Gravity Equations Useful In Modeling Earthbound Phenomena

According to researchers from Penn State University and the University of Virginia, the spread of diseases by insects can be described by equations like those used to describe the force of gravity between planetary objects.

The researchers explained that insects tend to transmit diseases in the course of feeding on plants, and their movement between plants is influenced by plant quality and the distance between plants, or, how far they’ll have to travel to get to the next meal. “It turns out insects are more likely to move shorter distances between better plants,” write the authors in The American Naturalist.

“Interestingly, then, the probability of disease being passed between two plants goes up if they are closer and/or better, which parallels the stronger gravity between closer and larger planets.”

In this case, the researchers tracked a fungal disease spread by bees and moths in the course of pollinating and feeding on nectar from white campion flowers. As predicted, the disease was more likely to spread shorter distances between plants that had many flowers.

“This implies that knowledge of insect behavior can lead to better prediction of where disease will spread,” explained researcher Ottar Bjornstad. In fact, these patterns are not limited to diseases of plants or diseases carried by insects. Bjornstad and colleagues have previously shown that similar patterns describe the spread of diseases between cities.

Source: University of Chicago Press Journals

, ,

Comments are closed.

Parkinson's Disease Awareness Ribbon  Magnet picture

Parkinson's Disease Awareness Ribbon Magnet

$3.14



Crohn's Disease Awareness Ribbon Magnet picture

Crohn's Disease Awareness Ribbon Magnet

$3.14



Ketoconazole In The Management Of Fungal Disease HB Levine Medical Mycoses 1982 picture

Ketoconazole In The Management Of Fungal Disease HB Levine Medical Mycoses 1982

$8.57



Old HYGIENE AND WAR Book 1917 WWI MEDICAL DISEASE WOUND DOCTOR ARMY SURGERY PAIN picture

Old HYGIENE AND WAR Book 1917 WWI MEDICAL DISEASE WOUND DOCTOR ARMY SURGERY PAIN

$243.81



Disease Teeth Model, Clear Dental Teeth Model, Vintage Medical, Oddities, Weird picture

Disease Teeth Model, Clear Dental Teeth Model, Vintage Medical, Oddities, Weird

$38.00



1910s Malaria Mosquito Infectious Disease Medical Model Press Photo picture

1910s Malaria Mosquito Infectious Disease Medical Model Press Photo

$600.00



300 35mm Slides Medical Terminology pathology disease teaching graphic images picture

300 35mm Slides Medical Terminology pathology disease teaching graphic images

$79.99



LOT OF 1,000 VINTAGE MEDICAL SLIDES Organs Liver Disease Tumors Heart Brain picture

LOT OF 1,000 VINTAGE MEDICAL SLIDES Organs Liver Disease Tumors Heart Brain

$149.95



Hanover Pennsylvania Doctor Keller Chronic Disease Clinic Real Photo Postcard picture

Hanover Pennsylvania Doctor Keller Chronic Disease Clinic Real Photo Postcard

$45.00



GROTESQUE Antique DEFORMITY DISEASE LEPROSY Rare PHOTO 1870 Expedition FREAKS picture

GROTESQUE Antique DEFORMITY DISEASE LEPROSY Rare PHOTO 1870 Expedition FREAKS

$379.99



Powered by WordPress. Designed by WooThemes