How "sleeping" microorganisms can determine the fate of a population
Microorganisms that temporarily "go to sleep" play an important role in the evolution and survival of a population. Mathematician Shubhamoy Nandan conducted research on the effect of this characteristic called "dormancy" in a novel mathematical model.....»»
First-of-its-kind study shows Florida Wildlife Corridor eases worst impacts of climate change
From rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns to intense weather events such as hurricanes, Florida is experiencing significant climate-related challenges in tandem with skyrocketing insurance rates. As the state's population continues.....»»
I reviewed a pair of tiny earbuds that helped me sleep better
Trouble sleeping? The tiny, sleep-friendly Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds could help. We've tried them out......»»
Sleeping more flushes junk out of the brain
Rhythmic activity during sleep may get fluids in the brain moving. Enlarge (credit: OsakaWayne Studios) As if we didn’t have enough reasons to get at least eight hours of sleep, there is now one more. Neurons are still.....»»
Study finds link between ecosystem multifunctionality and microbial community features
Ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) is the ability of an ecosystem to provide multiple functions simultaneously. Microorganisms are proxies for soil communities and possess diverse functional traits that support multiple ecosystem functions. However,.....»»
Where have all the right whales gone? Researchers map population density to make predictions
Marine researchers have mapped the density of one of the most endangered large whale species worldwide, the North Atlantic right whale, using newly analyzed data to predict and help avoid whales' harmful, even fatal, exposure to commercial fishing an.....»»
Australia"s secret history of Aboriginal population control in the 1960s
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article may contain images of deceased people. It contains mentions of the Stolen Generations, and policies using outdated and potentially offensive terminology when referring to First Na.....»»
Microbial food as a food production strategy of the future
The global food crisis is increasing due to rapid population growth and declining food productivity from climate change. Moreover, today's food production and supply system emits a huge amount of carbon dioxide, reaching 30% of the total amount emitt.....»»
New study reveals novel approach for combating "resting" bacteria
Most disease-causing bacteria are known for their speed: In mere minutes, they can double their population, quickly making a person sick. But just as dangerous as this rapid growth can be a bacterium's resting state, which helps the pathogen evade an.....»»
Study on climate-damaging palm oil production in Indonesia shows push for industrialization
Understanding governments' motives is crucial to strengthening climate action. Indonesia, the world's fourth largest country by population, has the biggest rainforests after Brazil and the Congo Basin. But it has cleared huge areas in the past 20 yea.....»»
Experts determine best way to breed frogs in captivity
Frogs belong to a group of animals called amphibians—the most endangered group of species on the planet. Two out of every five amphibian species are currently threatened with extinction, and this figure is rising......»»
New protein imaging method supports the design of innovative new cancer drugs
Scientists have successfully used a new imaging technique to determine the structure and interactions of a protein complex that plays a significant part in the initiation and progression of cancer. They showed that it was possible to use a high-resol.....»»
Researchers discover how we perceive bitter taste
Humans can sense five different tastes: sour, sweet, umami, bitter, and salty, using specialized sensors on our tongues called taste receptors. Other than allowing us to enjoy delicious foods, the sensation of taste allows us to determine the chemica.....»»
Clovis people may have also used Clovis points to butcher animals
A team of archaeologists and anthropologists from multiple institutions in the U.S. has found evidence that the Clovis, an early North American population, may have used so-called Clovis points for more than spearpoints—they may have also used them.....»»
As fish deaths increase at pumps, critics urge California agencies to improve protections
Powerful pumps that supply much of California's population with water have killed several thousand threatened and endangered fish this year, prompting a coalition of environmental groups to demand that state and federal agencies take immediate steps.....»»
EU investigating Apple’s response to Spotify complaint [U]
The European Union is investigating Apple’s response to a Spotify complaint, to determine whether the anti-steering changes made by the Cupertino company are sufficient to comply. Update: GamesFray had suggested that this amounted to a fourth DM.....»»
eDNA methods give a real-time look at coral reef health
The human gut is full of microbes. Some microbes can make people sick, while others are responsible for balancing gut health. But humans aren't the only species whose health depends on these microorganisms. Coral reef ecosystems rely on microorganism.....»»
How NASA"s Roman Telescope will measure the ages of stars
Guessing your age might be a popular carnival game, but for astronomers it's a real challenge to determine the ages of stars. Once a star like our sun has settled into steady nuclear fusion, or the mature phase of its life, it changes little for bill.....»»
Q&A: The impact of China"s rapidly aging society
Due to its economic growth and large population, the People's Republic of China is widely viewed as a rising economic and military superpower. But declining fertility rates and increased life expectancies over the last few decades have conspired to m.....»»
Africa"s carbon sink capacity is shrinking
The population of Africa, the second-largest continent in the world, currently sits at about 1.4 billion, but is set to exceed 2 billion by 2040. This means greater swaths of land than ever before are being used for agriculture, and livestock numbers.....»»
Viewpoint: Kenya"s wildlife conservancies make old men rich, while making women and young people poorer
Kenya once had an exceptional abundance and diversity of wildlife. But as the country's population boomed, wildlife lost space to people, buildings, roads and agriculture......»»