Deciphering the patterns of human settlements on the Ordos Plateau
The Ordos Plateau, a distinctive geomorphic entity in China, has been a cradle of human civilization since the late Paleolithic era. Its unique geographical and climatic conditions have fostered a rich tapestry of human history, reflected in the sett.....»»
Structural analysis reveals how human eyelashes promote water drainage
Throughout human evolution, body and facial hair have notably diminished, yet eyelashes have remained a distinguishing feature. The physiological or functional purpose of eyelashes—traditionally thought to be for catching dust or filtering air—ha.....»»
Discovery of enzyme pathway may lead to lifesaving leishmaniasis treatments
A breakthrough in understanding how a single-cell parasite makes ergosterol (its version of cholesterol) could lead to more effective drugs for human leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease that afflicts about 1 million people and kills about 30,000 peopl.....»»
Inequality weakens local governance and public satisfaction, study finds
Local governments in developing countries are crucial for providing public services that promote human development and address challenges like extreme weather, unemployment and crumbling infrastructure. Yet, they often face difficulties in implementi.....»»
Mitigating animal-vehicle collisions with field sensors, AI and ecological modeling
Collisions between animals and vehicles are a threat to conservation efforts and human safety, and have a massive cost for transport infrastructure managers and users......»»
Biosensors mimic human olfactory system to discriminate between very similar odors
The human olfactory system discriminates between thousands of odors by interacting specifically with olfactory receptors on sensory neurons. Each receptor can detect several odorants at different intensities, and the same odorant can activate more th.....»»
Dripstones from Romanian cave offer insights into climate dynamics in Europe
Investigations into precipitation patterns in eastern Central Europe since the end of the last ice age, conducted by an international research team led by Dr. Sophie Warken of Heidelberg University, have shown that dynamic processes in atmospheric ci.....»»
The technosphere: A hidden long-term carbon sink in everyday items
We know a lot about how much fossil-derived carbon is emitted to the atmosphere but less about how much is stored in human-made products......»»
Newly identified mysterious fossil seed reveals Ice Age climate patterns
La Brea Tar Pits scientists have identified a previously unknown juniper species as Juniperus scopulorum, commonly known as the Rocky Mountain Juniper. The successful identification, along with the first-ever radiocarbon dating of these fossil plants.....»»
Parental identity, not ethnicity, influences education spending patterns: Study
How much parents spend on their children's education has a big impact on family well-being and a country's overall development. While past studies have suggested that ethnic and racial backgrounds affect this spending, they lacked solid experimental.....»»
Astronaut-on-a-chip: Multi-organ tissue chips simulate space radiation"s impact on human health
As astronauts venture further into space, their exposure to harmful radiation rises. Researchers from Columbia University are simulating the effects of space radiation here on Earth to determine its impact on human physiology using multi-organ tissue.....»»
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......»»
Unlocking puberty secrets: What frogs reveal about human growth
Tadpoles are to frogs as oranges are to apples......»»
Comprehensive analysis reveals hidden genomic evolution of brown algae
Covering over 70% of Earth's surface, the oceans are home to countless life forms that maintain ecological balance and support human well-being. Among these, brown algae (Phaeophyceae) play a crucial role in sustaining coastal habitats, supporting ma.....»»
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-.....»»
Building a backbone: Scientists recreate the body"s "GPS system" in the lab
Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute have generated human stem cell models which, for the first time, contain notochord—a tissue in the developing embryo that acts like a navigation system, directing cells where to build the spine and nervous.....»»
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.....»»
GitGuardian launches multi-vault integration to combat secrets sprawl
GitGuardian unveiled a comprehensive Non-Human Identity (NHI) security strategy with integrations across major secrets management platforms, addressing the growing challenge of secrets sprawl in enterprise environments. With Non-Human Identities—di.....»»
Submarines for space exploration
Submarines are emerging as a unique research platform to study human adaption to extreme environments—from ocean depths to outer space......»»
Permafrost thaw impacts alpine runoff and water retention
Permafrost, a unique geological phenomenon found in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and other high-altitude cold regions, significantly influences the generation of runoff and hydrological processes in frozen watersheds. Its ability to retain water differ.....»»
A history of bacteria domestication: Researchers investigate genetic and phenotypic characteristics of Swiss cheeses
The domestication of livestock and plants marked an important stage in the settlement of human populations in the Neolithic period, as they moved from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a subsistence model based on animal husbandry and agriculture. Becau.....»»