In many major crop regions, workers plant and harvest in spiraling heat and humidity
A global study of major crops has found that farmworkers are being increasingly exposed to combinations of extreme heat and humidity during planting and harvest seasons that can make it hard for them to function. Such conditions have nearly doubled a.....»»
HomeKit Weekly: Aqara unveils a new valve controller to help prevent major water damage during leaks
Smart home products have come a long way, but one area often overlooked is water management. Aqara’s newly launched is changing that by turning your existing water valves into smart components of your home. Originally announced at IFA 2024, this re.....»»
Grapevine protein resembles animal ion transport function, researchers discover
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have discovered that a protein which mediates the transport of alkali metal ions, such as potassium, and halide ions across plant membranes acts similarly to a protein found in animals......»»
Intense ribbons of rain also bring the heat, scientists say
The environmental threat posed by atmospheric rivers—long, narrow ribbons of water vapor in the sky—doesn't come only in the form of concentrated, torrential downpours and severe flooding characteristic of these natural phenomena. According to a.....»»
Growing safer spuds: Removing toxins from potatoes
Scientists have discovered a way to remove toxic compounds from potatoes, making them safer to eat and easier to store. The breakthrough could cut food waste and enhance crop farming in space and other extreme environments......»»
Gateway: Wired for deep space
A maze of cables and sensors snakes through a major piece of Gateway, humanity's first space station around the moon, during a key testing phase earlier this year to ensure the lunar-orbiting science lab can withstand the harsh conditions of deep spa.....»»
Report identifies UK regions with largest disability employment gap
The five areas in Great Britain where disabled people are least likely to be in employment compared with non-disabled people have been revealed in a new report from the University of Sheffield......»»
AI is becoming the weapon of choice for cybercriminals
AI changes how organizations look at cybersecurity GenAI is compromising security while promising efficiency This article highlights key findings from 2024 reports on AI and GenAI technologies, focusing on their potential and major challenges. Overre.....»»
ChatGPT for macOS now works with Apple Notes and more third-party apps
OpenAI last month announced a major update to the macOS ChatGPT app, which gained the ability to read on-screen content in certain apps. The company is now rolling out an update that expands support for Apple Notes and even more third-party apps......»»
Amazon faces holiday strike after refusing to bargain with warehouse workers
Amazon downplaying what workers declared is “largest strike” ever in the US. Amazon workers at seven warehouses walked out Thursday morning, launching a strike ahead of the ho.....»»
Evolutionary study reveals toxic reach of disease-causing bacteria across plant kingdom
The capacity of bacteria to spread disease across the plant kingdom may be much more widespread than previously suspected, according to new analysis......»»
More than 1,300 Hajj pilgrims died this year when humidity and heat pushed past survivable limits—it"s just the start
Every year, hundreds of thousands of Muslims undertake the Hajj—the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca. In 2024, the pilgrimage took place in mid-June, the start of the Saudi summer......»»
A lack of childcare keeps the gender pay gap wider than it should be
Although the gender pay gap is not as big as it used to be, women still earn less than men. In the UK, it currently stands at 7% for full-time workers......»»
Prototype sunscreen uses TiO₂ nanoparticles to cool skin while blocking UV rays
Wearing sunscreen is important to protect your skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation but doesn't cool people off. However, a new formula, described in Nano Letters, protects against both UV light and heat from the sun using radiative cooling......»»
NASA payload aims to probe moon"s depths to study heat flow
Earth's nearest neighboring body in the solar system is its moon, yet to date, humans have physically explored just 5% of its surface. It wasn't until 2023—building on Apollo-era data and more detailed studies made in 2011–2012 by NASA's automate.....»»
Top 10 plant and fungal species named new to science in 2024
Scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and their partners reveal their pick of the top 10 plants and fungi named new to science in 2024......»»
Amazon’s RTO delays exemplify why workers get so mad about mandates
Amazon lacks space to accommodate its entire workforce. Amazon announced in September that it will require workers to be in the office five days a week starting in January. Emplo.....»»
iOS 18.2 gives Apple Mail its biggest redesign ever, here’s everything new
iOS 18.2 is a huge release for users. New Apple Intelligence features are a major highlight, but so too is the Mail app, which gets its biggest redesign ever. Here’s everything that’s new. more….....»»
Boomerang workers: helpful returnees or resented colleagues?
While movement from job to job throughout one's career is expected, little research has evaluated the effects of hiring boomerang workers—those who return to a former employer. A new study by a University of California, Davis, researcher and collea.....»»
Aerosols could be weakening summertime circulation in the Northern Hemisphere
Over the past several decades, summer jet streams (or west to east wind flow) and weather systems in the Northern Hemisphere have weakened. Projections suggest the trend will continue, which could make extreme heat events more likely and affect air q.....»»
Astonishing 32TB hard drive uses lasers to heat and cool platters within a nanosecond
Seagate is finally offering its largest-ever hard drive – a staggering 32TB in a single drive, made possible by tech which uses lasers to heat and cool tiny sections of a platter in a nanosecond … more….....»»