to measure its gas separation properties. (Credit: Rob Felt)

Hollow-Fiber MOF Membranes Could Cut Separation Costs, Energy Use

Atlanta, GA

Researchers have developed a new technique for fabricating metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes inside hollow polymer fibers.

Milad Navaei, a graduate research assistant, holds the micro gas chromatograph, which is being developed by GTRI researchers for early detection of diseases in crops. The technology’s portability could allow farmers to quickly evaluate the health of their crops and address possible threats immediately, thus reducing crop losses. (Georgia Tech Photo: Rob Felt)

Miniature Gas Chromatograph Could Help Farmers Detect Crop Diseases Earlier

Atlanta, GA

Researchers are developing a micro gas chromatograph for early detection of diseases in crops.

School of Architecture Team Successful at Inaugural Department of Energy Challenge Home Student Design Competition

Atlanta, GA

Team of master's students wins in two categories at student design competition

New research shows that the co-evolution of species can affect predator-prey relationships in substantial ways, potentially reversing traditional population cycles. In this photo, a bobcat catches a rabbit in Montana de Oro State Park in California. (Photo by Linda Tanner, available through Wikimedia Commons)

Evolution in Species May Reverse Predator-Prey Population Cycles

Atlanta, GA

Co-evolution in species may reverse traditional predator-prey population cycles, creating the appearance that prey are eating the predators.

This computer-simulated image shows gas from a star that is ripped apart by tidal forces as it falls into a black hole. Some of the gas is also being ejected at high speeds into space. Using observations from telescopes in space and on the ground, astronomers have gathered the most direct evidence yet for this violent process. (Credit: NASA, S. Gezari, The Johns Hopkins University and J. Guillochon, University of California, Santa Cruz)

Cosmic Slurp: Researchers Predict Signs of Black Holes Swallowing Stars

Atlanta, GA

Using theoretical and computer-based approaches, researchers are trying to predict the dynamics of how black holes devour stars.