Coral decline—is sunscreen a scapegoat?
Many household products contain ingredients to protect them against sun damage. These UV filters are found in plastics, paints and textiles, as well as personal care products such as sunscreens and moisturizers. UV filters are entering the aquatic en.....»»
Chagos Islands: How to ensure their coral reefs aren"t damaged as they return to Mauritius
The UK has agreed to transfer sovereignty of the largely uninhabited Chagos archipelago to Mauritius. The islands have been known as the British Indian Ocean Territory since being administratively detached in 1965 from what was then the colony of Mau.....»»
The unintended consequences of brick-and-mortar"s decline
Lately, many big retail brands have been closing physical locations, in what has become known as the "retail apocalypse." Whether the stated reason is declining revenue, or concerns related to "shrinkage" and employee safety in some cities, the impac.....»»
Amazon rainforest near tipping point partly driven by UK consumers, WWF says
The Amazon rainforest could be reaching an irreversible tipping point beyond which it will decline until "we're just left with scrub," conservationists have warned......»»
Microbial marvels: Study finds "untapped biodiversity" in the bathroom, on your toothbrush and showerhead
Step aside tropical rainforests and coral reefs—the latest hotspot to offer awe-inspiring biodiversity lies no further than your bathroom......»»
Sperm whale departure linked to decline in jumbo squid population in Gulf of California
A PeerJ study has revealed a significant departure of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) from the central portion of the Gulf of California, is linked to the collapse of the jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) population, their primary prey......»»
Environmental protections account for around 10% of fish stocks on coral reefs, global study finds
New research from the University of Sydney shows that international conservation efforts account for approximately 10% of fish stocks on coral reefs......»»
FORD: 1st quarterly decline for Ford brand since 2022; Lincoln sales rise
Ford Motor Co.'s U.S. light-vehicle sales rose 0.7 percent in the third quarter, with retail sales up 4 percent......»»
What should declining Japanese cities do?
Aging societies and population decline have been on the rise globally, but in Japan, the situation has been exacerbated ten-fold. A staggering 36.21 million people, or 28.9% of the populace, are 65 and over. Further, 74.6% of Japan's 1,747 cities are.....»»
Lignin-based sunscreen offers natural and high-performance UV protection
In a significant breakthrough for the cosmetics industry, researchers have developed a new type of sunscreen using lignin, a naturally abundant polymer, and titanium dioxide (TiO2). The study, led by Yarong Li and Zhiguang Tang, was published in the.....»»
Genetic rescue for rare red foxes? Research uncovers options to restore Lassen red fox population
A rescue effort can take many forms—a life raft, a firehose, an airlift. For animals whose populations are in decline from inbreeding, genetics itself can be a lifesaver......»»
Dead coral skeletons hinder reef regeneration by sheltering seaweed
The structural complexity of coral reefs creates a vibrant underwater city populated by a diverse assortment of characters. Ironically, this same complexity can impede coral recovery after disturbances......»»
Researchers explore novel approach to map forest dieback in satellite images
Forests and woodlands cover one third of Earth's surface and play a critical role in carbon sequestration, water regulation, timber production, soil protection, and biodiversity conservation. Accelerated by climate change, the decline of these and ot.....»»
Study shows that ancient reef-building stromatoporoids dodged extinction—at least temporarily
Will modern coral reefs go extinct? The answer is uncertain, but some of their ancient counterparts managed to dodge a bullet—for a while, at least......»»
How coral and sediments helped to reconstruct 2.6 million years of climate history
Today's climate change is man-made. The consensus in the climate science community is unequivocal, but in order to determine just how exceptional current climate change is, we have had to contextualize the present on a much longer time scale. To do t.....»»
Arctic sea ice near historic low; Antarctic ice continues decline
Arctic sea ice retreated to near-historic lows in the Northern Hemisphere this summer, likely melting to its minimum extent for the year on Sept.11, 2024, according to researchers at NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). The decline.....»»
Feeding coral reefs can aid their recovery from bleaching events
Coral reefs will continue to experience severe heat stress as rising temperatures cause the oceans to become unbearably hot—but a new study shows that altering their feeding habits could allow local populations to avoid total extinction......»»
Traces of 10 common pharmaceuticals detected in corals in the Gulf of Eilat
A new study from Tel Aviv University and the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History detected traces of 10 common medications in coral samples collected from both shallow and deep sites in the Gulf of Eilat. Sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic used for resp.....»»
Our digital 3D models of huge coral reefs could help revive these precious ecosystems
As a team of marine biologists, assessing the health of thousands of square meters of coral reef can be a daunting prospect. Often, we have to monitor some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, and there's a strict time limit due to the sa.....»»
How diversity in heat tolerance can help protect coral reefs
New research out of Southern Cross University has found previously undocumented variation in coral heat tolerance on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, giving hope that corals' own genetic resources may hold the key for us to help in its recovery and ad.....»»
Deeper corals may help shallow reefs recover in the Florida keys
Since the 1970s, coral reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) have experienced catastrophic declines in coral cover, with as much as a 50% reduction between 1998 and 2011 alone. Although coral reefs within the FKNMS have been hea.....»»