Researchers discovered two devastating pandemics, the plague of Justinian and the Black Death, were caused by distinct strains of the same pathogen. The strain that helped bring an end to the Roman Empire faded out on its own, while the other led to worldwide re-emergence in the late 1800s.
Researchers have discovered a novel mechanism in salamanders that allows them to jump with minimal push-off force. This 'hip-twist jump' creates a high amount of elastic energy, enabling the animals to propel themselves upwards.
Research reveals microbes participate in complex networks of trade, swapping nutrients and resources using human-like strategies. Microbes cooperate with humans and plants, sharing economic strategies to thrive.
A study published in Nature finds that climate change could lead to a decline in plant production due to changes in soil nutrients. As drylands become drier, the imbalance of essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus may affect crop growth, livestock forage, and fuel production.
A team of scientists led by NAU's Nadine Barlow found a new type of impact crater on Mars, known as Low-Aspect-Ratio Layered Ejecta (LARLE) craters. These craters feature a thin, uniform outer deposit that extends far beyond the normal ejecta blanket.
A Northern Arizona University-led team used the Spitzer Space Telescope to detect cometary activity in asteroid (3552) Don Quixote, a near-Earth object that was previously thought to be dead. The discovery suggests that water and carbon dioxide ice deposits may still exist on other near-Earth asteroids.
A new study from Northern Arizona University found that ecosystems have a limited capacity to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide, and soil microorganisms play a crucial role in determining carbon storage. The study suggests that widely accepted carbon cycle models overestimate the impact of ecosystems on absorbing carbon.
Researchers will use 30-meter resolution satellite images to identify eight different crops and changes in acreage over four decades, providing insights into climate change implications and carbon storage.
A comprehensive study of global temperature change over the past 1,000 to 2,000 years found pronounced regional differences. The research, led by Northern Arizona University's Darrell Kaufman, provides insight into climate variability and its impact on societies and ecosystems.
A study found that a deadly staph 'superbug' has jumped from humans to food animals, becoming resistant to antibiotics due to routine use in farm animal production. The bacteria, MRSA CC398, thrives in crowded and unsanitary conditions.
A team of researchers from Northern Arizona University and the Translational Genomics Research Institute has pinpointed the source of a devastating cholera outbreak in Haiti that killed over 6,000 people. The study used whole genome sequencing to confirm that Nepalese peacekeepers brought the disease to Haiti.
A research team has revised estimates of glacier melt in Alaska, finding that glaciers contribute about one-third less to sea-level rise than previously estimated. The new calculations put the rate of melting at around .0047 inches per year, down from the original estimate of .0067 inches.
Scientists have reconstructed Arctic summer temperature over 2,000 years using lake sediments, tree rings, and glacier ice. The study shows the last half-century was the warmest of the past 2,000 years, reversing long-term cooling trends.
Research by Northern Arizona University ties tree mortality to climate change, with a significant increase in death rates across the western US. The study, led by Phillip J. van Mantgem and Nathan L. Stephenson, analyzed long-term data from over 6,000 trees and found that regional warming is a key factor contributing to this trend.
Researchers are rethinking how muscles work by studying toads' rapid feeding actions. They've discovered that muscles behave like springs, allowing for efficient energy storage and release. This new model could lead to innovations in prosthetics, electric motors, and treatments for Parkinson's disease.
A group of stakeholders, including forest wood-product businesses, environmental groups and public land agencies, worked with scientists to identify the potential volume of wood resources available from more than 2 million acres of Arizona forests. The analysis estimates a potential supply of up to 850 million cubic feet of wood and 8 ...
A team of international researchers suggests that a comet or low-density object caused the mass extinctions at the end of the Ice Age, proposing a 'mini nuclear winter' triggered by a 10-million-megaton detonation. This impact would have destabilized a vast ice sheet, leading to rapid cooling and subsequent climate change.
Researchers at Northern Arizona University have identified possible caverns on Mars that could provide a habitat for future explorers and potentially preserve evidence of past or present microbial life. The team used techniques developed for cave detection on Earth to analyze images from the Mars Odyssey mission.
A biology professor at Northern Arizona University is developing ways to help rivers rebound to their natural ecosystems after dams are removed. Her team has successfully restored Fossil Creek's ecosystem, serving as a national case study in dam decommissioning.
Scientists found that genetic diversity in foundation species, like the cottonwood tree, drives the structure of entire ecosystems. This knowledge has far-reaching implications for conservation efforts and understanding the impact of genetically modified organisms on landscapes.
Research challenges previous assessments suggesting large increases in soil carbon with rising CO2 levels. Plants can pump nitrogen into soils, but this process cannot keep up with increasing CO2 unless essential nutrients are added as fertilizers.
Researchers at Northern Arizona University have made groundbreaking discoveries about uranium's impact on DNA, potentially shedding light on environmental contamination and health effects of depleted uranium. The study's findings have significant implications for Native American communities and may help address long-standing concerns a...