How "ice needles" weave patterns of stones in frozen landscapes
Nature is full of repeating patterns that are part of the beauty of our world. An international team, including a researcher from the University of Washington, used modern tools to explain repeating patterns of stones that form in cold landscapes......»»
Study finds flower patterns make bumblebees more efficient
The search for nectar costs insects a lot of energy, so they have to be as efficient as possible. Colorful patterns on the petals can help with that......»»
New report shows alarming changes in the entire global water cycle
In 2022, a third La Niña year brought much rain to Australia and Southeast Asia and dry conditions to the other side of the Pacific. These patterns were expected, but behind these variations there are troubling signs the entire global water cycle is.....»»
Machine learning method improves cell identity understanding
When genes are activated and expressed, they show patterns in cells that are similar in type and function across tissues and organs. Discovering these patterns improves our understanding of cells—which has implications for unveiling disease mechani.....»»
Landscapes need a diversity of flower colors to maximize therapeutic benefits, according to research
In a new article, the Department of Landscape Architecture's Professor Ross Cameron and Ph.D. student Liwen Zhang describe their study, "Flowers—Sunshine for the soul! How does floral color influence preference, feelings of relaxation and positive.....»»
Continued record-breaking ocean temperatures seen again in 2022
Continued record-breaking ocean temperatures with increasing stratification and changes in water salinity patterns give insight into what the future holds amidst a perpetually heating climate......»»
Is "fear" driving bias in environmental scholarship?
Scientists understand that fear of predation affects animal behavior within landscapes. Now, Yale School of the Environment researchers are using a similar hypothesis—which they are calling "social-ecological landscapes of fear"—to outline the de.....»»
NASA"s retired Compton mission reveals superheavy neutron stars
Astronomers studying archival observations of powerful explosions called short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have detected light patterns indicating the brief existence of a superheavy neutron star shortly before it collapsed into a black hole. This fleeti.....»»
Spring sunny heat waves caused record snow melt in 2021, adding to severe water supply impacts across the Western US
Snow-capped mountains aren't just scenic—they also provide natural water storage by creating reservoirs of frozen water that slowly melt into watersheds throughout the spring and summer months. Much of the Western U.S. relies on this process to ren.....»»
Elephants are creatures of habit when it comes to finding food
Elephants are remarkably consistent in their seasonal movement patterns across multiple years, according to research by Bangor University zoologist and lecturer Dr. Rhea Burton-Roberts. Rhea's findings, published in Scientific Reports, show that elep.....»»
Climate change could cause "disaster" in the world"s oceans, say scientists
Climate-driven heating of seawater is causing a slowdown of deep circulation patterns in the Atlantic and Southern oceans, according to Earth system scientists at the University of California, Irvine, and if this process continues, the ocean's abilit.....»»
Skimming stones? Try a heavier, curvier rock, scientists say
Want to make an impression the next time you're trying to skim a stone off water? Ignore the usual thin, flat candidates and try a fatter, curvier rock to get the biggest possible bounce, scientists said Wednesday......»»
Research shows how historic landscapes shape biodiversity and its protection
Researchers have shown how historic estates, such as Castle Howard and Duncombe Park, have helped shape biodiversity and the role they continue to play in the protection of nature......»»
Old trees could become renewable fuels this Christmas
A new paper, published in the ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering journal, found that pine needles could be used to produce renewable fuels and value-added chemicals, such as preservatives used in agriculture, using only water as a solvent......»»
Fraudsters’ working patterns have changed in recent years
Less sophisticated fraud — in which doctored identity documents are readily spotted — has jumped 37% in 2022, according to Onfido. Fraudsters can scale these attacks on an organization’s systems around the clock. It is estimated that the curren.....»»
Animals found to encounter each other more often when living closer to humans
Human presence and influence on landscapes change the way other animals interact by bringing them close together more frequently than happens in wilder places......»»
Uneven wetting under climate change is causing diverse variations in the thawing of frozen ground on the Tibetan Plateau
The Tibetan Plateau has experienced prominent warming and wetting since the mid-1990s that has altered the thermal and hydrological properties of its frozen ground. In a new study, published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, scientists used the Co.....»»
Direct observation of the electron and positron capture process
Positrons are anti-particles of electrons. At SuperKEKB B-Factory (SuperKEKB), they are produced in copious amounts and smashed into electrons at world-record luminosity. By studying the hundreds of decay patterns of B mesons and anti B mesons in the.....»»
Learning from habitat "haves" to help save a threatened rattlesnake
Comparing the genetics and relocation patterns of habitat "haves" and "have-nots" among two populations of threatened rattlesnakes has produced a new way to use scientific landscape data to guide conservation planning that would give the "have-nots".....»»
40-year study finds mysterious patterns in temperatures at Jupiter
Based partly on data from generations of NASA missions, including NASA's Voyager and Cassini, the work could help scientists determine how to predict weather on Jupiter......»»
Catching up to climate change by tracking big-picture patterns
If plants were a bit more ambulatory, Peter Adler and Michael Stemkovski might find their work to be a bit less urgent. If whenever the weather got too hot or dry, crested wheatgrass, yellow rabbitbrush and silvery groves of quaking aspen could choos.....»»