"Ecocide" on Easter Island never took place, studies suggest
Two recent studies have cast doubt on a popular theory that the ancient residents of Easter Island suffered a societal collapse because they overexploited their natural resources, an event often labeled one of history's first "ecocides"......»»
The future of the Meta Quest headsets just leaked out
New reports suggest Meta is working on three mixed reality headsets and considering a multi-billion-dollar investment for smart glasses......»»
Studies explore converting wastewater to fertilizer with fungal treatment
Creating fertilizers from organic waste can help reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and promote sustainable production. One way of doing this is through hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), which converts biomass into biocrude oil through a high-temp.....»»
Tool predicts rogue waves up to five minutes in advance
A new tool that can be used to predict the emergence of unusually large and unpredictable waves at sea—known as rogue waves—up to five minutes into the future is presented in a study published in Scientific Reports. The authors suggest that the t.....»»
Slower metabolism of warm-blooded animals on islands correlated with higher risk of anthropogenic extinction
A multi-institutional team of zoologists and animal behavioral specialists in China and Germany has found an association between the slower metabolism of island-dwelling, warm-blooded animals and an increased risk of anthropogenic extinction......»»
MKULTRA: Making On The Down-Low
Last year at Maker Faire Bay Area on Mare Island, we came home with a picture of two awesomely masked makers. We put out a call in our Maker Faire newsletter hoping to elicit the evidently skilled makers behind these fanciful masks (see middle belo.....»»
Ten years of data preceding a rockfall in the French Alps suggest the need for more comprehensive monitoring systems
In August 2023, 14,000 cubic meters of sandstone and shale detached from a slope in the French Alps. This rockslide at La Praz closed a road and a major railway between France and Italy at least until the end of 2024......»»
Enzyme-powered "snot bots" help deliver drugs in sticky situations
Snot might not be the first place you'd expect nanobots to be swimming around. But this slimy secretion exists in more places than just your nose and piles of dirty tissues—it also lines and helps protect the lungs, stomach, intestines and eyes. An.....»»
Logged forests can still have ecological value—if not pushed too far
Researchers have analyzed data from 127 studies to reveal 'thresholds' for when logged rainforests lose the ability to sustain themselves. The results could widen the scope of which forests are considered 'worth' conserving, but also show how much lo.....»»
Japanese honeybees slap nest-invading ants with their wings to knock them away
A trio of environmental specialists at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, in Japan, has found that Japanese honeybees sometimes resort to slapping ants with their wings to prevent their entry into their nest......»»
Intel CPUs may get even hotter
New leaks about Intel Arrow Lake and Panther Lake suggest that these next-gen CPUs will have a higher maximum temperature......»»
What is a network music streamer, and why do you need one?
When it comes to everyday listening, a network music streamer could solve problems you didn’t know you had in the first place......»»
Tesla Cybertruck beats Ford F-150 Lightning as top electric pickup in latest registration data
The Cybertruck's numbers were strong enough to propel it to fifth place among all battery-electric vehicles for May, S&P Global Mobility said. The F-150 Lightning was No. 10 among all EVs......»»
GM CEO Mary Barra backs away from 1 million EV production goal
GM originally set a goal of having production capabilities in place for a million EVs, but said it could only sell that many if the market materializes......»»
Study shows frogs can quickly increase their tolerance to pesticides
Although there is a large body of research on pests evolving tolerances for the pesticides meant to destroy them, there have been considerably fewer studies on how non-target animals in these ecosystems may do the same......»»
Studies investigate the impact of agriculture on air quality in Lombardy
In the wake of the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns, researchers in northern Italy noticed that notwithstanding the partial suspension of travel and industrial production in the region, the level of particulate matter in the atmosphere remained high......»»
Researchers forge more open access data for studies of the Earth"s lithosphere
Crust and lithospheric mantle—the thinnest and thickest layers of the Earth's lithosphere—and a wide range of dynamic processes that deform them can be studied by using high precision geodetic data taken directly from Global Navigation Satellite.....»»
Irish peat soils are far more vast than previously known, suggests study
New figures suggest peat soils cover 13% more area than previous peat soil maps, which are useful in land use planning—with peat soils critical in absorbing greenhouse gases (GHG) and helping to meet some of Ireland's most pressing environmental ch.....»»
Q&A: "We lost instruments chewed or crunched by bears and sea otters"—how a researcher listens for elusive belugas
Dr. Manuel Castellote studies the behavior and conservation of whales and dolphins. After beginning his academic career in Spain, he now works in the United States, applying acoustic techniques to learn more about cetaceans—especially beluga whales.....»»
Will space-based solar power ever make sense?
Years of talk have now moved to design studies and hardware in space. Enlarge (credit: Pgiam) Is space-based solar power a costly, risky pipe dream? Or is it a viable way to combat climate change? Although beaming solar.....»»
Rethinking the Blue Economy: Network assesses impact on coastal communities
Oceans cover 70% of the Earth's surface, and the Earth has about 620,000 kilometers of coastline. This is where the land meets the sea, a significant place in the world's geography. Coastlines are home to diverse ecosystems and human settlements......»»