A team of entomologists went into Yellowstone National Park to understand how a tiny beetle could thrive in an incredibly hostile environment. As a result, they discovered one of its secrets — and patented it.

The flora and fauna of the world have several unique adaptations to cope with extremes in their environment. “Bioprospecting” is the increasingly important process of figuring out how these adaptations can be adapted for humanity’s benefit.

The entomologists studying Yellowstone’s wetsalts tiger beetle weren’t expecting to develop an invention from their research. Nevertheless, the beetle’s biology led to a patentable concept that could improve some aspect of humanity, now or in the future.

“Here's a case where we can point to a beneficial and advantageous discovery that cou

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