After around 500 valuable racehorse foals died of a mysterious disease
earlier this year, University of Kentucky scientists are feeding caterpillar
faeces to horses to see if the bugs could be the culprit. Many of the foals
seemed to show classic signs of cyanide poisoning and many had been grazing
close to cherry trees. Cherry leaves contain prunasin, a compound related to
cyanide. Investigators now believe that frost in March drove eastern tent
caterpillars that feed on the trees onto pastures, where horses ate them or
their excrement. “Of all the working hypotheses this is the best one,” says
Thomas…
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Å®ÉúСÊÓÆµ
Explore the latest news, articles and features

Space
The distant world that is our best hope of finding alien life
Features

Environment
Solar farm on the ocean outperforms land-based solar in Taiwan
News

Environment
Wind-assisted cargo ships could more than halve shipping emissions
News

Life
Colossal claims an artificial eggshell will help it bring back the moa
News
Popular articles
Trending New Å®ÉúСÊÓÆµ articles
1
The ‘doomsday’ glacier’s giant ice shelf is about to break away
2
How I used psychology to come back from the worst year of my life
3
The distant world that is our best hope of finding alien life
4
Mystery of the ancient giant stone jars of Laos may have been solved
5
Why autism pioneer Uta Frith wants to dismantle the spectrum
6
Solar farm on the ocean outperforms land-based solar in Taiwan
7
Wind-assisted cargo ships could more than halve shipping emissions
8
The hidden pockets of the universe where the future can cause the past
9
Rebooting stem cells builds aged muscles and assists injury recovery
10
A lost ancient script reveals how writing as we know it really began