Economics of nature: Mapping Liberia"s ecosystems to understand their value
Conservation scientist Trond Larsen and his team trekked through a remote forest in Liberia, recording the plants, animals, and insects that they saw. They noted whether the forest was intact or degraded. Far above their heads, NASA's Earth-observing.....»»
Addressing climate change and inequality: A win-win policy solution
Climate change and economic inequality are deeply interconnected, with the potential to exacerbate each other if left unchecked. A study published in Nature Climate Change sheds light on this critical relationship using data from eight large-scale In.....»»
How future heat waves at sea could devastate UK marine ecosystems and fisheries
The oceans are warming at an alarming rate. 2023 shattered records across the world's oceans, and was the first time that ocean temperatures exceeded 1°C over pre-industrial levels. This led to the emergence of a series of marine heat wave events ac.....»»
Traces of antimatter in cosmic rays reopen the search for "WIMPs" as dark matter
One of the great challenges of modern cosmology is to reveal the nature of dark matter. We know it exists (it constitutes more than 85% of the matter in the universe), but we have never seen it directly and still do not know what it is......»»
New research uncovers how climate and soil shape tree and shrub wood density across ecosystems
An article published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences has provided new insights into how wood density in trees and shrubs adapts to different climate and soil conditions. Led by Dr. Song Xiang from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Chine.....»»
2-billion-year-old rock could help understand very early life on Earth and the hunt for evidence of life on Mars
Pockets of microbes have been found living within a sealed fracture in a 2-billion-year-old rock. The rock was excavated from the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa, an area known for its rich ore deposits. This is the oldest example of living.....»»
Centuries ago, the Maya storm god Huracán taught that when we damage nature, we damage ourselves
The ancient Maya believed that everything in the universe, from the natural world to everyday experiences, was part of a single, powerful spiritual force. They were not polytheists who worshipped distinct gods but pantheists who believed that various.....»»
Celebrating the fungus among us: How fungi support, restore ecosystems
The word "fungus" may inspire visions of an unwanted growth under your nail or maybe even of a pizza topping before thoughts of a thriving ecosystem......»»
The medicines we take to stay healthy are harming nature. Here"s what needs to change
Evidence is mounting that modern medicines present a growing threat to ecosystems around the world. The chemicals humans ingest to stay healthy are harming fish and other animals......»»
People infer the past better than the future, study finds
If you started watching a movie from the middle without knowing its plot, you'd likely be better at inferring what had happened earlier than predicting what will happen next, according to a new Dartmouth-led study published in Nature Communications......»»
Study reveals oyster reefs once thrived along Europe"s coasts—now they"re gone
Oysters once formed extensive reefs along much of Europe's coastline—but these complex ecosystems were destroyed over a century ago, new research shows. The paper, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, is titled "Records reveal the vast h.....»»
Study: Conservative users" misinformation sharing drives higher suspension rates, not platform bias
A new paper, "Differences in misinformation sharing can lead to politically asymmetric sanctions," published today in Nature suggests that the higher quantity of social media policy enforcement (such as account suspensions) for conservative users cou.....»»
The biodiversity jukebox: How sound can boost beneficial soil microbes to heal nature
In a race against time, scientists are exploring new ways to restore natural systems. Alongside traditional methods such as planting trees, reducing pollution and reintroducing native species, a surprising new tool is emerging: sound. Ecologists can.....»»
Preserving nature"s genetic resources: Wild banana relatives of mainland Southeast Asia reveal hidden diversity
In a new study, researchers have uncovered a wealth of hidden diversity among wild banana species in mainland Southeast Asia. The discovery, which has been published in PLoS ONE, highlights the critical importance of conserving these genetic resource.....»»
Color, color everywhere—mother nature shares a mosaic of bright colors this fall in New England
Cool, crisp weather can trigger the urge to get out and go leaf peeping and this year could be a particularly good year to hit the road and admire New England's spectacular foliage season. According to Steve Roberge, Extension forestry specialist and.....»»
"Who"s a good boy?" Humans use dog-specific voices for better canine comprehension
The voice people use to address their dogs isn't just because of their big puppy eyes. Humans slow their own speech when talking to their dogs, and this slower tempo matches their pets' receptive abilities, allowing the dogs to better understand thei.....»»
New study maps Congo"s bai ecosystems in unprecedented detail
"Tropical rainforest" might conjure images of close-packed trees, dense humidity, and the din of animal calls. But rainforests host landscapes beyond that archetypal one, including vast, treeless clearings that seemingly appear out of nowhere......»»
Scientists highlight overlooked threats to Arctic coasts amid climate change
As climate change rapidly transforms Arctic marine systems, the dramatic image of a polar bear struggling on a melting ice floe has become symbolic of the region's environmental crisis. But scientists argue that coastal Arctic ecosystems are undergoi.....»»
For the first time since 1882, UK will have no coal-fired power plants
A combination of government policy and economics spells the end of UK's coal use. Enlarge / The Ratcliffe-on-Soar plant is set to shut down for good today. (credit: Ashley Cooper) On Monday, the UK will see the closure o.....»»
We’re only beginning to understand the historic nature of Helene’s flooding
How does a region that is nearly 500 miles from the Gulf become devastated by flooding? Enlarge / Hurricane Helene transported moisture from both the Gulf and Atlantic into the southeastern United States. (credit: NOAA).....»»
"Vegetarian" possums eat meat when the weather"s cold
When dead animals are left lying around in nature, who takes advantage of the free feed—carnivores or herbivores? The answer may surprise you......»»