Articles tagged with Deserts
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A team of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, has developed a microwave-sized water harvester that can pull water directly from the air 24/7. The harvester uses a highly porous metal-organic framework to capture and condense water molecules from ambient air, even in low-humidity conditions.
A study in the Atacama Desert found that microbial life can be transported across the hyperarid environment using wind-driven dust particles. This suggests that potential microbial life on Mars may spread similarly, with implications for future research and exploration.
A new study using miniaturized satellite-based tags revealed that desert bats must fly further and longer during dry periods to meet their nightly needs. This suggests their struggle in coping with harsher conditions, highlighting the importance of understanding animal responses to climate change.
A combination of local emissions, transport from outside the region, and terrain-driven circulation contribute to high aerosol loading over the eastern slope of the Tibetan Plateau. The study highlights the need for understanding aerosol transport processes and physical mechanisms to mitigate environmental risks.
A UTA study reveals that urban sprawl increases the likelihood of a neighborhood becoming a food desert, which is defined as an area with limited access to healthy food options. More compact neighborhoods are likely to support a greater number of grocery stores and have healthier food options.
Researchers used krypton-81 to trace groundwater origins, finding two sources: one from the Mediterranean (38,000 years ago) and another from the Atlantic Ocean (361,000 years ago). The results demonstrate how old groundwater can serve as a proxy of paleoclimate and subsurface water storage.
Diane Jones Allen, UTA associate professor, has been elected as an ASLA Fellow, honoring her contributions to landscape architecture and resilient design. Her research focuses on transit deserts, social justice, and sustainability, shaping the future of resilient design practices.
Researchers have developed a new nanomaterial tape that can function over a wide temperature range, from -321 F to 1,832 F. The tape adheres to various materials and surfaces, with no noticeable residues, making it suitable for electronic components and extreme environments.
Date palms employ a method of remote germination, pausing their development until conditions are right. When soil temperature increases, the plant emerges with a fully developed leaf and root system.
A new paper reconstructs the ancient Trans-Saharan Seaway, revealing massive climate and sea level changes that occurred 50-100 million years ago. The research also discovers giant sea snakes, catfish, and extinct fishes, highlighting the dynamic nature of Earth's evolution.
Researchers discovered a third fewer cells in surface waters of South Pacific Gyre compared to Atlantic ocean gyres. They found familiar microbes like Prochlorococcus and SAR11, but also an unexpected species AEGEAN-169 in surface waters.
A study of 11 bird species and 3 Kalahari Desert species found chronic heat exposure may cause declining breeding success and smaller offspring. Predicted declines in biodiversity threaten the persistence of Southern Pied Babblers, while other species face severe mass loss due to sustained hot weather.
Researchers from Hokkaido University used a taxonomic approach to re-identify the huge birds etched into Peru's desert plains as hermits or pelicans. The study, published in Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, reveals that the Nasca people drew exotic birds, not local species, which could be a clue to their significance.
A mathematical model of fresh water lenses was developed to understand the interaction between physical factors and water storage, circulation, and resilience. The research has practical applications in managing water resources around the world, particularly in arid deserts.
Researchers argue that wetter climates may have allowed Homo sapiens to expand across deserts of Central Asia by 50-30,000 years ago. This new perspective challenges traditional views on human migration, suggesting that northern and central Asia were not impassable barriers.
A Neptunian planet, NGTS-4b, discovered using the Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) facility, is a small world 20% smaller than Neptune, orbiting its star in just 1.3 days. It has been nicknamed 'The Forbidden Planet' due to its extreme temperatures of 1,000 degrees Celsius.
A new study from the University of Delaware has shed light on the age and origin of groundwaters in Egyptian aquifers using chlorine isotopes as chemical tracers. The research found that some groundwater samples are up to 200,000 years old, indicating a complex interaction between shallow and deep aquifers.
Scientists discover a vast, well-preserved collection of meteorites aged over two million years, providing insights into the rate of falling meteorites. The discovery, made in the Atacama Desert, reveals that the meteorite flux has remained constant over time.
A recent study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals widespread retrogressive thaw slumps in the Canadian high Arctic, which develop as permafrost melts and landslides. The research found that the warming climate is initiating these changes, particularly during unusually warm summers.
A new study from Iowa State University finds that growing up in a community with limited access to banks or financial institutions can have long-term effects on financial health. Individuals who lack early exposure to banking tend to have lower credit scores and higher delinquency rates as adults.
Researchers have discovered a new moth family, Ustyurtiidae, in Eurasia, revealing the existence of previously unknown species. The newly described family is a sibling group of the false burnet moth family Urodidae, and its members are well adapted to hot desert conditions.
Researchers have discovered that desert plants like the colocynth use a special wax to prevent their leaves from drying out in extreme heat. This wax reduces water permeability, enabling plants to conserve water and survive. In contrast, date palms have a different type of wax that helps them thrive in hot conditions.
Researchers studied Holocene landform changes in northern China's desert belt, finding sand seas and sandy lands are vulnerable to climate change and human activities. The study provides insights into Earth surface processes and supports ecologically sustainable land use strategies.
Researchers from Penn and Harvard have created a tool to identify and access Cold War-era U2 spy plane imagery, revealing prehistoric hunting traps, irrigation canals, and marsh villages. The images provide valuable insights into ancient history, including the Assyrian canal system in northern Iraq.
Ecologists at the University of Arizona identified a tradeoff between water use and reproduction that allows winter desert plants to survive. The study found that plants conserving water and growing slowly, or spending water by tracking rainfall, are best balanced along this tradeoff.
Researchers found that internet activity reflects seasonal patterns in nature, with certain species showing stronger trends. The study suggests using online data to monitor changes in biodiversity and inform conservation efforts.
Researchers found that homeowners' desert plantings create habitat for desert specialist birds, such as verdin and cactus wren. Despite overall declines in bird diversity, these plants retained the richness of bird species in neighborhoods with higher per-capita incomes.
A new study finds that urban African-Americans are significantly more likely to live in trauma deserts with limited access to advanced emergency medical care. The introduction of UChicago Medicine's Level 1 Trauma Center has reduced Chicago's disparity sevenfold, but racial disparities persist in New York City and Los Angeles.
Black-majority neighborhoods in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago face disparities in access to trauma centers, with racial/ethnic disparities only significant in New York after accounting for poverty. The study suggests trauma planning should address racial equity, particularly in densely populated areas like New York.
A new study published in Ecological Monographs provides insights into the survivability of the desert yellowhead, a rare Wyoming plant. The research found that negative density dependence and diversity in the plant's responses to environmental factors have allowed it to persist in small numbers.
A NASA rover mission in the Mars-like Atacama Desert has recovered subsurface soil samples containing unusual microbes that are distributed in patches, related to limited water availability and scarce nutrients. The findings will aid the search for evidence of signs of life during future planned missions to Mars.
A study on a desert snake reveals that passive mechanics play a crucial role in its movement, allowing it to navigate complex terrain without altering its self-deformation pattern. This finding has implications for the design of limbless robots, which could improve their mobility in challenging environments.
AntBot, a new robot developed by CNRS and Aix-Marseille University, replicates the navigation capabilities of desert ants using polarized light and optical sensors. The robot can explore its environment and return to its base with precision, covering distances of up to 14 meters.
Researchers Graham Andrews and Sarah Brown from West Virginia University discovered drumlins, a type of hill formed by glaciers, in the Namibian desert. The study provides evidence of an ice stream in southern Africa during the late Paleozoic Age, about 300 million years ago.
A new analysis by UC Santa Cruz researchers found that fallowed farmland in the San Joaquin Desert has strong potential for habitat restoration. The study identified over 600 square kilometers of land suitable for conservation, offering a promising solution to protect endangered species like the blunt-nosed leopard lizard.
Researchers at Ohio State University have discovered ways to gather water from nighttime fog and condensation using surfaces with conical shapes and grooved patterns. These designs can efficiently collect water droplets, similar to how cacti and desert grasses do in nature.
Researchers discovered two warm Neptunes at the edge of the 'hot Neptune desert' losing their atmospheres at a rapid pace. This supports the idea that hot Neptunes transform into super-Earths, which are more numerous than previously thought. The study used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to observe the evaporation of these planets.
Researchers found that genetics and vocal behavior show distinct patterns in two desert populations, suggesting speciation is underway. The study's findings indicate that dialect differences might indeed be indicative of new species.
New research reveals hidden realms in ice-covered lakes and deep soils affecting water clarity, salt marsh survival, drought impact, and climate change pace. NSF's LTER Network of 28 sites explores various ecosystems to better understand ecological processes.
Brazilian researchers clarify aquatic dune dynamics, contradicting conventional models. Their findings have applications in understanding Martian terrain and optimizing oil flows.
Researchers discovered that Sonora cactus pads undergo complex microscale, seasonal and age-related wettability changes. This unique characteristic is now being applied to develop smart materials for hazmat suits, which will preserve water while allowing vapor and heat transfer.
Recent rainfall in the Atacama Desert has caused widespread devastation among local microbial species, with 85% extinction rate reported. This study provides crucial information for understanding the microbiology of extremely arid environments and its implications for the search for life on Mars.
A recent study published in Scientific Reports found that heavy rainfall in the Atacama Desert wiped out most microbe species, contradicting expectations of floral blooms. The research has implications for our understanding of microbial life on Mars and suggests that sudden water exposure can be lethal to microorganisms.
The study used balloon-borne measurements to investigate dust particles in the free troposphere over a Chinese desert region. The findings suggest that mineral particles from desert areas have a local influence and are transported long distances, with coarse-mode particles dominating the size distribution.
A recent study reveals that the US desert areas will experience a significant increase in dryness due to climate change. The research, conducted at Devils Hole cave, suggests that the water table has fluctuated by as much as 10 meters over the past 350,000 years, with shifts in Pacific storm track influencing rainfall patterns.
Research scientists at NYU Abu Dhabi have identified a new mechanism by which warm dust travels from the Sahara Desert to the Arctic Circle, affecting rising temperatures and ice melt in Greenland. The polar jet and associated atmospheric circulation play a crucial role in transporting mineral dust from the Sahara desert to the Arctic.
Research suggests that Indigenous fire practices are protecting plant biodiversity in the Gibson Desert by preventing ecosystem transformations, retaining critical species. The traditional burning practices of the Pintupi people have helped conserve unique flora and prevent the destruction of desert myrtle shrubs.
Tropical Depression Rosa's remnants brought heavy rainfall potential to east central Arizona on Oct. 2, with the strongest storms located over the region according to NASA's infrared view.
Researchers found that desert ants can learn multiple food odors in a short time and retain them throughout their lives. In contrast, they require repeated exposure to learn a single nest odor and may forget it quickly after removal from the nest. These findings suggest different memory processes for food and nest-related cues.
Research reveals that desert ants can learn and retain up to 14 distinct food-associated odors, a crucial adaptation for navigating diverse food sources. This memory lasts for up to 26 days in nearly half of the ants tested, outlasting their average life expectancy.
A new study led by UNH researcher Matthew MacManes is exploring how tiny desert rodents adapt to dehydration, with the goal of developing strategies for humans. The research focuses on understanding the physiology and genomics of cactus mice in the field and lab, with an emphasis on electrolytes, urine concentrations, and kidney function.
The study found that 30% of bird species in the Mojave Desert have become less common and widespread over the past century. Birds adapted to desert environments fared better than those adapted to grasslands or forests, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to protect these populations.
A study reveals evidence of community collapse in Mojave birds, with 43% loss of previously documented bird species over the past century. Climate change, particularly decreased precipitation, is associated with the decline in Mojave birds, while surface water presence is linked to increased species richness.
Researchers discovered that biological soil crusts, composed of microorganisms thriving in extreme conditions, may have contributed significantly to establishing the nitrogen cycle essential for life. This new understanding shifts the focus from oceanic microbes and provides a fresh perspective on the early Earth's history.
Beneficial rainfall from hurricane Bud's remnants has spread into the U.S. Desert Southwest, helping to alleviate drought and wildfires. The heaviest rainfall over land occurred in northwestern Mexico with over 200 mm (7.9 inches) indicated.
The Ecological Society of America recognizes Michael T. Kohl, Benjamin J. Wilson, and Emily E. Ernst for awards in outstanding student research and exceptional presentations. The recipients were awarded for their contributions to ecology and conservation.
A team of Japanese scientists has discovered a mineral known as moganite in a lunar meteorite, reinforcing the theory that water exists on the Moon. The existence of moganite implies that there is water activity on the Moon.
Researchers confirm painted lady butterflies recolonize Mediterranean region from Afrotropics each spring, traveling 12,000 km across Sahara Desert. The species' annual distance traveled may reach up to 24,000 km, closing the loop for its migratory system.
In 684 nests studied over seven years, complete brood failure occurred in 13% of cases, often due to death by predation. Single parent males generally did poorly, while females were more successful and cared for the brood up to the point of disappearance
A University of California, Berkeley team has developed a next-generation water harvester that can extract drinkable water every day/night cycle at very low humidity and at low cost. The harvester uses solar energy to collect water from the air, making it ideal for people living in arid, water-starved areas of the world.