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.....»»
Human settlement of Mars isn"t as far off as you might think
Could humans expand out beyond their homeworld and establish settlements on the planet Mars? The idea of settling the red planet has been around for decades. However, it has been seen by skeptics as a delusion at best and mere bluster at worst......»»
Physicists introduce approach to control wave patterns via fluid flows
The reliable control of traveling waves emerging from the coupling of oscillations and diffusion in physical, chemical and biological systems is a long-standing challenge within the physics community. Effective approaches to control these waves help.....»»
The first search for soft unclustered energy patterns in proton–proton collisions at 13TeV
A key objective of many physics studies is to experimentally observe exotic phenomena beyond the Standard Model (SM) that are predicted by theoretical models. These include hidden valley models, which predict the existence of a dark sector in which p.....»»
Hedgehogs" hibernation patterns show surprising flexibility
Research has found hedgehogs living in the same, semi-rural area have wide variation in hibernation timing and pattern, with some entering hibernation as much as three months later than others. The researchers say this flexibility could help them ada.....»»
US moves to save once-common monarch butterflies from extinction
The United States is moving to grant federal protection to the monarch butterfly—a once-common species recognizable by its striking black and orange patterns that has faced a dramatic population decline in recent decades......»»
Recycling human and animal excreta could help meet nutrient supply for global crops
It might not be a pleasant image, but recycling all the human and livestock feces and urine on the planet would contribute substantially to meeting the nutrient supply for all crops worldwide, thereby reducing the need to mine fertilizers such as pho.....»»
New set of human rights principles aims to end displacement and abuse of Indigenous people
For more than a century, conservationists have worked to preserve natural ecosystems by creating national parks and protected areas. Today the Earth faces a global biodiversity crisis, with more than 1 million species at risk of extinction. This make.....»»
Mathematicians make leap in modeling human impact on climate
A breakthrough in the theory of climate change science has given scientists the most robust way yet to link observed climate change to both human-made and natural causes and to spot early warning signals for potential climate disasters......»»
Human intrusions ruffle the feathers of even the boldest penguins
Little penguin habitats and colonies are under threat from urban development and human activities, according to a new article in the journal Behaviour......»»
Saturday citations: The "donut effect"; basically immortal batteries; Neanderthals and H. sapiens
This week, researchers studying data from NASA's Dawn mission reported the identification of 11 sites on Ceres that suggest an internal reservoir of organic materials. A multidisciplinary team published an analysis of the dazzle camouflage patterns d.....»»
Climate patterns from cave mineral deposits linked to Chinese dynasty collapses
China's dynastic history spans 13 periods of rule from 2070 BC until the last emperor abdicated in 1912. While factors leading to the transitions between dynasties are a complex mixture of environmental, social and economic issues, the role of climat.....»»
Unlocking the secrets of collagen: How sea creature superpowers are inspiring smart biomaterials for human health
Major findings on the inner workings of a brittle star's ability to reversibly control the pliability of its tissues will help researchers solve the puzzle of mutable collagenous tissue (MCT) and potentially inspire new "smart" biomaterials for human.....»»
A microRNA solves an evolutionary mystery of butterfly and moth wing coloration
Lepidopterans (butterflies and moths) exhibit a splendid diversity of wing color patterns, and many species display black and white, or dark and bright, wing color pattern variants associated with the presence and absence of melanin. Many of these wi.....»»
Record-low Antarctic sea ice can be explained and forecast months out by patterns in winds
Amid all the changes in Earth's climate, sea ice in the stormy Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica was, for a long time, an odd exception. The maximum winter sea ice cover remained steady or even increased slightly from the late 1970s through 2015,.....»»
Study reveals presence of fentanyl in Gulf of Mexico dolphins
A team of faculty and student researchers at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC), in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Precision Toxicological Consultancy, have detected traces of human pharmaceuticals.....»»
Analysis method reveals unknown chemicals in human serum samples
In the past, chemicals like asbestos and lead caused widespread harm before their dangers were fully understood. Today, many unknown chemicals similarly pose potential risks. Recently, Chiba University researchers developed a new analysis method for.....»»
UN report: Invest in nature to cut billion-dollar costs of droughts
As droughts fueled by human destruction of the environment are projected to affect 3 in 4 people by 2050, investing in sustainable land and water management is essential to reduce their costs, which already exceed $307 billion per year globally, acco.....»»
Study shows chimpanzees perform the same complex behaviors that have brought humans success
A new study suggests that the fundamental abilities underlying human language and technological culture may have evolved before humans and apes diverged millions of years ago. The findings were published 5 December 2024 in the journal PeerJ......»»
Could we use an asteroid to shield astronauts on their way to Mars?
Radiation is a primary concern for long-duration human spaceflight, such as the planned trips to Mars, which are the stated goal of organizations such as NASA and SpaceX. Shielding is the standard way to protect astronauts from radiation during those.....»»
After decades of plantation agriculture, coconut palms dominate over half of Pacific atoll forests
Coconut palms are king throughout the tropics, serving as the foundation for human lives and cultures across the Pacific Ocean for centuries. However, 200 years of planting by colonial interests transformed the palm from the revered "Tree of Life" to.....»»