Articles tagged with Seasonal Changes
Youth football players undergo brain changes, including alterations in the default mode network, after a single season of play. This study suggests that repeated subconcussive impacts can have a lasting effect on brain health.
A new study found that a small set of vulnerable patches in power grid networks disproportionately cause costly cascading failures. The study analyzed data from the U.S.-Canadian power grid system and developed a model of network connectedness, revealing that only 10.8% of links ever underwent primary failure.
Tropical Depression Haikui has formed over the central Philippines with maximum sustained winds of 35 knots. The storm is expected to move northwest, crossing the Philippines and tracking through the South China Sea before making landfall in southern China.
Tropical Depression Nineteen formed in the Central Atlantic Ocean despite wind shear conditions, according to NASA's Terra satellite imagery. The National Hurricane Center expects it to strengthen and potentially become a tropical storm later on Monday.
Researchers at UGA and Sanofi Pasteur developed a broadly protective vaccine against multiple strains of H3N2 influenza, which neutralized 100% of the viruses over a five-year period. The vaccine has the potential to replace seasonal flu vaccines with year-round manufacturing, reducing production time.
A new flu forecasting tool combines data on virus spread with evolutionary analysis to predict the severity of upcoming seasons. By factoring in how much the virus has changed compared to recent years, the model can generate disease forecasts before the season begins, significantly earlier than existing tools.
A team of FSU scientists outlines a methodology that uses rainfall rates to mark the span of the Indian Summer Monsoon. The new system has been shown to capture ISM evolution comprehensively, enabling easy real-time monitoring.
Red-toothed shrews experience a dramatic decrease in braincase size from summer to winter, with some organs even shrinking by 30%. This seasonal change may help them conserve energy during food scarcity.
Tropical Depression 26W formed on Oct. 19 near Manila, Philippines, moving northeast at 10 knots with maximum sustained winds of 25 knots. The system quickly became disorganized due to strong vertical wind shear and subsidence, leading to its rapid dissipation.
Researchers found that flu pandemics are more likely to emerge in late spring and early summer due to the temporary immune protection provided by seasonal flu. This narrow window for pandemic emergence can help public health agencies detect and respond to new viral threats.
A new study by FSU researchers found that changing climate conditions lead to more days with poor flower availability, resulting in food shortages and population decline among bumble bees. This finding highlights the critical role of floral distribution throughout a season in determining bumble bee populations.
A study by North Carolina State University researchers found that climate change impacts bumble bees through changes in flowering seasons, not just direct effects. Longer flowering seasons may actually lead to fewer flowers available for bees, resulting in reduced bee abundance and population decline.
Researchers analyzed 156 men's basketball games from last four Olympics to identify key factors contributing to success. The winning formula centers on field-goal percentage and defensive rebounds, with the latter providing a 93% probability of victory.
A study published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology reveals that hundreds of male frog species undergo temporary color changes during their breeding season. These color changes serve as a signal to other males, indicating which frogs are suitable partners and improving chances of successful pairings.
The Suomi NPP satellite captured an image of Hurricane Max on Sept. 13, revealing two 'tails' of thunderstorms feeding into the low-level center. Maximum sustained winds reached near 75 mph (120 kph), with higher gusts and a minimum central pressure of 992 millibars.
Tropical Storm Katia is developing near Mexico's east coast with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and forecasted to produce 5-10 inches of rain over northern Veracruz. Strengthening is expected, potentially making it a hurricane before approaching the coast.
A new study published in Springer's journal Sex Roles found that female basketball coaches face more biases than male coaches, despite performing equally well. The research analyzed data from 1,522 players over two seasons and concluded that individual player performance was not linked to the gender of their head coach.
A study of hunter-gatherers in Tanzania reveals a strong cyclicality in their gut-microbial composition, corresponding to seasonal dietary changes. The findings suggest that sweeping changes in the average person's diet over the past 10,000 years may be driving the loss of microbial diversity.
A study of 188 Hadza hunter-gatherers reveals that their diet affects the composition of their gut microbiome. The researchers found that traditional diets rich in plants and hunting were associated with higher levels of beneficial bacteria, while Western diets were linked to reduced diversity.
A new study found that flu vaccination rates for children may have decreased due to the unavailability of a nasal spray vaccine. The study, published in Vaccine, analyzed data from 9,591 pediatric patients and found that without the option of the nasal spray, total influenza vaccination rates were 1.6% lower in 2016-17 than in 2015-16.
A recent paper revisits an idea proposed by Chinese meteorologist Duzheng Yeh in 1959 about abrupt seasonal changes in the general circulation. The study's authors successfully reproduce these transitions without lower-boundary inhomogeneities, sparking questions about their underlying causes.
Researchers estimate that climate change increased overlap between sockeye salmon spawning and red elderberry ripening seasons on Kodiak Island, Alaska. This shift in food resources can alter food webs among Kodiak brown bears.
Tropical Depression Thirteen-E formed on Aug 18 near latitude 14.8 North, longitude 116.5 West. The depression is expected to strengthen and reach hurricane strength by the end of the weekend, with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph.
Tropical Storm 14W formed over Wake Island, taking a unique comma shape with thunderstorms surrounding its center. The storm is expected to intensify and turn north before becoming extratropical.
A study in The FASEB Journal found that mothers who were malnourished in utero tend to have smaller babies, while fathers' malnutrition affects their offspring's weight by age 2. This intergenerational influence suggests it may take several generations to eliminate growth failure and stunting.
Researchers found that winter foals were smaller than their spring and fall counterparts, suggesting a critical impact of reduced metabolism on fetal growth. Despite this, some benefits emerged from the study, including the potential for earlier foaling that can give young horses a head start in competitions.
The 11th Eastern Pacific hurricane season tropical depression formed on August 4 despite being affected by wind shear. GOES-West and GOES-16 satellites captured images showing a low-pressure area with a well-defined center, indicating the storm's strength.
Tropical Depression 13W forms in Northwestern Pacific with maximum sustained winds near 30 knots, centered near 25.4 degrees north latitude and 164.1 degrees east longitude. The storm is expected to intensify to tropical storm status before becoming extra-tropical.
A new study sheds light on the largely understudied area of vertebrate scavenging ecology. Researchers found that vertebrate communities are efficient at locating varying sized carcasses, but not as efficiently in warmer months when invertebrates and microbes are more active.
In British Columbia, over 500 wildfires are currently active, with firefighters battling blazes in three main areas. The region is experiencing its third-worst fire season on record, with 840 fires breaking out since April 1. Firefighting costs have reached $172.5 million, with close to 4,000 personnel working to contain the flames.
A recent statistical analysis suggests that the changed strike zone could negatively affect batter productivity. The study found pitch location-specific differences in run expectancies, which may lead to internal struggles among players and impact salaries.
A computational model analyzing 6,082 European football players' salaries showed that Lionel Messi is the world's most overpaid player, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez. The study found a strong link between skills and salaries, but noted exceptions like the Ekstraklasa league.
A study found that total weed density was greatest when soil was tilled early in the growing season, while late-season tillage resulted in fewer weeds. This suggests that adjusting tillage timing can improve weed management and crop yields.
The Indian summer monsoons have strengthened in the last 15 years over north central India, reversing a 50-year drying period. This increase in monsoon rainfall is attributed to a shift in India's land and sea temperatures, with higher land temperatures combining with lower ocean temperatures.
A large clinical trial found that the high-dose flu vaccine significantly reduced hospitalization rates among nursing home residents, with a relative risk of hospitalization being 12.7 percent lower for the high-dose group. The vaccine also appeared to help prevent hospitalization for other problems, including cardiovascular symptoms.
A study examining MLB pitchers over six seasons found that decreased shoulder flexion and external rotation were key predictors of elbow injuries. The risk of injury increased with greater than five-degree flexion deficits and external rotation deficits.
Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have successfully extended the state's strawberry growing season to 19 weeks, increasing marketable fruit from 70% to 83%. The project uses low tunnels and day-neutral varieties to improve berry quality and extend the season.
Baits have become a significant portion of black bears' diets, potentially bolstering population density. The widespread consumption of calorically rich foods may be driven by the goals and consequences of baiting policies needing re-evaluation.
A four-year study by Rice ecologists found that strong environmental filters like predatory fish cause regular variations in dragonfly communities. The results show how these patterns can help predict biodiversity loss in specific habitats.
Air quality has deteriorated in Dunhuang due to increased human activities, shifting from dust aerosol alone to a mixture of coarse and fine particles. Seasonal characteristics show significant variations in aerosol optical properties, with dust aerosols dominating during spring and fine urban aerosols during summer.
Hurricane Dora formed on June 25 as a tropical storm and strengthened into the first hurricane of the season by June 26. The storm is currently located near latitude 16.7 degrees North and longitude 105.3 degrees West, moving towards the west-northwest at 13 mph.
A new study reveals that large-scale water cycles in California have a modest impact on small-scale earthquake activity. Slight changes in ground stress associated with snow accumulation, snowmelt, runoff, and irrigation for agriculture influence earthquake likelihood.
A new study assesses the global impact of human interventions on water scarcity, finding that large-scale water management actions can aggravate water scarcity downstream. The research highlights the importance of considering upstream-downstream linkages in water policy decisions.
New UAlberta research reveals female elk adapt their behavior to avoid hunters as they get older, showing social learning plays a key role. After 10 years, female elk become almost invulnerable to hunting, adjusting their movements and behavior to safer areas.
The 2016 hurricane season was the second-longest on record, with a series of extremes that included Hurricane Matthew, which claimed over 600 lives and caused $15 billion in damage. The season's conditions were characterized by a dramatic change in relative humidity, leading to an increase in Accumulated Cyclone Energy.
Tropical Cyclone Mora made landfall near Chittagong, Bangladesh, with maximum sustained winds of 65 knots (75 mph/120 kph). NASA satellites monitored the storm's progress and extent before it weakened rapidly following landfall.
Scientists will fly nine planes over Alaska and northwest Canada to gather data on changing Arctic ecosystems. The ABoVE field campaign aims to understand how environmental changes affect the local environment and beyond.
Researchers from the University of Utah and USGS analyzed 93 years of weather data to find that atmospheric circulation patterns account for 25-48% of variation in frost timing, while global warming contributes 3-5 days to the lengthening of the frost-free season.
A fall calving season in the southeastern United States can be more profitable due to higher calf prices at weaning and increased calves weaned per cow. This is attributed to longer growing seasons for forages, providing a competitive advantage in feed costs.
Tropical Storm Adrian formed on May 10, but quickly lost steam, weakening to a remnant low pressure area by May 11. The storm's maximum sustained winds dropped to near 30 mph (45 kph), with some further weakening forecast over the next 48 hours.
A new study finds that climate change could lead to a 10% increase in hospital emergency room visits for allergic asthma, particularly in the Midwest, Southeast, and Northeast regions. The increased exposure to oak pollen will have a significant impact on public health, with estimated costs of $10.4 million by 2090.
The first tropical storm in the Eastern Pacific Ocean has formed, marking an unusual start to hurricane season. Located west of Costa Rica, Tropical Storm Adrian is moving northwest and strengthening due to warm waters.
Researchers found altered short-term neurological behaviors in Ecuadorian children exposed to flower pesticides during peak Mother's Day production. Children examined shortly after the harvest displayed lower performance on measures such as attention and self-control compared to those examined later. The study suggests that pesticide e...
Tropical Cyclone Ella forms in the Southern Pacific Ocean near Fiji, with NASA's Suomi NPP satellite capturing its early stages. The system is expected to weaken due to high vertical wind shear as it approaches landfall in three days.
Research found that meerkat calls vary with factors such as sex and social status, providing cues about the producer. Call rates were higher in dominant females and one-year-old males during foraging, but not linked to stress hormones.
Tropical Storm Arlene was absorbed by a frontal system in the North Atlantic Ocean, weakening from a tropical storm to a subtropical storm. The NOAA GOES-East satellite captured the moment on April 21, showing the storm being 'eaten' by the weather system.
Tropical Storm Arlene formed on April 20, 40 days before the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season. The storm was tracked by NASA-NOAA satellites, showing a large area of thunderstorms swirling far from land areas. As it moves west, Arlene is expected to lose its tropical characteristics and dissipate by April 21.
A study by Cornell University found that pesticides pose a significant risk to honeybees, with over 60% of found pesticides attributed to non-sprayed orchards and surrounding farmland. The research analyzed the bees' food stores and revealed high levels of pesticide exposure in 17% of colonies.
The western US has seen a 2-degrees-Celsius rise in annual average temperature and lengthening of the fire season, resulting in bigger, hotter fires. Authors advocate for adaptation measures like allowing more fires to burn unimpeded and intentionally setting controlled burns to reduce natural fuels.
Research by the University of Kent found that great crested newt eDNA can be used to monitor population size and environmental factors. This technology can improve conservation efforts and reduce delays in development projects.