When the air gets dry, cockroaches cuddle: Binghamton University study reveals survival strategy

An experiment by Binghamton biology undergrads gives insight into the behavior of Madagascar hissing cockroaches

Binghamton University

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When conditions get too dry, Madagascar hissing cockroaches like to "cuddle". Under certain conditions, the large insects gather in groups, with many participants in physical contact with one another. According to recent research from Binghamton University’s Biological Sciences program, this strategy may prevent the cockroaches from drying out.

The new study, “Plastic Behavioral Responses to Ambient Relative Humidity Influence Aggregation in a Large Gregarious Insect”, recently appeared in the journal Ethology, and was co-authored by Binghamton University Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Assistant Professor and senior author Lindsey Swierk, as well as Alison Kryger, Kayla Huang, Kayhan Tabrizifard and Justin Yang, who were all students in Swierk's fall Animal Behavior 2024 undergraduate course.

“The main takeaway from our study is that Madagascar hissing cockroaches actively adjust their social behavior based on humidity, showing that even large adult insects rely on behavioral plasticity to cope with environmental stressors,” explained Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Lindsey Swierk. “The students’ research projects are generally outstanding — and many of these student groups are motivated to submit their research for publication following the end of the course."

This is the fourth student group from Swierk’s Animal Behavior class to have their work published in a peer-reviewed journal since 2022; another paper from a different group is currently undergoing peer review. The paper’s fifth author, Alexandra Martin, PhD ’25, is a recent graduate of Swierk’s lab and offered guidance to the undergraduates on experimental design and data interpretation.

Adjusting to climate change

Madagascar hissing cockroaches are around 2 to 3 inches long and widely used in educational settings. Surprisingly, many aspects of their natural history aren’t well understood, Swierk said.

In their native Madagascar, these insects form large social groups. The African island experiences both a wet season and a dry season, and Swierk’s Animal Behavior students found that the roaches’ tendency to aggregate is connected with those swings in humidity.

When the humidity is low, cockroaches in the experiment were significantly more likely to gather into groups, with more of them in physical contact with one another. Aggregation was less common under high humidity, and groups that did form included fewer individuals, the researchers discovered.

“In general, insects can lose water pretty quickly because of their high surface area to volume ratios, and so humidity really affects their abilities to retain moisture,” Swierk explained. “Our research shows that even larger adult insects, that may in theory be more resistant to low humidity than smaller or larval insects, still use aggregation as a flexible behavioral adaptation to reduce the risk of water loss.”

When the air is dry, insects lose water through their cuticle and through breathing. Physiological adaptations can help them fend off desiccation, including a layer of hydrocarbons on their exoskeletons and changes in metabolic rates. Aggregation is another such strategy, which has been previously observed in small insects and insect larvae.

By grouping together, the cockroaches create a type of micro-climate that increases humidity in their immediate area. But this strategy comes with costs; aggregation could increase social competition or make the insects easier prey for other animals.

Hissing cockroaches, who dwell on the forest floor, play an important role in the environment as decomposers and prey for other animals. Changes in their behavior could end up influencing the larger ecosystem, which is already experiencing the impact of climate change; Madagascar’s dry seasons are becoming longer and more severe, with the humidity in some regions dropping to very low levels, Swierk said.

“Because we now know that these cockroaches adjust their aggregation behavior in response to humidity, more frequent or extreme dry periods could push them to aggregate more often to conserve water, which could potentially affect their foraging, reproduction, or broader ecological roles as decomposers,” she said.

Most likely, humidity is only one of many factors that influence aggregation among Madagascar cockroaches. Whether the hissing cockroach findings apply more widely to other large insect species remains to be seen.

“Our study suggests that such aggregation behavior under low humidity levels could more generally apply to larger insects, as well as small or larval insects, but of course this will also depend on species’ natural history and social behaviors,” Swierk said.

About Binghamton University

Binghamton University, State University of New York, is the #1 public university in New York and a top-100 institution nationally. Founded in 1946, Binghamton combines a liberal arts foundation with professional and graduate programs, offering more than 130 academic undergraduate majors, minors, certificates, concentrations, emphases, tracks and specializations, plus more than 90 master's, 40 doctoral and 50 graduate certificate programs. The University is home to nearly 18,000 students and more than 150,000 alumni worldwide. Binghamton's commitment to academic excellence, innovative research, and student success has earned it recognition as a Public Ivy and one of the best values in American higher education.

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Journal

Ethology

DOI

10.1111/eth.70026 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Plastic Behavioral Responses to Ambient Relative Humidity Influence Aggregation in a Large Gregarious Insect

 

Sensors could help reduce fatal racehorse injuries by 20%

Washington State University

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PULLMAN, Wash. — A tiny wearable sensor designed for thoroughbred racehorses can identify horses at elevated risk of catastrophic injury, according to a new study led by researchers at Washington State University.

The sensor records roughly 2,400 data points per second to detail precise stride movements during horse races that are invisible to the human eye. An advanced algorithm analyzes this data, comparing it to patterns from sound, high-performing racehorses and those that suffered fatal musculoskeletal injuries, before assigning each horse a risk score from 1 to 6, with 6 indicating the greatest risk.

Researchers tested the sensors during nearly 30,000 races involving more than 11,800 thoroughbreds at 10 tracks across the United States between July 2021 and May 2024. The study, published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, found that horses with a risk score of 6 were 44 times more likely to suffer a fatal injury than those with a score of 1. Horses with a score of 6 made up just 0.4% of starts but represented 4% of all fatalities.

“This technology can help us to intervene before a fatal musculoskeletal injury occurs,” said lead researcher Dr. Warwick Bayly, a professor in WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “We now have the potential to prevent injuries that would end a horse’s career, or even its life, and make racing safer. Our data show focusing on horses flagged with the highest risk scores could reduce fatal injury rates by nearly 20%.”

The industry has made strides in reducing race-day fatalities – from 2 per 1,000 starts in 2009 to 1.32 in 2023 – but injuries still occur during both racing and training. Necropsy data show 93% of horses that suffered catastrophic injuries had pre-existing bone conditions.

“Every fatal injury is devastating, not just for the horse and connections but for the sport itself,” Bayly said. “Instead of relying on what we can see – which is very little at full gallop – we now have hard data that tells us when something isn’t right.”

WSU began collaborating with the creator of the sensors, StrideSAFE, in 2020, testing the technology at the university’s Hitchcock Research Racetrack, which is the only dedicated research racetrack at a U.S. university. From there, the sensors were deployed at Emerald Downs in Seattle and later at major tracks nationwide, including Saratoga, Belmont, Keeneland and Churchill Downs.

The study also examined other factors associated with injury risk. Age was not found to be a significant predictor, but males were more likely to suffer fatal injuries than females. Horses running shorter races tended to have higher risk scores, and dirt and turf tracks had higher fatality rates than synthetic surfaces.

Bayly is optimistic the sensors can be used to improve the safety of the sport by allowing high-risk horses to be identified early, giving trainers and veterinarians the opportunity to properly assess and address any ailments.

“It’s common to see human athletes wearing biometric sensors to monitor performance and prevent injuries,” Bayly said. “We can now use the same technology to improve the safety of horse racing. If we can identify horses at risk and intervene ahead of time, we not only save lives but also strengthen the integrity and sustainability of the sport.”

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Journal

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

DOI

10.2460/javma.25.04.0268 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Thoroughbreds deemed to be most at risk by inertial measurement unit sensors suffered a fatal musculoskeletal injury at a higher rate than other racehorses

COI Statement

Drs. Lambert, Holmströem, and Donohue are shareholders in StrideSAFE. The authors have no other conflicts of in- terest to declare.

 

Study finds unsustainable water use across the Rio Grande

Virginia Tech

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The Rio-Grande Bravo Basin.

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Credit: Map courtesy of Landon Marston.

Across the Rio Grande–Bravo basin, which runs from Colorado to Mexico, water stress has been building for years.

Reservoirs that once relied on steady snowmelt are now noticeably lower. Aquifers that supported farming communities for generations continue to decline, dropping faster than they can recharge. In some stretches, the river, which runs nearly 3,000 kilometers, disappears into dry sand before reaching its endpoint.

Despite this growing strain, a full, basin-wide picture of how the river’s water is used and how much is being lost didn’t exist. People could see the symptoms, but the underlying patterns and specific drivers of water decline were not well understood.

That is beginning to change. Landon Marston, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech, is part of a group of researchers that have completed the first comprehensive assessment of the Rio Grande–Bravo basin, using decades of data from 14 sub-basins across the United States and Mexico. This multi-institutional effort, led by Brian Richter at Sustainable Waters, offer the clearest look yet at how limited water supplies are being allocated and where the system is breaking down.

One result stood out. More than half of the water consumed across the basin is effectively being used unsustainably, pulled from reservoirs and aquifers much faster than natural processes can replace it.

“For the first time, we can see a complete, binational view of how water is being used across the entire Rio Grande–Bravo basin,” said Marston. “This accounting is essential because it lays bare the reality of the basin’s situation. More than half of the water people are using isn’t sustainable, putting the long-term health of farms and cities at serious risk.”

What the new analysis reveals

In the basin-wide assessment, which relied on satellite observations, detailed water use records, crop models, and hydrologic modeling, the research team worked to understand every major way that water is used. This included irrigated agriculture, municipal supplies, industrial needs, power generation, even losses from reservoir evaporation and thirsty riverside ecosystems. When researchers combined all of these data sources, a clear pattern emerged.

Only about 48 percent of the water people use in the basin is naturally replenished each year. The other 52 percent is coming from reserves that are steadily running out, such as groundwater that drops a little lower each season, reservoirs sitting at historic lows, and river stretches that no longer carry enough flow to stay connected.

The reservoirs tell the story plainly. By late 2024, New Mexico’s largest reservoirs were only 13 percent full, meaning just one or two very dry years could push them to empty.

A river running on empty

The Rio Grande–Bravo has never been a high-flow river, even though it covers a huge distance. But the factors behind today’s water shortages started long ago. As early as the late 1800s, heavy irrigation in Colorado’s San Luis Valley was already reducing the amount of water moving downstream. By the 1950s, some sections, now known as the “Forgotten Reach,” were drying up completely, well before climate models were part of public planning.

Today, the pressures are even greater. Only about 15 percent of the river’s natural flow makes it to the lower basin near the Gulf of Mexico. A prolonged, two-decade megadrought has cut snowmelt by 17 percent since 2000, and scientists no longer view it as a short-term dry spell but as a shift toward a more arid climate. Looking ahead, projections show the river could lose an additional 16 to 28 percent of its flow in the coming decades.

“Nature is providing less water,” said Marston, “and human demand continues to grow.”

A narrow window for transformation

If the basin continues on its current path, the challenges will only grow, according to the study. More farmland could be lost, aquifers could collapse further, and cities could face even greater water stress. Traditional solutions, such as desalinating water or importing it from elsewhere, are unlikely to be realistic for the farmers and communities who rely on local supplies.

The study points to several possible paths forward, all related to agricultural water use.

Agriculture uses nearly 90 percent of the water in the basin, so changing what and how crops are grown will be critical. Farmers might switch to crops that need little or no irrigation, or they could adopt deficit irrigation practices, carefully reducing watering while still producing viable harvests. In the most water-stressed areas, some farmland may need to be repurposed entirely for habitat restoration, solar farms, or other uses that require far less water.

Reimagining the future

Even in a basin shaped by scarcity, the current water crisis offers an opportunity to imagine a more sustainable future, Marston said. Across other water-stressed communities in the western United States, programs and scenario-planning efforts are helping residents rethink how to manage land and water more wisely. The Rio Grande–Bravo could follow a similar path, using these lessons to guide decisions and explore new possibilities, he said.

This comprehensive accounting does more than show how far the basin has fallen out of balance, Marston said. It highlights where change is possible and where it is urgent.

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Journal

Discover Water

DOI

10.1007/s43832-025-00301-2 

Article Title

Overconsumption gravely threatens water security in the binational Rio Grande-Bravo basin Brian D. Richter1,2*, K

Article Publication Date

20-Nov-2025

 

UBCO engineers create new device to improve indoor air quality

Innovative airflow system outperforms conventional ventilation, reduces infection risk

University of British Columbia Okanagan campus

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UBC Okanagan researchers are exploring a new way to create personalized ventilation systems that would remove airborne pathogens to help reduce the spread of respiratory diseases in enclosed spaces.

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Credit: UBCO

With winter approaching and people spending more time indoors, the quality of the air they breathe becomes increasingly important. Especially during cold and flu season.

Researchers at UBC Okanagan are exploring an air-cleaning device that can remove airborne pathogens, offering a powerful new tool for reducing the spread of respiratory diseases in enclosed spaces.

The traditional approach to alleviating transmission of infectious diseases involves improving a building’s ventilation system to regulate large-scale airflow, explains study co-author Dr. Sunny Li, professor in the School of Engineering.

Personalized ventilation systems go a step further by directing clean air towards a person from a fixed distance—similar to the air circulation system on passenger airplanes. But these systems have drawbacks, he says. A person needs to stay in the same position, or all people in the surrounding area need to be using the same system at the same time. There is also the discomfort of dry skin and eyes due to the constant exposure to the air.

“Ensuring high air quality while indoors is crucial for mitigating the transmission of airborne disease, particularly in shared environments,” says Dr. Li. “Many Canadians spend nearly 90 per cent of their time inside, making indoor air quality a critical factor for health and wellbeing.”

Postdoctoral researcher Dr. Mojtaba Zabihi, the study’s first author, explains that room layouts and ventilation systems vary significantly, making it challenging to implement changes in existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. This highlights the importance of personalized ventilation.

“We wanted to develop an innovative system that prevents occupants from inhaling contaminated air while allowing them to use a personalized ventilation system comfortably for extended periods,” he says.

The team of mechanical engineers, who work with UBC’s Airborne Disease Transmission Research Cluster, created an induction-removal or jet-sink airflow concept to capture and remove exhaled aerosols before they can circulate through the room.

Unlike conventional personalized ventilation systems, which rely on high-speed air jets that can cause discomfort and lose effectiveness when users move, the new design redirects airflow around the person while continuously drawing contaminated particles into a localized purification zone.

“Our design combines comfort with control,” says Dr. Zabihi. “It creates a targeted airflow that traps and removes exhaled aerosols almost immediately—before they have a chance to spread.”

Using computer simulations to model breathing, body heat and airflow during a 30-minute consultation scenario, the researchers compared their device against standard personal ventilation systems.

The results, published recently in Building and Environment, were dramatic. The new system reduced the probability of infection to just 9.5 per cent, compared with 47.6 per cent for a personal setup, 38 per cent for a personal ventilation system with an exhaust design, and 91 per cent under standard room ventilation.

Under optimal placement, the device prevented pathogen inhalation for the first 15 minutes of exposure, allowing only 10 particles out of 540,000 to reach another person. In fact, their simulations indicated it was able to remove up to 94 per cent of airborne pathogens.

“Traditional personalized ventilation systems can’t adapt when people move or interact,” explains Dr. Joshua Brinkerhoff, study co-author. “It’s a smart, responsive solution for spaces like clinics, classrooms or offices where close contact is unavoidable.”

Dr. Brinkerhoff says the study highlights the potential for airflow engineering—not just filtration—to improve indoor air quality and occupant safety. Future research will focus on refining the design for larger rooms and testing physical prototypes in clinical and public settings.

As a member of Canada’s National Model Codes Committee on Indoor Environment, Dr. Zabihi hopes their research will help shape future ventilation standards, making indoor spaces safer and healthier for everyone.

UBCO researchers Drs. Sunny Li, Mojtaba Zabihi and Joshua Brinkerhoff are working on an indoor ventilation system to make the shared space cleaner and prevent the spread of pathogens.

Credit

UBCO

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Journal

Building and Environment

DOI

10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.113569 

Method of Research

Meta-analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

A novel aerosol induction-removal system for mitigating airborne disease transmission in shared indoor environments

Article Publication Date

1-Dec-2025