Researchers have discovered unexpected superconductivity in a type of compound at higher pressures, contradicting earlier findings. The study reveals a transition temperature that disappears and reappears under extreme pressure conditions, sparking further research into its causes.
Scientists have discovered a way to reduce cellulose crystallinity, a key stumbling block in biofuels development. The study found that certain mutations in genes encode cellulose synthase proteins can produce cellulose with lower crystallinity, making it easier to digest.
Researchers found that replacing coal-fired electricity plants with lower-emitting technologies like solar, wind, or nuclear power requires a rapid transition and conservation efforts to achieve substantial benefits by the end of the century. However, it takes much longer for the climate system to respond to emissions reductions.
Researchers have used a 'light echo' technique to demonstrate that Eta Carinae's Great Eruption was significantly cooler than expected, differing from previously thought supernova impostors. The team's findings suggest the eruption may have been triggered by alternative models, warranting further investigation.
A team of researchers from Carnegie Institution, GoodPlanet Foundation, and World Wide Fund (WWF) has produced the first large-scale, high-resolution estimates of carbon stocks in remote and fragile Madagascar. The study found that humid mountain forests had the highest carbon densities, while deforestation reduced standing carbon stocks.
Plant steroid hormones brassinosteroids play a crucial role in regulating the number and distribution of stomata on leaves. Research found that brassinosteroids inhibit the protein BIN2, allowing stomata formation when present and inhibiting it when absent.
A team of scientists has detected a potentially habitable super-Earth orbiting a nearby M-class dwarf star called GJ 667C. The planet receives 90% of the light that Earth receives and is expected to absorb similar amounts of energy, which could lead to surface temperatures similar to those on Earth.
New research suggests that sunshade geoengineering may actually increase crop yields in most regions, alleviating temperature stress and improving productivity. However, the approach carries risks, including unintended consequences on precipitation and deployment-related conflicts.
The Siberian Traps volcanic eruptions could have released gases that damaged the ozone layer and caused acid rain, leading to a drastic decline in ecological diversity.
Research by Carnegie Institution scientists found that sea cucumbers dissolve half of the calcium carbonate on coral reefs at night, contributing to their destruction. The team's findings highlight the importance of understanding marine organisms' roles in maintaining the balance of these delicate ecosystems.
A new technology called RootChip enables scientists to analyze root tissue in intact live plants, revolutionizing the field of root studies. The device monitors real-time responses to environmental changes, revealing key insights into nutrient acquisition and carbon sequestration.
Scientists have discovered a new kind of metal in iron oxide at extreme depths, challenging previous assumptions about its behavior. The findings suggest that iron oxide can be both an insulator and a highly conducting metal depending on temperature and pressure conditions.
A team of scientists has observed the early stages of a Type Ia supernova, refining our understanding of these explosive events. The discovery suggests that the primary star was a carbon-oxygen white dwarf, and analysis of matter ejected by the explosion points to a possible subgiant or main-sequence star as the secondary companion.
New research by William Anderegg and colleagues reveals that carbon starvation is unlikely to be the primary cause of tree death during droughts. The study found significant losses of function in the trees' water-transportation systems, especially in the roots, resulting in a 70% loss of water conductivity.
Researchers have identified a critical component of a molecular pump system that transports sugars throughout plants, which could lead to increased crop yields and improve food security. The discovery also provides new insights into plant pathology and offers potential solutions for protecting crops from pests.
A team of researchers has discovered a large, rocky planet with a surface temperature comparable to a comfortable spring day on Earth. The planet orbits in the middle of its star's habitable zone, where liquid water is expected to exist.
Researchers have found that B-type lamins are necessary for proper organ development, but not for the replication and differentiation of embryonic stem cells. Mice deficient in B-type lamins were born with developmental defects, highlighting the protein's importance in tissue organization.
A team of scientists led by Yingwei Fei found that oxygen is not a major component of the Earth's liquid outer core, contradicting previous models. The discovery has significant implications for understanding the planet's formation through accretion of dust and clumps of matter.
The new US Carbon Cycle Science Plan aims to expand research on the human impact of carbon cycling and climate change. It emphasizes communication and accessible research for policy makers and the public, with a focus on strengthening observation networks and developing numerical models.
A team of researchers used modeling to determine the type of testing that might be effective in future solar radiation management. Short-term tests could help inform decisions about larger scale deployments, but would require several decades and extrapolation to centuries-long time scales.
A team led by Steven Davis tracked and quantified global carbon dioxide emissions across the supply chain. They found that regulating fossil fuels extracted in major countries like China, US, and Russia could cover 67% of global emissions.
Scientists have discovered a new form of carbon capable of withstanding extreme pressure stresses, surpassing that of diamond. The amorphous material was created by compressing glassy carbon to above 400,000 times normal atmospheric pressure.
Christoph Lepper, a Carnegie staff associate, received the NIH Director's Early Independence Award for his groundbreaking research on skeletal muscle biology. The award aims to launch talented young scientists into independent positions directly out of graduate school.
The MESSENGER spacecraft has shown that Mercury's surface material composition differs significantly from other terrestrial planets, with higher abundances of sulfur and potassium. The planet's surface also features a unique magnetic field and extensive volcanic plains covering over 6% of its surface.
Astronomers have discovered a planet that orbits around a pair of stars, providing direct evidence for the existence of circumbinary planets. The discovery was made using data from the NASA Kepler space telescope and confirms long-speculated theories about these systems.
Researchers found diamonds from the lower mantle contain compositions consistent with oceanic crust, suggesting slabs of oceanic crust sank into the lower mantle and cycled back up. The discovery provides direct evidence for the Earth's carbon cycle extending to great depths.
Researchers discovered that evaporated water from trees and lakes helps cool the entire atmosphere, not just locally, through increased cloud formation and reflection of solar radiation. This process has significant implications for land-use decision-making and mitigating global warming.
Researchers have discovered that certain transposon elements can coordinate their movement with DNA replication, allowing them to spread more rapidly through genomes. P elements, one such transposon, tend to insert themselves near the beginning of genes and at regions functioning as starting sites or origins for DNA duplication.
A team of scientists has discovered a distant galaxy that helps elucidate two fundamental questions of galaxy formation. The galaxy's extended patch of light suggests that roughly half of the radiation is escaping and exciting hydrogen atoms outside its halo.
Researchers have identified a new protein called Constitutive Differential Growth1 (CDG1) that plays a crucial role in the brassinosteroid-activated pathway. CDG1 adds a phosphate to BSU1, leading to deactivation of BIN2 and promoting gene activity.
A team of scientists, including Carnegie's Richard Carlson, has estimated the age of a lunar rock sample at 4.36 billion years, significantly younger than earlier estimates of 4.568 billion years. This finding supports the idea that the oldest crusts on both Earth and Moon formed around the same time after a giant impact.
Researchers found evidence of gas outflows from the supernova ancestors, suggesting they don't originate from white dwarfs. This discovery is crucial for understanding Type Ia supernovae and their immense luminosity.
Scientists have discovered nucleobases, building blocks of genetic material, in meteorites that suggest an extraterrestrial origin. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicate that certain meteorites brought these compounds to Earth, providing a possible source for life.
A study published in Genes & Development reveals a specific RNA cluster, miR-17~92, plays a key role in the growth of retinoblastoma, a rare form of childhood eye cancer. The researchers found that overexpression of this microRNA cluster helps cells proliferate despite the loss of tumor-suppressing protein Rb.
Researchers discovered that flood basalts contain traces of ancient Earth's primitive mantle, challenging previous theories. The findings suggest that a significant fraction of large volcanic events originate from a modern mantle source similar to the primitive reservoir found in northern Canada and Greenland.
A new study suggests that reforestation on abandoned agricultural land can have a significant cooling effect on the climate. By considering historical patterns of land-use conversion, researchers found that farmers generally chose to use more productive and snow-free lands, which can absorb more carbon dioxide and reduce global warming.
Astronomers have found the largest and farthest reservoir of water ever detected in the universe, located in a distant quasar with a massive black hole. The discovery provides valuable information about the early universe's water vapor behavior and its influence on cosmic evolution.
Researchers analyzed data from over 4,000 mineral inclusions in diamonds to determine that the Wilson cycle of plate tectonics began around 3 billion years ago. This marks the start of the process that shaped the Earth's continental crust and led to mountain building and ocean basin closures.
Scientists at Carnegie's Geophysical Laboratory have discovered a metallic glass that demonstrates long-range order among its atoms, a key characteristic of the elusive 'perfect glass' state. By applying high pressure, they were able to create a single crystal and preserve its structural order.
Researchers have identified a list of plant proteins essential for photosynthesis, known as the GreenCut, which is unique to plants and green algae but not found in non-photosynthetic organisms. The study suggests that these proteins play critical roles in regulating metabolism, DNA transcription, and other cellular processes.
Researchers studied four Tagish Lake meteorites, finding large concentrations of essential biochemistry components like monocarboxylic acids and amino acids. The findings suggest that hydrothermal activity played a crucial role in shaping the chemical diversity of these samples.
Scientists have discovered magma trapped within lunar crystals contain 100 times more water than earlier measurements, changing the prevailing theory about the Moon's origin. The findings could also shed light on the origin of water ice detected in craters at the lunar poles.
The Giant Magellan Telescope will be built with seven 8.4-meter primary mirrors and is expected to begin science operations in northern Chile in 2019, allowing astronomers to study dark matter and dark energy. The telescope's resolving power will be larger than any other ever built, enabling groundbreaking discoveries about the universe.
Researchers at Carnegie Institution claim that carbon emissions are more closely tied to consumption patterns than territorial boundaries. The study found that the average person in developed countries emits more CO2 per capita than their counterparts in developing countries, highlighting the need to consider all drivers of emissions.
Scientists found that sugarcane has a double benefit: reducing carbon emissions and cooling the local climate. The study, published in Nature Climate Change, shows that expanding sugarcane crops in areas previously occupied by other Brazilian crops can lower air temperatures by up to 1.67°F (0.93°C).
New research from Carnegie Institution scientists found that black carbon aerosols have a greater effect on surface warming when emitted near the land and ocean surface. However, as altitude increases, surface warming decreases, while cooling occurs in the stratosphere.
Researchers discovered germanium undergoes structural changes to become metallic under high pressure, exhibiting superconductivity caused by phonons. The findings matched theoretical predictions, confirming the element's potential applications in electronics and materials science.
Research suggests formaldehyde was likely source of solar system's organic carbon solids, abundant in comets and asteroids. The complex organic solids were formed from formaldehyde through polymerization under primitive solar system conditions.
Reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations could increase global precipitation and prevent droughts, according to Carnegie Global Ecology scientists. The team's novel explanation shows that cutting CO2 can lead to an increase in thunderstorms and rainfall.
Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding manganite conductivity by linking it to the Jahn-Teller effect. At ambient pressure, manganites exhibit insulating properties, but applying intense pressure causes them to transition to a metallic state, which conducts electric charges.