Beech forests are beneficial in the climate crisis but suffer under drought and heat
Measurements from the past 27 years show that nature's ecosystem services and good biodiversity remove CO2 from the atmosphere, thus reducing the effect of carbon emissions. However, it is also clear that ecosystem services are affected by higher tem.....»»
Braving sharks and hordes of urchins, scientists are growing kelp one forest at a time
The weathered UC Davis Marine Laboratory looms in thick fog on the edge of the ocean near Bodega Bay. Inside, an experiment is playing out that gives a badly-needed boost to Northern California's kelp forests—underwater cathedrals of green and gold.....»»
Decadal climate patterns reveal new insights into tropical cyclone formation and El Niño-Southern Oscillation link
A new study has revealed how decadal-scale climate fluctuations impact the ability of climate models to simulate tropical cyclone frequency in response to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. This finding offers an improved understanding of t.....»»
Earth underwent a massive, rapid melting period after the last global ice age, new study suggests
At the end of the last global ice age, the deep-frozen Earth reached a built-in limit of climate change and thawed into a slushy planet. Results from a Virginia Tech-led study provide the first direct geochemical evidence of the slushy planet—other.....»»
Is the election making you feel adrift and wobbly? That"s "zozobra," and Mexican philosophers have some advice
Ever had the feeling that you can't make sense of what's happening? One moment everything seems normal, then suddenly the frame shifts to reveal a world on fire, struggling with war, climate change and political violence and upheaval......»»
Helping the most vulnerable stay cool in extreme heat
The health effects of heat waves hit some communities harder than others. People with preexisting health conditions, as well as those who have low income or are physically or socially isolated, very old or very young, from racial or ethnic minority g.....»»
African countries shouldn"t have to borrow money to fix climate damage they never caused, says economist
As we approach the global annual climate change conference, COP29, the need for increased public finance from the global north to address climate adaptation in Africa has become more urgent than ever......»»
Will the lights go out on Cuba"s communist leaders? With fewer options to prop up economy, their future looks dimmer
Cuba's communist leaders are in the midst of crisis—and not for the first time......»»
Scientists have figured out why Martian soil is so crusty
On November 26, 2018, NASA's Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy, and Heat Transport (InSight) mission landed on Mars. This was a major milestone in Mars exploration since it was the first time a research station had been deplo.....»»
Australia needs a bold national bushfire strategy, researcher says
Australia's escalating bushfire crisis calls for an urgent, comprehensive national reset, according to a new report, "Pathways for Sustainable Coexistence with Wildfires.".....»»
Spraying rice with zinc oxide nanoparticles protects yields during heat waves, study finds
A small team of horticulturists in China and the U.S. has found that spraying rice plants with a zinc oxide nanoparticle solution helps them better handle the stress of a heat wave. In their study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of.....»»
Valencia floods: Warming climate is making once-rare weather more common and more destructive, says researcher
In the last few days, a seasonal weather system known in Spain as the "cold drop" or DANA (an acronym of "depresión aislada en niveles altos": isolated depression at high levels) has caused heavy rain and flooding across Spain's Mediterranean coast.....»»
Study finds 30% of regions worldwide achieve economic growth while reducing carbon emissions
More and more regions around the globe combine economic growth with reducing carbon emissions, researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the University of Potsdam found......»»
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has an identity crisis
I love most of the iPhone 16 series, but there's one model I just don't understand: the iPhone 16 Pro Max......»»
How many trees does it take to cool a city? Researchers develop tool to set urban tree canopy goals
Cities around the globe are increasingly experiencing dangerous heat as urban concrete and asphalt amplify rising temperatures. Tree-planting programs are a popular, nature-based way to cool cities, but these initiatives have been largely based on gu.....»»
Did the world"s best-preserved dinosaurs really die in "Pompeii-type" events?
Between about 120 million and 130 million years ago, during the age of dinosaurs, temperate forests and lakes hosted a lively ecosystem in what is now northeast China. Diverse fossils from that time remained pretty much undisturbed until the 1980s, w.....»»
Small reductions to meat production in wealthier countries may help fight climate change
Scientists and environmental activists have consistently called for drastic reductions in meat production as a way to reduce emissions and, in doing so, combat climate change. However, a new analysis concludes that a smaller reduction, borne by wealt.....»»
Exploring how microbes in permafrost contribute to nitrous oxide emissions
Ecologist Christina Biasi is exploring the conditions under which tiny organisms contribute to permafrost soils emitting nitrous oxide. Her research could be essential for the development of future climate scenarios......»»
Research highlights biofortification"s role in tackling malnutrition
A series of research papers and a free online data dashboard seek to boost the use of biofortification—an affordable, sustainable and climate-smart way to address global malnutrition by increasing the concentrations of essential nutrients in staple.....»»
Multi-omics approach reveals nanoplastic toxicity in aquatic life
Plastic pollution has become a growing crisis for aquatic environments, with nanoplastics emerging as particularly hazardous due to their minuscule size and broad dispersal. Unlike larger plastic fragments, nanoplastics infiltrate cellular systems an.....»»
Unlocking next-gen chip efficiency: Researchers confirm thermal insights for tiny circuits
In a leap toward more powerful and efficient computer chips, researchers at the University of Virginia have confirmed a key principle governing heat flow in thin metal films—a critical component in the race to design faster, smaller and more effici.....»»