A US study has found that nearly one-quarter of sites across the US are threatened by high levels of atmospheric nitrogen pollution, leading to a loss of plant species richness. The research highlights the vulnerability of grassland ecosystems to nitrogen pollution, particularly those with acidic soil.
A CU study found that large fires in the West followed by drought conditions are affecting high-elevation forests, leading to lower tree densities and increased patchiness. The research team measured tree species, numbers, sizes, and ages of post-fire seedlings in nearly 200 forest plots.
A CU-Boulder student-built instrument found only six dust particles per cubic mile near Pluto, revealing the vast emptiness of space. The discovery provides insights into the solar system's formation and evolution.
A University of Colorado Boulder study shows that left-leg amputee sprinters are slowed by curves on indoor tracks, losing valuable time in competition. Researchers estimate a 0.2 second difference in outdoor 200-meter races, suggesting that allowing left-leg amputees to run in outside lanes could level the playing field.
Researchers discover that warm ocean water is carving channels under Antarctica's ice shelves, weakening their stability. This process can lead to the disintegration of ice shelves, allowing more rapid ice flow into the ocean and increased rates of sea level rise.
Researchers found that molecules use intermittent search patterns to find targets more than 10 times faster than a simple random walk. This behavior can be optimized for applications like DNA biosensors and industrial production.
A new study by NOAA and CIRES scientists reveals that the US is responsible for 8% of global CCl4 emissions, with hotspots in the Gulf Coast region and Colorado. The findings contradict previous reports and highlight the need for further research to understand the source of excess emissions.
Researchers are racing to understand and mitigate the degradation of major river deltas worldwide, primarily caused by human activities such as damming, groundwater extraction, and agriculture. The study highlights that more than two-thirds of the world's 33 major deltas are sinking at an alarming rate.
Research from the University of Colorado Boulder found that newly-exposed edges of deforested areas can lead to hotter, drier conditions for remaining forests. This could affect species' ability to regulate their body temperatures, altering local ecosystems.
Researchers at CU-Boulder have developed an ultrafast optical microscope that captures real-time, slow-motion movies of light interacting with electrons in nanomaterials. The technique enables the visualization of matter on its natural time and length scale.
A team of researchers from China and CU Boulder confirms the existence of a massive, flightless bird called Gastornis that roamed the Arctic 53 million years ago. The fossil evidence includes a single toe bone found on Ellesmere Island, which was previously discussed but never closely examined.
A CU-Boulder study reveals burned eggshell fragments indicate humans were collecting and cooking the eggs of now-extinct giant Australian bird Genyornis newtoni. The findings suggest early human predation played a substantial role in the species' extinction, contradicting climate change theories.
A new study suggests the US can transition to a low-carbon electricity system by 2030, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 78% and delivering electricity at costs similar to today's. The model uses weather-driven renewable resources to supply most of the nation's electricity.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed light-activated therapeutic nanoparticles that successfully killed 92% of drug-resistant bacterial cells in a lab-grown culture. The quantum dots, which can be tailored to specific infections, offer a new hope for combating antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
A CU-Boulder study reveals an ongoing loss of ice on Niwot Ridge and the Green Lakes Valley in the Rocky Mountains, likely to progress as climate warms. The decline is associated with rising temperatures each summer and autumn, causing glaciers, rock glaciers, and permafrost to thin.
Exercising early in life can alter the microbial community for the better, promoting healthier brain and metabolic activity over a lifetime. A study published in Immunology and Cell Biology found that juvenile rats who exercised daily developed a more beneficial gut microbiome.
Researchers found clouds in Arctic warming surface, especially in fall and winter, contrary to previous expectations. The warm air's insulating properties allow clouds to amplify regional warming, making the situation even hotter.
A new study found unique microbial communities associated with human cadavers exhibit predictable succession following death, providing a reliable 'clock' for forensic scientists. This method also showed promise in determining the original location of moved corpses and locating buried bodies.
A study led by University of Colorado Boulder researchers found that bison are not entirely reliant on grass for nutritional needs and can selectively expand their diet to include woody shrubs and flowering plants during spring and fall. This adaptability may have implications for management and conservation of bison in the American West.
A new study by the University of Colorado shows that sleep deprivation can lead to impaired insulin sensitivity. The longer people are awake during their biological night, the worse their sensitivity to insulin becomes, according to the study's findings.
The CU-Boulder study found that the ancient villagers of Ceren had significant interactions among families, village elders, craftspeople, and specialty maintenance workers. The village's high degree of preservation allowed researchers to see daily life in detail, with evidence of free market transactions and no control by elite royalty.
A new study predicts that parts of the Arctic Ocean will see at least 60 days a year of open water by the 2050s. Researchers used climate simulations to investigate local impacts of open water expansion patterns in the Arctic, finding that many sites will have more than 100 additional days of open water by then.
A new study led by University of Colorado Boulder researchers found no correlation between spruce beetle infestation and severe fire damage in the region. The study suggests that factors like topography and weather conditions play a larger role in determining fire severity.
Researchers found that over half of the dissolved organic carbon in ancient yedoma permafrost decomposes within one week after thawing, producing significant amounts of carbon dioxide. This rapid decomposition is attributed to high concentrations of easily degradable organic acids, posing a critical threat to aquatic ecosystems.
A recent study by University of Colorado Boulder and U.S. Forest Service found that people who believe climate change increases wildfire risk are not more likely to take mitigation actions on their property. However, those who reject climate science are more likely to engage in risk-reducing behaviors.
A CU-Boulder study shows that evening caffeine consumption can delay the internal circadian clock by approximately 40 minutes. The researchers also found that bright light exposure induces even greater phase delays, suggesting a possible ceiling effect on human circadian clocks.
Researchers demonstrate how community ecology can provide new analytical tools for understanding diseases and their impacts on multiple hosts and vectors. The approach highlights the need for a broad contextual understanding of diseases and identifies strategies such as managing symbiotic microbial communities and preserving biodiversity.
A decade-long study in the Amazon rainforest found that forests can withstand initial, low-intensity burns but are vulnerable to repeated fires, especially during drought years. The research also highlights the role of leaf-cutter ant colonies in creating natural fire breaks and mitigating forest damage.
Researchers at CU-Boulder have developed a new technique for estimating sea ice concentration, improving US Navy forecasts by almost 40%. The blended input approach combines satellite data and human interpretation to capture smaller patches of sea ice, enhancing forecast accuracy.
A historic storm triggered widespread flooding in Colorado's Front Range, causing massive landslides and rapid debris flows that transported hundreds of years' worth of accumulated sediment. Researchers used high-resolution topographic maps to measure the effects of extreme weather on erosion rates.
A study found that dust in US homes contains over 5,000 bacterial species and 2,000 fungal species, which can indicate the home's location and occupant's gender. Fungal communities are more predictive of a home's location, while bacterial communities reveal clues about the occupants' identities.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have discovered evidence of an ancient lake on Mars that likely represents some of the last potentially habitable surface water ever to exist on the planet. The salt deposit, approximately 18 square miles in size, is believed to be around 3.6 billion years old.
Researchers found that a brown variation of the Timema cristinae insect species prevents strong divergent adaptation and speciation by carrying genes between green populations. The study highlights how natural selection can sometimes impede the formation of new species.
CU-Boulder researchers have developed a novel wastewater treatment process called Microbial Electrolytic Carbon Capture (MECC) that captures greenhouse gases and produces renewable energy. The process uses electrochemical reactions to absorb CO2 from wastewater, producing stable mineral carbonates and bicarbonates.
Researchers found that subjects who knew they were receiving a fake pain treatment still experienced pain relief after multiple sessions. The study suggests that conditioning can create independent placebo effects that require both belief and consistent experiences. This could lead to new treatments for drug addiction or pain management.
A new study has found that inbreeding is not the primary cause of Colorado's declining bighorn sheep population. Genetic analysis suggests that high ram migration and gene flow between herds have maintained healthy levels of genetic variation, rescuing the population from a genetic bottleneck. However, other factors such as nutritional...
A CU-Boulder-led study found that children consume more low-nutrition, high-calorie food after seeing seemingly overweight cartoon characters. The study shows kids apply typically human standards to cartoon creatures and can influence them to eat more junk food.
A 49,000-year-old milk-and-ochre-based paint has been discovered in South Africa, predating the introduction of domestic cattle. The use of this paint raises questions about its purpose and significance.
A new University of Colorado Boulder framework screened hundreds of organic chemical compounds used in hydraulic fracturing, identifying 15 as potentially hazardous groundwater contaminants based on their toxicity, mobility, and persistence. The study also predicted that 41 compounds would have 10% or more of their initial concentratio...
Researchers at University of Colorado Boulder discovered that halogen reactions from ocean air can turn mercury into a water-soluble form that stays high in the atmosphere for long periods. This process may help explain why mercury deposition is so widespread and persistent in some regions.
A study by CU-Boulder and USGS found a strong correlation between high-rate injection wells and earthquakes, especially since 2009. High-rate wells pumping over 300,000 barrels of wastewater per month were most likely to trigger earthquakes.
A CU-Boulder-led study has discovered a permanent, lopsided dust cloud enveloping the moon. The cloud is composed of tiny dust grains kicked up by high-speed interplanetary dust particles, and its density increases during annual events like the Geminid meteor showers.
A stricter federal standard for ozone pollution would require more scientific measurements and models to accurately determine sources of pollution. This is crucial as ozone pollution has multiple sources, some beyond local control, and its effects on human health and the environment are significant.
A CU-Boulder instrument, SUDA, has been selected for a NASA mission to Jupiter's icy moon Europa to measure surface particles and study the moon's hidden ocean. The mission aims to understand the prerequisites of life in the solar system.
A new study shows that Colorado's extreme precipitation events can happen in any season and at all elevations across the state. The research found that high-elevation intense precipitation events have occurred in all months of the year, including summer, when that precipitation is more likely to be rain and therefore more of a flood risk.
A new study by University of Colorado Boulder researchers found that social and psychological problems caused by drinking generally trump physically hazardous drinking behaviors when it comes to overall mortality rates. Light drinkers reported surprisingly high percentages of problems, with 48% experiencing some issue with alcohol in t...
A new study published in Nature Climate Change finds that high mountain regions are warming at a rate faster than lower elevations, posing significant risks to alpine flora and fauna. The research team calls for improved observations, satellite-based remote sensing, and climate model simulations to better understand this phenomenon.
Researchers created the first atlas of airborne microbes across the US, identifying over 110,000 bacterial species and 55,000 fungal species in dust samples from 1,200 homes nationwide. The study provides new insights into human health, animal health, and crop disease, with implications for understanding climate and soil variability.
A new material developed at CU-Boulder can separate ethylene from ethane more efficiently, reducing energy consumption. This could save up to 46 million megawatt-hours of electricity per year in the US, equivalent to seven average-sized nuclear power plants.
A new study by the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Milan proposes a novel scenario for the non-biological origins of nucleic acids. The research demonstrates that the spontaneous self-assembly of short DNA fragments can drive the formation of longer polymers, potentially providing a pre-RNA route to the RNA world.