How many ants are on Earth? 20 quadrillion, study says
There are at least 20 quadrillion ants on Earth, according to a new study that says even that staggering figure likely underestimates the total population of the insects, which are an essential part of ecosystems around the world......»»
What happened when NASA simulated an asteroid hitting Earth
NASA ran the world's most dramatic roleplay, simulating what would happen if a dangerous asteroid were spotted on a collision course with the planet......»»
An efficient protein delivery system with spider minor ampullate silk protein nanoparticles
In a study published in the journal MedComm, researchers have developed an efficient protein delivery carrier based on spider silk proteins (spidroins), derived from Araneus ventricosus minor ampullate silk protein (MiSp). The MiSp-based nanoparticle.....»»
Wild yeasts from Patagonia could yield new flavors of lagers: Genetic mutations enhance alcohol production
New strains of yeast for brewing lager beers, created by hybridizing wild strains of yeast from Patagonia with brewer's yeast, can yield novel flavors and aromas, reports a new study by Jennifer Molinet and Francisco Cubillos of the Universidad de Sa.....»»
Behavioral and computational study shows that social preferences can be inferred from decision speed alone
Researchers led by Sophie Bavard at the University of Hamburg, Germany, found that people can infer hidden social preferences by observing how fast others make social decisions......»»
Study finds plants store carbon for shorter periods than thought
The carbon stored globally by plants is shorter-lived and more vulnerable to climate change than previously thought, according to a new study......»»
Wild chimpanzees seek out medicinal plants to treat illness and injuries, study finds
Chimpanzees appear to consume plants with medicinal properties to treat their ailments, according to a study published on June 20 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Elodie Freymann from the University of Oxford, UK, and colleagues......»»
Insecticides contribute to drop in butterfly species across US MidWest: Study
Insecticide use is a major factor causing a decrease in the size and diversity of butterfly populations across the US Midwest, reports Braeden Van Deynze of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and colleagues in a study published June 20 in.....»»
Spectroscopic technique that singles out water molecules lying on the surface reveals how they relax after being excited
A more complete picture of how excited water molecules at an interface with air lose their energy has been uncovered by RIKEN scientists in a study published in the journal Nature Communications. This finding will be valuable for better understanding.....»»
Why scientists are intrigued by air in NASA"s Mars sample tubes
Atmospheric scientists get a little more excited with every rock core NASA's Perseverance Mars rover seals in its titanium sample tubes, which are being gathered for eventual delivery to Earth as part of the Mars Sample Return campaign. Twenty-four h.....»»
UK"s rarest rainforest beetles go on multi-day "adventures"
A new study delving into the lives of one of the UK's rarest beetles shows them to be athletes and adventurers—sometimes traveling the scaled-up equivalent of several kilometers a night in search of food and mates......»»
Climate change accelerates emergence of insects, study shows
Researchers at La Trobe University's Center for Freshwater Ecosystems have exposed the hidden consequences of climate change on Alpine stream ecosystems, which could see an earlier emergence of insects......»»
Citizen scientists gather eDNA in water samples for global biodiversity census
Kara Andres, a postdoctoral fellow with the Living Earth Collaborative at Washington University in St. Louis, collected samples of water from Simpson Lake, in Valley Park, Mo., as part of a coordinated global effort to use environmental DNA—genetic.....»»
Defunct satellites burning up in the atmosphere could damage the ozone layer
Communications companies such as Starlink plan to launch tens of thousands of satellites into orbit around Earth over the next decade or so. The growing swarm is already causing problems for astronomers, but recent research has raised another questio.....»»
Study uncovers genetic key to overcoming water stress in cucumbers
Waterlogged conditions, a consequence of heavy rainfall or inadequate drainage, disproportionately affect crops with delicate root systems like cucumbers. These conditions not only impede root respiration and plant development but also threaten agric.....»»
Groundbreaking discovery: How researchers found remnants of Earth"s primordial crust near Perth
Our planet was born around 4.5 billion years ago. To understand this mind-bendingly long history, we need to study rocks and the minerals they are made of......»»
Gravesite in France offers evidence of steppe migrant integration with Late Neolithic Europeans
A team of geneticists and archaeologists affiliated with multiple institutions in France has uncovered skeletons in an ancient gravesite not far from Paris that show evidence of steppe migrant integration with Late Neolithic Europeans. The study is p.....»»
First conclusive video evidence that a terrestrial leech species can jump
A new study presents video evidence that at least one species of terrestrial leech can jump, behavior that scientists have debated for more than a century. Researchers from the American Museum of Natural History, Fordham University, and City Universi.....»»
High-temperature superconductivity: Exploring quadratic electron-phonon coupling
A new study published in Physical Review Letters (PRL) explores the potential of quadratic electron-phonon coupling to enhance superconductivity through the formation of quantum bipolarons......»»
Study reveals molecular mechanisms of somatostatin receptor 5 activation by neuropeptides and drugs
Somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) constitute a crucial family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that play pivotal roles in regulating hormone secretion and inhibiting tumor growth......»»
Electric fields boost graphene"s potential, study shows
Researchers at the National Graphene Institute have made a discovery that could revolutionize energy harnessing and information computing. Their study, published in Nature, reveals how electric field effects can selectively accelerate coupled electro.....»»