For the first time, researchers have identified what appears to be a network of approximately 20 microbes that universally drive the decomposition of animal flesh. The findings have significant ...

Until the late 19th century, the success of criminal investigations largely hung on witness reports and (often extorted) confessions. A lack of scientific tools meant investigators needed advanced ...

A dead ant can be detected and removed from the nest within an hour, long before any rotting smell develops. The chemical ...

Forensic entomology and decomposition ecology together explore the breakdown of animal and human remains through interactions among insects, microbes and environmental factors. Insects, notably ...

Bugs and scientists have long been oddball allies in the effort to understand decomposing bodies, but there's a catch. When a person or animal dies, insects can detect that death faster than humans ...

Are the leaves piling up in your yard? You might want to think twice about trying to rake them away, experts say. Some experts have recommended for years that we leave the leaves where they land, and ...

All insects belong to the phylum Arthropoda. But unlike other arthropods—like lobsters, spiders, or millipedes—insects have ...

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Until the late 19th century, the success of criminal investigations largely hung on witness reports and (often extorted) confessions. A lack of scientific tools meant investigators needed advanced ...