Researchers have established the first map of snow microalgae distribution along elevation, revealing different species thrive at varying altitudes. The study aims to answer fundamental questions about these organisms' survival, blooms, and impact on snowmelt.
A new study revises past temperature estimates in Antarctica, revealing significant differences between West and East Antarctica due to varying altitudes. The research uses two independent methods to measure temperatures, providing reliable data for climate modeling and future projections.
The Jebel Sahaba cemetery, 13 millennia old, was initially thought to be a testament to prehistoric warfare. However, recent analysis reveals a succession of violent episodes, likely exacerbated by climate change. The study found that individuals bore injuries from projectiles and repeated episodes of violence over their lifetimes.
Researchers demonstrated a plant-fungus alliance played a crucial role in the origin of terrestrial vegetation. By studying a bryophyte, they found a lipid transfer mechanism similar to that in vascular plants, confirming their hypothesis.
Fossils of land animals from South America found in Antilles, with species migrating via giant sunken islands. Researchers reconstructed Caribbean geography over 40 million years, revealing archipelagos and island connections.
A recent review analyzed over 2,000 species in the Alps, finding that many have shifted their life cycles earlier and are moving higher up the elevational gradient as climate change intensifies. This shift is often lagging behind the rate of climate change, with some species experiencing little or no elevation change.
A team of researchers from CNRS has uncovered the earliest human burial site in Africa, dated to approximately 78,000 years ago. The discovery at Panga ya Saidi in Kenya reveals a complex funerary treatment involving a shroud and potential ritual participation from the child's community.
Scientists studied the landform and dated sand to confirm that the Pont d'Arc was formed 124,000 years ago. The discovery reveals that past communities were familiar with the same landmarks as today.
Over 500 million people rely on coral reefs for protection and resources, but these ecosystems are threatened by global warming. A team of scientists recommends a massive energy transition as the most effective action to limit coral reef decline, with international political support necessary.
A team of scientists from CNRS has proven that Leonardo da Vinci did not sculpt the Flora wax bust, which was conserved at the Bode Museum in Berlin. The radiocarbon dating revealed that the sculpture was made in the 19th century, nearly 300 years after da Vinci's death.
The four CNRS 2021 Innovation Medal laureates have developed diverse projects, from ecological engineering to sustainable chemistry and regenerative medicine. Their work has led to significant technological innovations, such as marine ecological engineering platforms and micro-magnets for hybrid-electric vehicles.
Researchers have collected and analyzed over 2 decades of micrometeorites from Antarctica, determining a total annual flux of 5,200 tons. Most come from comets (80%), while the rest originate from asteroids.
A French-US team has discovered that Mars' climate alternated between dry and wetter periods, with lake-deposited clays forming the base of Mount Sharp before drying up completely about 3 billion years ago.
A new theoretical calculation of the muon magnetic moment has reduced the discrepancy with experimental measurements, but sparks debate on the standard model's fate. The calculation, involving CNRS physicists, used precise measurements made with electron-positron colliders and European supercomputers.
The Mfd protein's dual role in repairing bacterial DNA and promoting mutations has been discovered, offering new avenues for fighting antibiotic resistance. This phenomenon could also lead to a better understanding of cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy.
A recent study estimates that invasive species have caused at least $1.288 trillion in economic losses globally since 1970, with costs tripling each decade.
A team of neurobiologists identified a brain region, subthalamic nucleus, that predicts addiction in rats. Abnormal activity in this region was observed in future addicted individuals before punishment exposure.
Researchers from CNRS and universities in France and Austria develop new imaging technique to visualize electromagnetic fields surrounding nanocrystals. This breakthrough enables precise targeting of heat transfers and better understanding of materials properties.
Research conducted by CNRS and international collaborators reveals that climate change has made the ocean six times stabler over the past 50 years. This increased stability limits oceanic mixing, making it harder for marine organisms to access light and for the ocean to function as a global thermostat.
The discovery of Aquilolamna milarcae sheds light on the evolution of oceanic animals and reveals a new facet of sharks' evolutionary history. The species is characterized by extremely long pectoral fins reminiscent of wings, feeding on plankton.
Scientists develop patented RNA-based therapy to degrade overexpressed PMP22 protein, restoring nerve function and strength in mice. The treatment uses biocompatible siRNA nanoparticles and controls particle size and injection amount.
Scientists developed a new model to assess the efficiency of group testing for COVID-19, accounting for dilution effects and detection limits. The model optimizes group size to minimize false negatives and determine contaminated individuals in a population.
A study found that male authors from a few Western countries, such as the US, Canada, and UK, dominate the scientific literature in ecology and conservation biology. The research, published in Conservation Letters, calls for measures to address gender imbalance and geographic diversity.
French researchers explored mesophotic corals' distribution and adaptation in French Polynesian waters, from surface to 120m depth. They found that certain filamentous algae play a crucial role in coral survival at depth by capturing shorter light wavelengths.
A study in Delhi reveals that social and environmental factors contribute to dengue fever spread. Lack of access to running water is the major risk factor, creating heat islands and ideal mosquito habitats.
A multidisciplinary team from CNRS and other institutions studied a large seashell found in the Marsoulas Cave in the Pyrenees, dating back around 18,000 years. The shell is believed to be the oldest known wind instrument of its type, with researchers able to produce sounds similar to those on a modern conch.
Scientists have successfully demonstrated a quantum advantage by performing a verification task in seconds using a quantum machine, whereas the same task would take centuries for a conventional computer. The experiment used a complex algorithm and simple experimental photonics system, showcasing the potential of quantum computing.
Scientists identify a unique voice prosody pattern associated with honest speech, recognized across languages and influencing memory recall. The study, published in Nature Communications, reveals how brain automatically processes this characteristic sound to convey truth-value or certainty.
Archaeological grape seeds from excavations in Troyes and Reims provide insights into the history of Champagne wine growing. Wild vines were cultivated throughout the period studied, with domestic varieties emerging as early as the 1st century AD.
The study reveals a rapid warming of Southern Ocean waters to 800m depth, with temperatures increasing by 0.04°C per decade around the polar ice cap. Meanwhile, warm water is rising rapidly to the surface at a rate of 39m per decade, outpacing previous estimates.
Recent research by CNRS scientists suggests Saturn's current tilt is due to the migration of its largest moon Titan and other satellites, causing it to interact with Neptune's orbit, leading to gradual tilting. The planet's axis could more than double in inclination over the next few billion years.
Researchers found that haemoglobins in diverse species, including humans, molluscs and crustaceans, originate from a single ancestral gene. This discovery suggests that the appearance of haemoglobin in these species was not an independent invention but rather a result of evolutionary inheritance.
Researchers found that plants use rapid oscillations of stems and leaves due to wind to activate molecular switches, allowing them to respond to environmental changes. This discovery highlights the importance of plant sensitivity to mechanical signals, enabling them to prepare for storms.
Researchers developed a molecule that regulates copper circulation in the brain, extracting trapped copper from amyloid plaques. Administered to Alzheimer's mice, it inhibits memory loss and has shown promise in non-transgenic models closest to human reality.
Declining biodiversity is putting nature's contributions to people at risk, impacting crop yields and soil productivity. The degradation of environmental conditions also increases exposure to floods and storms, affecting human well-being and prosperity.
A team of researchers has found evidence that Neandertals buried their dead, with a two-year-old child discovered at the Ferrassie site in France. The discovery dates back to around 41,000 years ago and provides new insights into the burial practices of our ancient relatives.
Scientists from CNRS and Melnikov Permafrost Institute conduct cold room simulation to demonstrate permafrost's role in soil collapse. Heterogeneous frozen soils with vertical ice wedges undergo major deformation during thawing, accelerating subsidence and greenhouse gas release.
Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding the ultrafast motion of atoms and electrons, with implications for controlling materials through light. By observing the distortion of molecular structures and electron transfer, researchers can now distinguish between atomic motion and electronic dynamics.
A team of French scientists has measured the fine-structure constant with unprecedented precision, achieving an accuracy of 11 significant digits. The new value opens up new possibilities for testing the Standard Model's theoretical predictions and shedding light on fundamental questions such as dark matter.
Scientists have developed a procedure, SCENITH, that identifies the energy status of immune and cancer cells within tumors to personalize treatment. This method uses protein synthesis as an indicator of cell activity, enabling clinicians to predict patient response and improve therapy efficacy.
Research reveals greater mosquito susceptibility to Zika virus, fueling global epidemics and congenital abnormalities. The invasive subspecies of Aedes aegypti has marked preference for human blood and is effective in transmitting the virus.
Researchers have developed a hybrid membrane that combines artificial water channels with a polyamide matrix, resulting in higher flow rates and reduced energy needs for seawater desalination. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and cost-effective desalination processes on an industrial scale.
Researchers have detected hot gas in cosmic web for the first time, revealing 40% of ordinary matter remains undetected. The discovery confirms earlier analyses and paves the way for more detailed studies on galaxy evolution.
Researchers have developed a lightweight molecule-based magnet with unprecedented magnetic properties, exhibiting a 'memory effect' at elevated temperatures. The compound contains abundant metal chromium and inexpensive organic molecules, making it a promising alternative to current inorganic commercial magnets.
Scientists have discovered that a tiny amount of molten rock, less than 0.7% by volume, is present in the asthenosphere under all oceanic plates, reducing the viscosity and 'decoupling' them from the underlying mantle. This research improves our understanding of plate tectonics and how it drives plate movement.
A satellite analysis reveals over 1.8 billion trees cover 2.5 times France's surface area, making a significant contribution to biodiversity, carbon storage, and dry tropical ecosystems.
Researchers discovered that Pluto's mountains are snowcapped with frozen methane, formed at high altitudes where the atmosphere is rich in methane. This finding explains why Pluto's glaciers have craggy ridges unlike Earth's flat ones.
A recent study shows that rare terrestrial mammals and birds are more threatened by human activities than common species, with many facing extinction within 40 years due to climate change. Conservation efforts must account for the ecological rarity of these species to ensure their survival.
Researchers developed a mathematical model to estimate key physiological parameters like maximal aerobic speed and endurance in athletes. The non-invasive data gathering method offers new possibilities for treatments and monitoring.
Researchers discovered that speech generates conical airflow that can travel up to 2 meters in 30 seconds, emphasizing the importance of time and distance in transmission. Saliva filaments form on the lips during consonant sounds, breaking into microscopic droplets that spread pathogens.