Ancient system could bring water to dry areas
Some of Africa's dry areas face serious water shortages due to minimal rainfall. An ancient system of drawing water from aquifers, the "qanat system," could help. Gaathier Mahed, an environmental scientist and expert on the management of groundwater,.....»»
New PFAS testing method could make water testing more affordable, portable and accessible
University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers have discovered a new way to detect per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water. This marks an important step forward in creating testing devices that are simpler, more cost-effective, faster an.....»»
Making farming better for bees: Can we breed crops that produce more nectar and pollen?
Where once there were vast areas of forest and other natural habitats, farmland now covers much of Earth—including 70% of the UK. This transition has helped feed a growing number of people......»»
Making "stressed" potatoes more climate-resilient
Heat, dry spells and flooding—the whole of nature is under stress, and potatoes are no exception. As a food staple, there is particular interest in getting potatoes fit for the new climate reality. As part of the EU's four-year ADAPT project, an in.....»»
Microbial slime: The ultimate system to understand our planet
Billions of years ago, Earth was home to extreme environments, including intense UV radiation, frequent volcanic eruptions, and very high concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Yet, under these conditions, biofilms formed and within thes.....»»
Food security in Africa: Managing water will be vital in a rapidly growing region
Sub-Saharan Africa's population is growing at 2.7% per year and is expected to reach two billion by the year 2050. The region's urban population is growing even faster: it was at 533 million in 2023, a 3.85% increase from 2022......»»
The extreme floods that devastated Spain are hitting more often. Is Australia ready for the next one?
Spain is still reeling from recent floods in the Valencia region. In some areas, a year's worth of rain fell in a single day. Sudden torrents raced through towns and cities. More than 200 people are dead. Rapid analysis suggests daily rainfall extrem.....»»
Asteroid grains shed light on the outer solar system"s origins
Tiny grains from a distant asteroid are revealing clues to the magnetic forces that shaped the far reaches of the solar system more than 4.6 billion years ago......»»
New research reveals how stormy conditions affect albatrosses" ability to feed
Albatrosses are exceptionally mobile and use the wind to travel hundreds of thousands of miles to feed on squid, fish, or other animals found near the water surface in the open ocean. In fact, some larger species of albatrosses are so reliant on the.....»»
Nintendo’s next system is compatible with Nintendo Switch games
You will be able to play Nintendo Switch games on the system's successor, Nintendo has confirmed......»»
AT&T, Voltpost bring internet connectivity to EV charging lampposts
Voltpost is partnering with AT&T to provide lamppost and curbside internet-connected chargers across Michigan......»»
Soil sampling in Houston"s greater Fifth Ward reveals toxic levels of lead in yards, play areas
Houston, like many American cities, has areas with soil contaminated by non-biodegradable and persistent pollutants such as arsenic, lead, nickel and cadmium, known as heavy metals and metalloids. These are both naturally occurring in the atmosphere.....»»
iOS 18.2’s Notes app gets three powerful Apple Intelligence upgrades
The second wave of Apple Intelligence features is coming soon, and it’s a huge upgrade—including for Apple Notes users. iOS 18 already packed a strong Notes update, but next month iOS 18.2 will bring three key AI improvements to Notes. Here’s w.....»»
An Upcoming RCS Feature Might Finally Bring Better-resolution Photo Sharing
Original quality photos, anyone? The post An Upcoming RCS Feature Might Finally Bring Better-resolution Photo Sharing appeared first on Phandroid. While RCS’ support for high-quality photos and videos has been around for some time no.....»»
OpenAI’s robotics plans aim to ‘bring AI into the physical world’
OpenAI has made no secret of its hardware ambitions. Those plans came a step closer to fruition on Tuesday with the hiring of Caitlin Kalinowski, the now-former head of hardware at Oculus VR......»»
Water overuse in Brazil"s MATOPIBA region could mean failure to meet up to 40% of local demand for crop irrigation
Considered one of the fastest-growing agricultural frontiers in Brazil, and the area with the highest greenhouse gas emissions in the Cerrado, Brazil's savanna-type biome, the region known as MATOPIBA, risks facing water shortages in the years ahead......»»
Scientists find key to engineering water-responsive biopolymers
Scientists at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) have developed a novel approach to better understand and predict the behaviors of water-responsive materials—solid matter that can change shape by absorbing.....»»
Burial chamber and grave goods of ancient Egyptian priestess discovered in Asyut
An international team of archaeologists led by Professor Jochem Kahl from Freie Universität Berlin has made an incredible discovery in the necropolis of Asyut, Egypt. Researchers discovered the burial chamber of the ancient Egyptian priestess Idy, d.....»»
Sustainable hydrophobic cellulose shows potential for replacing petroleum-related products
A recent study has aimed to create hydrophobic paper by exploiting the mechanical properties and water resistance of cellulose nanofibers, and so produce a sustainable, high-performance material suitable for packaging and biomedical devices. This inv.....»»
Mini-transmitters show infections with parasites affect local flight behavior of swallows
Swallows infected with parasites move less and in smaller ranges than healthy ones—with detrimental effects on their foraging success and their survival. As a result, infected individuals foraged in less productive areas, such as cultivated farmlan.....»»
Reconstructing plesiosaur swimming styles with a bio-inspired control system
A research group may have unraveled the mystery behind the locomotion of the ancient marine reptile, the plesiosaur, by recreating a bio-inspired control system that accounts for motion adjustment......»»