How "thirsty" trees may make forests more vulnerable to climate change
A new study suggests that increased maple populations may leave forests in western North Carolina more vulnerable to extreme weather conditions like flooding and drought......»»
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.....»»
Getting a grip on quark mixing: Physicists introduce framework to determine amount of mixing between up and down quarks
The quarks that make up the nuclei of all atoms around us are known to "mix": the different types of quark occasionally change into one another. The amounts in which these processes happen are not very well known, though—and the theoretical values.....»»
The dual role of insects in parasitic plant reproduction solves a long-standing botanical mystery
In the dark and moist understories of the subtropical forests of Shimoshima Island in Japan grow parasitic plants that feed on the roots of other plants. They are called Balanophora, and for over a century, the mechanism of their seed dispersal has r.....»»
AI helps researchers dig through old maps to find lost oil and gas wells
Undocumented orphaned wells pose hazards to both the environment and the climate. Scientists are building modern tools to help locate, assess, and pave the way for ultimately plugging these forgotten relics......»»
Stick to current climate change laws, US tells top UN court
The current United Nations framework for fighting climate change should be preserved, the United States told the International Court of Justice, which is working on drafting fresh global legal guidelines......»»
Face ID could big upgrade on the iPhone 17. Here’s what might change
A significant change may be coming to at least one new iPhone: the absence of a notch......»»
Assessing the sustainability of the Pacific walrus population over the next 75 years
The Pacific walrus, a critically important resource for Alaska and Chukotka Native communities, is subject to rapid habitat loss associated with climate change and increasing human activity in the Arctic. New research published in The Journal of Wild.....»»
Looking for work? Your mindset could be hampering your search
Searching for a job can be arduous, particularly amid economic and technological change. A significant obstacle many job seekers face lies in their own restrictive beliefs about securing employment. These sometimes unconscious assumptions can hinder.....»»
Coastal retreat in Alaska is accelerating because of compound climate impacts, researchers warn
The overlapping effects of sea level rise, permafrost thaw subsidence, and erosion may lead to land loss in Arctic coastal regions that dwarfs the land loss from any single one of these climate hazards, scientists say......»»
Children"s toys offer insights into cultural adaptation in Little Ice Age Greenland
A study published in the European Journal of Archaeology by Ph.D. candidate Mathilde Vestergaard Meyer and Dr. Felix Riede explores the contribution of children's toys in coping with environmental change in Greenland during the Little Ice Age......»»
Massive asteroid impacts did not change Earth"s climate in the long term, research finds
Two massive asteroids hit Earth around 35.65 million years ago, but did not lead to any lasting changes in the Earth's climate, according to a study by UCL researchers......»»
ChatGPT may show ads to non-paying users in the future
ChatGPT, OpenAI’s popular chatbot, is free to use despite having a paid version with more features. Currently, even the free version is ad-free, but this may change in the future as the company behind the platform aims to increase its profits......»»
Study finds American and Canadian universities vary widely in preparing future urban planners for climate change
Urban and community planners have a vital role in preparing their cities for climate change. But are the university programs training them for those careers adequately preparing them for climate change in terms of mitigating, adapting to and being re.....»»
Poplar tree study discovers a photosynthesis gene that boosts plant height
A team of scientists have identified a gene in poplar trees that enhances photosynthesis and can boost tree height. The study, "An orphan gene BOOSTER enhances photosynthetic efficiency and plant productivity," is published in Developmental Cell, and.....»»
Q&A: What fossils reveal about ancient Australian forests and fire
Australia's forest ecosystems, renowned for their extraordinary diversity of rare plants and animals, also play a vital role in mitigating climate change by absorbing and storing carbon. However, fossils from these ancient forests are reshaping the u.....»»
Report finds poor local management and climate change amplified Hurricane Helene"s impacts
A new analysis by the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health (UNU-INWEH) reveals alarming statistics about the catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Helene on 26 September 2024. This powerful Category 4 hurricane claimed 2.....»»
The role masculinity is playing in the climate crisis
Now that the COP16 biodiversity and COP29 climate change summits have come to an end, one thing that is glaringly clear—as photos of world leaders notoriously show—is just how much these crucial conferences continue to be dominated by men......»»
Swelling streams—climate change can cause more sediment in high-mountain rivers
Many high-mountain rivers in Asia transport more sediment downstream compared to a few years ago. Changes in sediment levels have a particularly strong impact on agriculture, water quality, flood management, and hydropower generation......»»
Climate warming is reducing rice quality in East Asia, research reveals
Rice is a food staple for billions of people worldwide, with demand doubling over the past 50 years, and is predominantly grown in Asia before being exported globally. This crop is sensitive to weather conditions and, as such, understanding how yield.....»»
Climate researchers find North Atlantic Ocean has a memory of nearly two decades
A research team led by the University of Liverpool has found that the North Atlantic Ocean has a memory of approximately one to two decades, significantly surpassing previous estimates of a few years......»»