Scientists are targeting thunderstorms in Alabama, Colorado, and Oklahoma to discover the influence of thunderstorms on air just beneath the stratosphere. The Deep Convective Clouds & Chemistry (DC3) Experiment will explore how thunderstorms affect climate by forming upper-atmosphere ozone, a greenhouse gas with a strong warming effect.
A comprehensive study reveals that biodiversity loss has comparable effects on ecosystems to climate change and pollution. This analysis highlights the urgent need for strengthened local, national, and international efforts to protect biodiversity and its benefits.
Researchers found that male pseudoscorpions treated with tetracycline suffered reduced sperm viability and passed this toxic effect on their untreated sons. This transgenerational effect has significant implications for human health and food animal production.
Researchers found a significant warming effect over wind farms, up to 0.72 degrees Celsius per decade, attributed to turbine wake interactions. The study uses satellite data to quantify the potential impact of wind farms on weather and climate.
A new study reveals that ocean currents may mitigate warming near a handful of equatorial islands, including some in the nation of Kiribati. This finding has important implications for the survival of coral reef systems and provides hope for these at-risk Pacific islands to avoid the devastating effects of global warming.
A long-term study on nature tourism in China's Wolong Nature Reserve found that those with resources, education, and government connections were more likely to succeed in the tourism industry. The research highlights the need for balanced policies between economic development and habitat management.
A new study published in PLoS ONE found that the fungal infection leads to deadly dehydration in wild frogs, causing cardiac arrest and death. The research confirms what researchers have seen in lab experiments, providing a better understanding of how the disease progresses and suggesting potential treatments for infected frogs.
The IceCube Neutrino Observatory has provided significant new insights into the production of cosmic rays, contradicting 15 years of predictions. The study found no neutrinos from gamma-ray bursts, forcing a re-evaluation of theories on high-energy cosmic ray production.
A new study reveals that the pattern of gene regulation in plant pathogens is shaped by their past environments, not just their genetic makeup. This finding has significant implications for disease control and may require a new approach to regulating microbial activity.
Researchers traced the evolution of mammalian diets across all species, including omnivores, and found that while some groups maintained steady diets, others changed their feeding strategies over time. Today's omnivores originated from ancestors primarily eating plants or animals but not both.
A new study reveals a large number of emperor penguins in Antarctica, with 595,000 birds estimated, providing an important benchmark for monitoring environmental change. The research uses high-resolution satellite images to differentiate between birds and ice, allowing for accurate estimates.
Marine researchers have linked ocean acidification to the collapse of oyster seed production at an Oregon hatchery, where larval growth declined due to corrosive water conditions. The study's findings suggest that increased CO2 levels may push oyster larval growth past the break-even point in terms of production.
A decade-long study found that plants may thrive in the early stages of global warming but then deteriorate quickly as ecosystems adjust. The research showed that long-term warming leads to loss of native species and increased cycling of nitrogen, ultimately reducing plant productivity.
An international team of scientists developed a game to train epidemiologists on mathematical models for studying outbreaks. The game, Muizenberg Mathematical Fever, simulates real-life epidemics and demonstrates the importance of collaboration between bio-mathematicians and classical epidemiologists.
Researchers have found a partial foot skeleton that belongs to an early human ancestor, distinct from Lucy's species and Ardipithecus ramidus. The Burtele foot shows unique characteristics, including an opposable great toe, suggesting the presence of multiple hominin species during the late Pliocene era.
Scientists have discovered that the Earth's crust beneath the Mississippi Delta sinks at a much slower rate than previously assumed. The researchers used sea-level reconstructions from different portions of coastal Louisiana to compare rates of subsidence over time.
A new study reveals that the number of vertebrate predators and food availability influence epidemic size and host evolution. Daphnia populations evolve increased susceptibility to yeast infection in lakes with fewer resources and high predation.
A recent study found that human noise has indirect effects on plants, benefiting some species like scarlet gilia while harming others like piñon pine. The study's findings suggest that noise can alter pollination patterns and affect seed production, with consequences that may last for decades.
Researchers uncover a previously unknown species of leopard frog in NYC, using DNA analysis to distinguish it from other similar-looking frogs. The species is believed to have had a wider range but went extinct in the city's larger territory.
Scientists have reevaluated past sea-level rise estimates, finding that the seas rose 20-43 feet higher than today during an extremely warm period 400,000 years ago. This new research helps narrow the range of global sea-level projections for the future, providing a more accurate understanding of potential changes.
Early snowmelt in the Colorado Rocky Mountains decreases flower numbers and nectar availability, leading to a decline in the Mormon Fritillary butterfly population. The study found that early snowmelt in consecutive years explained most of the variation in population growth rate.
Scientists created self-actuating materials by exposing polymer sheets to UV light, allowing them to fold into specific 3D shapes when water is added. The technique has potential for directing blood vessel or tissue growth in laboratory settings.
Scientists have discovered that the feathered dinosaur Microraptor had a glossy iridescent sheen, similar to modern birds. The findings suggest that feathers were important for display even relatively early in their evolution.
A new ecosystem has been discovered in the deep sea, featuring a blend of hot and cold environments. The Jaco Scar site, located off Costa Rica, supports a vast array of species that thrive in both hydrothermal vents and cold methane seeps.
Research reveals that higher social class is associated with increased unethical behavior, including cheating, lying, and breaking the law. The study suggests that relative privilege and security among upper-class individuals lead to a prioritization of their own interests over others.
Scientists have found evidence that ocean acidification is happening faster today than in the last 300 million years, with potential consequences for coral reefs and other marine life. The oceans are acting like a sponge to draw down excess carbon dioxide, but at an alarming rate, putting these ecosystems at risk.
The earliest known horse, Sifrhippus sandae, evolved to become smaller over time as the planet warmed. Scientists have now found that rising temperatures directly drove this 'dwarfing' phenomenon, with a one-to-one shift in body size. This study has implications for how animals may respond to future climate change.
Researchers identify genetic differences between two closely related species of Nasonia wasps that yield distinct wing sizes. The discovery sheds light on the evolutionary origins of shape and size diversity in nature and has implications for understanding cell growth and diseases like cancer and diabetes.
Scientists have found that predator/prey relationships are crucial for maintaining stability and diversity in complex ecosystems, contradicting earlier modeling results. The research provides a new framework for understanding ecosystem responses to environmental change.
Despite harsh winter conditions, microscopic creatures in the Arctic food chain remain active, with zooplankton feeding at low rates. This discovery has implications for climate modeling and understanding of ecological balance, particularly in commercial fisheries.
The Transportable Array has reached the US East Coast with the installation of Station 457A in Yulee, Florida. This station generates 3-D 'CT scan' images of the North American continent's geologic structure, providing unprecedented detail about Earth's interior.
A study by researchers at the University of Chicago found that puzzle play in children aged 2-4 years significantly improves their spatial skills, which are essential for mathematics, science, and technology. Higher income parents who engaged their children in puzzle play more frequently showed a greater impact on spatial skills develo...
A recent study published in PNAS found that droughts and heat waves affect grass growth differently across the months. Researchers analyzed over 25 years of data from Kansas prairie long-term ecological research site to identify variation in timing and magnitude of droughts and heat waves. The results highlight the importance of consid...
Researchers create comprehensive 3-D map of earthquake zone using LiDAR technology, revealing details of fault ruptures and deformation. The study provides insights into how earthquakes change the landscape, shedding light on minor faults that contribute to major earthquakes.
Researchers found that MHC genes, which distinguish self from foreign proteins, undergo an 'arms race' with germs, favoring the retention of diverse genes. This diversity is crucial for mounting a defense against novel pathogens.
A multi-year study published in PLoS One found that domestic cats and wild cats living in the same area share diseases such as Toxoplasmosis, Bartonellosis, and FIV. This can happen through contact with shared habitats, even if they don't come into direct contact.
A new study reveals that the deadliest mass extinction, 'The Great Dying', was not a sudden event but occurred gradually. The researchers found evidence of gradual decline in marine life, with some species dying up to 100,000 years before the main extinction event.
A study by Jason Kolbe and colleagues reveals that the 'founder effect' persists even as lizard populations adapt to new environments. The research found that differences caused by the founder effect are retained in lizards with varying limb lengths, suggesting a complex interaction between natural selection and genetic variation.
Researchers show that spider web durability relies on compensating for damage and stress responses of individual strands. Spider webs sacrifice local areas to prevent failure, a strategy unlike other biological materials.
Researchers at Michigan State University show that a virus called Lambda evolves complex and potentially deadly new traits through four mutations. The study suggests that natural selection played a key role in the virus' evolution, promoting adaptation by survival of the fittest.
Scientists used innovative computer model to demonstrate the roles of underwater topography, currents and bacteria in Gulf of Mexico. The resulting model revealed that physical structure of the gulf was a key factor in disappearance of hydrocarbon plumes, which were consumed by bacteria that swirled around the leaking well.
Fourteen international teams win $4.8 million in grants to investigate 'big data' techniques for humanities and social sciences research. The projects cover topics such as music, Egyptian mummies, and human rights abuses.
The study found that long, thin teeth and delicate dentition were associated with thicker forelimbs, suggesting an evolutionary trade-off between the two traits. This convergence of traits suggests that these prehistoric predators may have relied on their forelimbs to catch and kill prey without fracturing their fangs.
Researchers have identified a new type of magnetic bacteria, BW-1, in Badwater Basin that can produce both greigite and magnetite. The discovery may lead to novel applications in drug delivery and medical imaging due to its unique properties.
Researchers have developed a tool called Maximal Information Coefficient (MIC) that can uncover patterns in large data sets. MIC can tease out recurring events or sets of data hidden in health information, the changing bacterial landscape of the gut, and statistics from competitive sports.
Experiments with social amoebae reveal that cooperation depends on kinship, and population bottlenecks can stabilize cellular cooperation. The study found that nearly all multicellular organisms begin life as a single cell, and that cheater mutants are more likely to occur in groups where relatedness is low.
Astronomers detected a nearby Type Ia supernova with unprecedented observation of initial stages, characterizing the nature of forming stars. NSF's Cyber-Enabled Discovery program supported computational framework for rapid detection and characterization.
Researchers discovered plant bedding with insecticidal properties at a 77,000-year-old South African rock shelter. The bedding, made from sedges and rushes, was used to repel mosquitoes and other insects.
Researchers used decoded fMRI neurofeedback to induce brain activity patterns, improving visual performance and learning in a novel approach. The method worked even when test subjects were not aware of what they were learning.
Researchers have discovered two massive black holes, each with a mass equivalent to 10 billion suns, in nearby galaxies. These 'sleeping giants' are thought to be remnants of quasars that powered the early universe.