A recent study reveals that Hurricane Lane's extreme weather conditions, combining heavy rainfall and fire hazards, exacerbated the storm's impact on the Hawaiian Islands. The research highlights the importance of considering both environmental and socioeconomic factors in assessing population vulnerability to natural hazards.
A new study highlights the need for further assessment of ecological impacts from deep-sea mining, which could harm vast midwater ecosystems and affect fisheries, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. The International Seabed Authority must consider midwater research efforts to minimize environmental harm.
A newly-identified algae species, Chondria tumulosa, has been discovered in NW Hawaiian waters, posing a major threat to coral reefs. The alga has no known origin, smothering entire reefs and corals with its fast growth and 'tumbleweed-like' appearance.
A recent study confirms theories developed by physicists over the last two centuries, showing the Earth's atmosphere vibrates like a bell. The study analyzed atmospheric pressure data for 38 years, revealing dozens of predicted wave modes, matching theory well.
A recent study found that tropical reefs are driven by bottom-up forcing, while temperate reefs are more influenced by top-down forcing. Marine reserves increased predator populations in both tropical and temperate regions.
Astronomers have discovered an infant planet, AU Mic b, orbiting a 25-million-year-old star in the solar system. The planet, about the size of Neptune, takes only eight and a half days to complete one orbit around its host star, AU Microscopii.
Scientists have discovered four new genera and four new species of giant single-celled xenophyophores in the Pacific Ocean. The newly described species provide insights into the ecology and importance of these organisms in deep-sea ecosystems, which could be impacted by seafloor mining.
Researchers found surprisingly high growth rates for Leptoseris species at depths of up to 360 feet, with some colonies growing nearly 1 inch per year. This challenges the assumption that deep corals grow slowly due to low light levels.
A study led by the University of Hawai?i Cancer Center reveals that genetic mutations can make individuals more susceptible to cancer upon exposure to environmental carcinogens. The research highlights the importance of identifying gene-environment interactions in cancer prevention and early detection strategies.
A new study finds that bacteria fed by algae biochemicals can harm coral health, leading to a shift in reef ecosystems dominated by turf and fleshy algae. The research reveals the role of microbiomes in coral-algae interactions, offering opportunities for probiotic engineering to improve coral resilience.
The ATLAS telescope has discovered an asteroid that exhibits cometary behavior, including a tail of dust or gas, near Jupiter's orbit. This finding challenges the long-held assumption that Jupiter Trojan asteroids should not display cometary characteristics.
Researchers have identified the largest and hottest shield volcano on Earth as Pūhāhonu, which is nearly twice as big as Mauna Loa. The study reveals that hotspots can undergo pulses of melt production, rewriting the textbooks on mantle plumes.
A new study from the University of Hawaii at Manoa found that strong relationships are key to influencing physical activity in older adults. Participants with higher educational attainment and a strong relationship with others were more likely to meet physical activity guidelines.
Researchers used TESS data to detect regular patterns in delta Scuti star pulsations, allowing them to understand the internal structure of massive nuclear furnaces. The findings provide a window into the past, enabling scientists to study how stars and their planets form and change over time.
Researchers found that groundwater inundation is the most extensive flood source, while direct marine inundation is the least. They developed a method to identify vulnerable locations and critical infrastructure likely to fail, emphasizing the need for site-specific consideration.
A new study found that human-induced environmental stressors reduce coral reef populations' genetic diversity, compromising reef resilience. The research identified an adaptive response by corals to watershed discharges containing sediment and pollutants, leading to closer genetic relationships between nearshore corals.
A new study found that elevated nutrients and modest water temperature increases negatively affect coral larvae's first few days of life. The research revealed that nutrient imbalances can seriously impact coral larvae, but certain larvae types are more resistant to environmental stressors.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Matthew Knope found that ecologically diverse animal groups are more resistant to extinction and dominate the modern ocean's biodiversity. The study analyzed fossil and living marine animals over 500 million years, showing a link between diversity and resistance to mass extinctions.
A study by University of Hawaii researchers found that the new 'Independence' almond variety requires bee assistance for optimal yield, contrary to marketing claims. This challenges efforts to breed pollinator-independent almonds, which could have significant consequences for the beekeeping industry and agricultural pesticide use.
Researchers found that expansion of Pacific Remote Islands and Papahanaumokuakea marine national monuments increased catch per unit effort for the Hawaii-based longline industry, showing no significant economic losses. The study controlled for factors like ocean conditions and regulations to assess impacts on the fishery.
A team of researchers used a statistical technique to identify ecological risk factors affecting coral diseases, including growth anomalies and white syndromes. They found larger corals had higher disease risk, with certain conditions such as high fertilizer and pesticide runoff associated with growth anomalies.
A new study has refined our understanding of the amount of hydrogen, helium, and other elements present in violent outbursts from the Sun. The research found that helium and neon are enriched in coronal mass ejections, providing clues to the underlying physics in the Sun.
A recent study found that corals in warmer waters host more heat-tolerant symbiotic microalgae, which aid in surviving heat waves. However, this comes at a cost of lower nutrition for the coral when temperatures cool down.
New research reveals that surface slicks in coastal waters of Hawai'i contain a high concentration of larval fish, as well as prey-size plastics. Larval fish ingesting these plastics may face development and survivorship impacts due to toxicity and malnutrition.
A new study has estimated the growth rates of deep-sea coral communities in Hawaii, revealing a pattern of ecological succession over centuries to millennia. The research found that Coralliidae, pink coral, were the first to colonize, followed by Isididae, bamboo coral, and Antipatharia, black coral.
A new study reveals that climate warming has shifted the onset location of strong El Niño events from the eastern Pacific to the western Pacific, causing more frequent extreme events. This shift is linked to increased sea surface temperatures in the western Pacific warm pool and easterly winds in the central Pacific.
A University of Hawaii team has provided answers to key questions about Titan's surface, including the existence of vast longitudinal dunes and dark organics. The researchers used remote sensing data from NASA's Cassini-Huygens mission to study the chemical makeup of these organic dunes.
A groundbreaking method allows for easy determination of the surface free energy of particles, a quantitative measure of particle hydrophobicity. This innovation has significant implications for scientific and industrial applications involving particulate matter.
University of Hawaii researchers have captured a groundbreaking video of humpback whales using bubble nets, providing new insights into the fine-scale details of this behavior. The study is part of a larger project investigating causes of a possible decline in humpback whale numbers.
The ASAS-SN telescope network discovered a tidal disruption event in 2019, which was followed up with observations from NASA's Swift satellite and TESS. The team captured the event's evolution, revealing unique characteristics such as a smooth increase in brightness and a young host galaxy.
A new study reveals that the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) significantly impacts daily rainfall patterns in Sumatra. The MJO brings cloudy, rain periods and sunny, drier periods, with greater potential for significant rain events when active near the Maritime Continent.
A study found that Kīlauea's 2018 eruption injected millions of cubic feet of molten lava into nutrient-poor waters, stimulating an extensive plume of microbes. The bloom was driven by high concentrations of nitrate, brought to the surface ocean through heat from lava input.
Scientists have developed a new method to overcome the limitations of astronomical time scales, allowing for the dating of geologic archives to be extended by about 8 million years. The study reveals that solar system chaos played a significant role in shaping Earth's climate during this period.
A new study at the University of Hawaii found that a tropical marine sponge obtains essential nutrients from its symbiotic bacteria, not from filtering seawater. This discovery provides insight into the biology of sponges and highlights the importance of marine microbes in their diet.
The University of Hawaii at Manoa Institute for Astronomy has received a $1.1 million grant to install an adaptive secondary mirror on the UH 2.2-meter telescope on Maunakea, enabling corrected images free from atmospheric blurring effects.
A study found that the effective drug Entresto may be unaffordable for senior citizens due to high insurance copayments. The therapy, a combination of sacubitril/valsartan, costs over $5,000 and can result in annual copayments exceeding $1,600.
Research shows that gay men in China's 25-29 age group are eight times more likely to feel criticized and rejected compared to those aged 20 or younger. This is largely due to social pressure and family expectations, according to a study by Assistant Professor Thomas Lee.
A team of international experts agrees that Oumuamua, the first recorded interstellar visitor, has natural origins. The research team reviewed available evidence and found properties consistent with objects in our own solar system. Oumuamua's orbit and path match predictions made by Jedicke and his colleagues before its discovery.
A cross-disciplinary study by UH Manoa scientists reveals chemical and physical evidence of water formation on the Moon. The research proposes a mechanism where solar wind protons, lunar minerals, and micrometeorite impacts interact to produce water vapor.
Researchers developed a new tool to pinpoint areas where improved wastewater management and landscape practices can benefit downstream reefs. This study highlights the importance of coordinating local actions across land and sea to promote resilience of coral reefs to global climate change.
Researchers found that coral reef halos are more likely to occur in no-take marine reserves and are influenced by species interactions between plant-eating fishes and invertebrate-eating fishes. The presence of halos may serve as an indicator of aspects of reef ecosystem health.
Researchers discovered that corals with thicker soft tissues can recover more quickly from bleaching due to the presence of beneficial algae. The stored energy in these tissues helps corals survive until environmental factors improve.
Scientists at the University of Hawaii have developed a technique to measure living coral on reefs by analyzing DNA in small seawater samples. This new method, known as metabarcoding, can track changes in coral reef health and detect rare species.
Researchers discovered that bacteria in coral reef waters change dramatically at night, and then return to the same daytime community the next morning. A group of microbes called Psychrobacter appears to be leading the way, dominating the marine microbial community during the day and being a hundred times more abundant at night.
Asteroid Gault, a well-known space rock, has begun slowly disintegrating as it develops comet-like tails. The newly observed event suggests that asteroids are dynamic and active worlds, prone to spin-up processes that can lead to disintegration.
A recent study published in the Journal of Aging and Health found a significant association between having five or more children and an increased risk of heart disease in adults. The research, led by Sara Hipp at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, analyzed data from nearly 25,000 participants aged 50 and older.
Astronomers confirm the existence of a hot Jupiter-like planet, Kepler-1658 b, orbiting an evolved star. The discovery, led by University of Hawaii graduate student Ashley Chontos, provides new insights into planetary interactions and the rarity of planets around similar stars.
Researchers found that luminescent bacteria in the squid's light organ change gene expression in other organs, highlighting the importance of bacterial bioluminescence. The study also shows that coordination between the eye and light organ is crucial for the animal's behavior.
Researchers found that traditional agroecosystems in Hawaii could produce over 1 million metric tons of food annually, comparable to current consumption levels. The study highlights the importance of restoring indigenous agricultural systems to support biodiversity and indigenous well-being under climate change.
Researchers at the University of Hawaii have developed a recombinant subunit vaccine that uses only a small part of the Zika virus to protect against infection. The vaccine has shown efficacy in both mice and monkeys, providing an important milestone in its development.