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Koalas selective about eucalyptus leaves at mealtime

A study found that koalas selectively eat eucalyptus leaves with higher available nitrogen, indicating a preference for nutritious food. The researchers suggest that access to quality food plays a crucial role in shaping the distribution of koala populations in habitats with low nutritional value.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 3, 2014

The living, breathing ocean

Researchers find that climate change may affect the ratio of oxygen consumed to phosphorus released during organic matter respiration in the subsurface ocean. This shift could lead to more carbon being stored in the ocean, potentially offsetting the slowdown of the ocean's uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Geoscience·DateNov 24, 2014

High earthquake danger in Tianjin, China

Researchers reconstructed the spatial pattern of major earthquakes along the Tangshan-Hejian-Cixian fault in Tianjin, revealing a 160-km seismic gap that has not been ruptured for over 8,400 years. This gap may be the next to rupture, generating a devastating earthquake similar to the 1976 Tangshan earthquake.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateNov 18, 2014

Nature's tiny engineers

Scientists at MIT and Weizmann Institute found that corals actively engineer their environment to enhance nutrient exchange through turbulent flows. The cilia on coral surfaces produce strong swirls of water that draw in nutrients while driving away waste products.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 1, 2014

Do gut bacteria rule our minds?

Researchers found that gut bacteria can sway food choices by releasing signaling molecules into the gut, influencing physiological and behavioral responses. The microbiome's diversity of interests can be manipulated through diet and supplement changes, offering a tractable approach to obesity and unhealthy eating.

Reconstructions show how some of the earliest animals lived -- and died

Researchers at the University of Cambridge created detailed reconstructions of ancient organisms called rangeomorphs, which were among the earliest large animals on Earth. The creatures thrived in ocean environments during the Ediacaran period but went extinct due to changing conditions and competition from emerging animal groups.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 11, 2014

New research suggests Saharan dust is key to the formation of Bahamas' Great Bank

Researchers from the University of Miami found that iron-rich Saharan dust provides nutrients for specialized bacteria producing carbonate-based foundation. The study suggests that high concentrations of iron-rich dust blown across the Atlantic Ocean are responsible for the formation of the Great Bahama Bank.

Traffic light labels can give a false sense of security

A study by TUM researchers found that traffic light labeling can lead to a false sense of security and result in consumers ignoring more complex product information. This effect is particularly pronounced in financial products where the labeling influences consumer trust in specific attributes, such as flexibility or state guarantee.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalInternational Journal of Consumer Studies·DateJun 26, 2014

Deforestation of sandy soils a greater climate threat

Researchers found that deforestation has minimal effects on muddy clay-like soils, but dramatically alters microbial communities in sandy soils, leading to increased carbon loss and potential for exaggerating global warming. This discovery could inform land management practices prioritizing the conservation of biodiversity and sequestr...

SourceYale School of the Environment·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateApr 1, 2014