Biodiversity in the margins: Merging farmlands affects natural pest control
A new study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology demonstrates how the diversity and abundance of arthropods decrease when hedgerows and field margins covered by wild grass and flowers are removed......»»
The science behind Christmas trees: How conifers brave winter"s worst
As the festive season approaches, evergreen conifers like spruce and pine adorn homes worldwide. But while Christmas trees bring warmth and joy into our lives, they endure some of the harshest conditions on Earth in their natural habitats......»»
Intense ribbons of rain also bring the heat, scientists say
The environmental threat posed by atmospheric rivers—long, narrow ribbons of water vapor in the sky—doesn't come only in the form of concentrated, torrential downpours and severe flooding characteristic of these natural phenomena. According to a.....»»
Have an old iPhone or iPad? You can no longer use this iCloud feature
The minimum requirements to use iCloud backups has changed, which affects older iPhones and iPads......»»
Simulations of hominin Lucy help show how long distance running evolved in modern humans
A team of natural scientists, musculoskeletal specialists, and evolutionary biologists affiliated with several institutions in the U.K., working with a colleague from the Netherlands, has found via simulations, that the famous early hominin Lucy, cou.....»»
Latest gravitational wave observations conflict with expectations from stellar models
Almost 300 binary mergers have been detected so far, indicated by their passing gravitational waves. These measurements from the world's gravitational wave observatories put constraints on the masses and spins of the merging objects such as black hol.....»»
Research reveals an inexpensive fix for California"s struggling wildflowers
California's native wildflowers are being smothered by layers of dead, invasive grasses. A new UC Riverside study shows that simply raking these layers can boost biodiversity and reduce fire danger......»»
Molecular tool demonstrates how bad eggs are identified for destruction by reproductive system
The biological factory that produces reproductive cells has a robust quality control system to identify and eliminate eggs with chromosomal abnormalities. For years, cell biologists have sought to uncover the mechanisms behind this system, relying on.....»»
Scientists document rich biodiversity along underexplored Chilean coastline
An international team of scientists on board a recent Schmidt Ocean Institute R/V Falkor (too) expedition surveyed nearly 20 methane seeps, some of which are new discoveries, and four submarine canyon systems previously never before seen by humans......»»
Early warning tool may help control huge locust swarms
Desert locusts typically lead solitary lives until something—like intense rainfall—triggers them to swarm in vast numbers, often with devastating consequences......»»
Easy tips to save money don"t always work. Here"s why.
Amid spending season and a plethora of articles listing ways to control your budget during these holidays, a Deakin University researcher warns there are no quick and easy solutions......»»
Scientists recreate molecular timers to control nanomachine activation rates
Living organisms monitor time—and react to it—in many different ways, from detecting light and sound in microseconds to responding physiologically in pre-programmed ways, via their daily sleep cycle, monthly menstrual cycle, or to changes in the.....»»
Optical spring enables programmable defect mode in new mechanical crystal
Mechanical crystals, also known as phononic crystals, are materials that can control the propagation of vibrations or sound waves, just like photonic crystals control the flow of light. The introduction of defects in these crystals (i.e., intentional.....»»
Miniaturized all-fiber photoacoustic spectrometer for intravascular gas detection rivals lab-based systems
Miniaturized spectroscopy systems that can detect trace concentrations at the parts-per-billion (ppb) level are of the utmost importance in applications ranging from environmental monitoring and industrial process control to biomedical diagnostics. H.....»»
Sweden is a nearly cashless society. Here"s how it affects people who are left out
Around the world, cards and apps are the default way to pay—but nowhere is the transition away from cash more obvious than in Sweden. The Bank of Sweden notes that the amount of cash in circulation in the country has halved since 2007......»»
UN experts urge three "transformations" for nature
Human societies need a radical overhaul to stop the destruction of the planet, according to the UN biodiversity expert panel's "transformative change" report released Wednesday......»»
How feelings of disconnection and lack of control fuel conspiracy beliefs—new research
Conspiracy theories have always been a part of society, offering explanations—sometimes simple, often elaborate—for complex events......»»
Why natural disasters hit harder in rural school districts
A week after Hurricane Sandy flooded New York City's streets and subways in 2012, the city's schools were back in business. But schools in rural North Carolina did not reopen until almost a month after Hurricane Helene roared through in late Septembe.....»»
Report: Ecological crises are interconnected and must be tackled in a coordinated way
Maria J. Santos, a professor at the University of Zurich, is one of the main authors of the comprehensive scientific analysis published this week by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). At a pr.....»»
Swedish oak forests study reveals unexpected patterns in biodiversity, poses challenge for conservation
A new study from Linnaeus University reports that plant and insect diversity in Swedish oak forests increases toward the north. This finding contrasts with established global biodiversity patterns and poses a challenge for the development of climate-.....»»
Small habitats, big consequences: Connectivity loss in pond networks threatens microbial biodiversity
In the midst of the ongoing global biodiversity crisis, even the smallest habitats like ponds demand our attention. Fragmentation of these habitats—driven by human activities like urbanization, agriculture, and land-use changes—poses a significan.....»»