Canadians are unprepared for natural hazards. Here"s what we can do about it
Over the last year, Canada has made important progress toward making it easier for people to determine if they're at risk from natural hazard disasters. But many people across the country still lack awareness about the risks they face and the steps t.....»»
Natural pesticides gain ground in "agri-tox" capital Brazil
Inspecting a thriving green field, Brazilian farmer Adriano Cruvinel is beaming: Using a fraction of the chemical products he used to, he is growing even more soy, thanks to natural pesticides......»»
Study shows methane emissions from wetlands increase significantly over high latitudes
Wetlands are Earth's largest natural source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is about 30 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at warming the atmosphere. A research team from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.....»»
Addressing anti-Black racism is key to improving well-being of Black Canadians, says researcher
Anti-Black racism continues to be a major determinant of poor health and social outcomes for Black Canadians. Addressing this racism within Canadian institutions—like the health care system, justice system, the child welfare system and education—.....»»
Genetic variants identified in miracle fruit pulp transcriptomes
Miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) is the botanical source of miraculin, a natural, noncaloric sweetener. Miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) is native to West Africa, where it has been used for more than 100 years to increase the palatability o.....»»
Imperfect mimicry in spiders and insects mainly shaped by adaptive processes rather than constraints, finds study
Two natural scientists at Macquarie University, working with an evolutionary specialist at the University of New South Wales, all in Australia, have found that imperfect mimicry in spiders and insects is likely mainly shaped by adaptive processes rat.....»»
A new optical metamaterial makes true one-way glass possible
A new approach has allowed researchers at Aalto University to create a kind of metamaterial that has so far been beyond the reach of existing technologies. Unlike natural materials, metamaterials and metasurfaces can be tailored to have specific elec.....»»
Technology with empathy: Using conversational agents in education
Artificial intelligence and natural language processing technologies are driving the use of pedagogical conversational agents with empathic capabilities. They are virtual tools (e.g., chatbots) that are able to evoke an empathetic reaction in the stu.....»»
Flowers grown floating on polluted waterways can help clean up nutrient runoff and turn a profit
Flowers grown on inexpensive floating platforms can help clean polluted waterways, over 12 weeks extracting 52% more phosphorus and 36% more nitrogen than the natural nitrogen cycle removes from untreated water, according to our new research. In addi.....»»
Fake grass, real injuries? Dissecting the NFL’s artificial turf debate
Artificial turf has its advantages, but the NFLPA wants it banished from the NFL. Enlarge (credit: iStock/Getty Images) Super Bowl LVIII will be played on a natural grass field in an indoor stadium in Las Vegas on February 11, 2024. H.....»»
Surprising behavior in one of the least studied mammals in the world
Some animals live in such remote and inaccessible regions of the globe that it is nearly impossible to study them in their natural habitats. Beaked whales, of which 24 species have been found so far, are among them: They live far from land and in dee.....»»
Largest flow of natural hydrogen gas ever found measured in Albanian chromium mine
A team of geologists affiliated with several institutions in France, working with a pair of colleagues from Albania, has measured the largest natural flow of hydrogen ever in an Albanian chromium mine. In their study, reported in the journal Science,.....»»
Natural gas flare samples collected by aircraft reveal high variation in nitrogen oxides emission estimates
Natural gas flaring, or burning, is commonly used in parts of the United States to dispose of the gas byproduct from oil extraction. The flare's combustion converts hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water, which lessens the climate impact and reduce.....»»
CyberShake study uses Summit supercomputer to investigate earthquake hazards
Researchers at the Statewide California Earthquake Center, or SCEC, are unraveling the mysteries of earthquakes by using physics-based computational models running on high-performance computing systems at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National.....»»
Clues from the ice age can help restore Swedish streams
Human intervention has destroyed critical habitats for salmon and trout in Swedish streams. Researchers at Umeå University have discovered crucial clues to help restore the streams to their natural state......»»
New species of Jurassic pterosaur discovered on the Isle of Skye
A new species of pterosaur from specimens found on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, has been announced by scientists from the Natural History Museum, University of Bristol, University of Leicester, and University of Liverpool......»»
How does car traffic influence airborne fungal diversity?
Microbial particles including fungi, bacteria, allergens, etc., are common natural components of air. In particular, fungi represent a large portion of the airborne microbes since they are among the most abundant, widely dispersed, and pervasive orga.....»»
The jump in global temperatures in September 2023 is difficult to explain by natural climate variability alone
September 2023 broke the global mean temperature record by a staggering 0.5° C difference from the previous record. A new study calls for further analysis of the impact of volcanoes and anthropogenic climate forcing on the new record......»»
Method to make synthetic derivative of natural indigo may inspire future electronic devices
Chemists at RIKEN have developed a method for making synthetic derivatives of the natural dye indigo that doesn't require harsh conditions. This discovery could inspire advances in electronic devices, including light-responsive gadgets and stretchy b.....»»
Nature"s DNA traps: Spider webs put new spin on wildlife research
Spiders might be silent heroes in helping us understand and keep track of animals, with new Curtin research revealing their webs act like natural traps for tiny bits of environmental DNA (eDNA) from vertebrates, which could change how we learn about.....»»
Unlocking the secrets of natural reef recovery
Corals, the literal foundation of any reef, have adjusted and adapted to their environment over millennia. Yet with rapid global warming, the key question is whether their natural resilience can keep up with this extreme environmental change......»»