Myth, busted: Formation of Namibia’s fairy circles isn’t due to termites
Plants are "ecosystem engineers" that survive by forming optimal geometric patterns. Enlarge / Drone image of car driving through the NamibRand Nature Reserve, one of the fairy-circle regions in Namibia. (credit: Stephan Getzin).....»»
Researchers reveal the structure of the IFT-B complex, essential for formation of the cilium organelle
Cilia are organelles that provide eukaryotic cells with motility, sensory reception and intracellular transduction of external stimuli. They are constructed and maintained by the bi-directional movement of 22 different proteins that organizes into IF.....»»
Climate reshapes life for tenacious gannets on Quebec isle
On Quebec's Bonaventure Island, the ghosts of human habitation from years past and the birds that breed there now in extraordinary numbers tell the same story: of lives lived hard in a place of fairy-tale beauty......»»
The myth of the "math person"
In the 1970s, Sheila Tobias noticed something peculiar going on in mathematics. In one of her early studies, the graduate of Radcliffe College, self-described "scholar activist," and author of 14 books, including the 1978 bestseller "Overcoming Math.....»»
Study: Termite queen and king are the best parents in the world, until they"re not
Studying the parental behaviors of termites has provided a University of Florida scientist with a rare look into how a queen and king pair push the limits of parenthood......»»
Combining neutrons and X-ray imaging, scientists study meteorites to explore how Earth acquired its water
Each year, hundreds of meteorites—rocky bodies left over from the formation of the solar system—bombard Earth, delivering minerals, metals and water to our planet. Analyzing the crevices and mineral-rich deposits inside meteorites not only reveal.....»»
How magnetism could help explain the Earth-moon system"s formation
There are several theories about how Earth and its moon were formed, most involving a giant impact. Now scientists at the University of Leeds and the University of Chicago have analyzed the dynamics of fluids and electrically conducting fluids and co.....»»
Scientists characterize sea spray particles that form ice crystals in high altitude clouds
While there are several sources of ice forming particles in the atmosphere, sea spray aerosols (SSAs) are recognized as a significant source of ice-nucleating particles (INPs). But what comprises SSAs, how they affect cloud formation, and how they ma.....»»
Study probes physiological mechanism of treeline formation from carbon allocation
Subalpine larch (Larix chinensis) is an endemic coniferous tree distributed above 3,100 m above sea level and forms treeline ecotone at the elevation of 3,450 m above sea level in the Qinling Mountains of north-central China. However, two prevailing.....»»
New maps of ancient warming reveal strong response to carbon dioxide
Past warming hints at rising sensitivity to CO2, widespread changes in rainfall. Enlarge / Global map of rainfall change due to warming 56 million years ago: green = wetter, brown = drier. Circles show where geological data show it bec.....»»
Astronomers find cosmic rays driving galaxy"s winds
Astronomers using the National Science Foundation's Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) have discovered an important new clue about how galaxies put the brakes on vigorous episodes of star formation. Their new study of the neighboring galaxy M33 in.....»»
Discovery of redundant protein functions raises questions about the evolution of the nervous system
Five proteins share important roles in the formation and function of synapses and can substitute for each other. This discovery was made by a team of the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences Krems (KL Krems) and the CavX Ph.D. program of th.....»»
New Webb images illuminate the formation of a galaxy cluster
Webb's hardware tells us how fast material is moving. Enlarge / Separating out different wavelengths of light lets us track the movement of material toward and away from Earth. (credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI) A team of researc.....»»
Fairy tales are salient for teaching primary students about social justice and emotional intelligence, study finds
From Little Red Riding Hood to the Ugly Duckling, fairy tales have long been read to children across the ages. Yet despite criticisms of being outdated and sexist, new research shows that fairy tales still hold an important place in primary education.....»»
Plastic recycling remains a "myth": Greenpeace study
Plastic recycling rates are declining even as production shoots up, according to a Greenpeace U.S. report out Monday that blasted industry claims of creating an efficient, circular economy as "fiction.".....»»
There’s a reason you love Scandinavian design so much
The Nordic countries’ indelible influence on design is part style, part myth, part marketing. It’s almost taken for granted in the United States that Scandinavian design is just better. Simple, functional, and minimalist, Scandinavian.....»»
Myth, busted: Formation of Namibia’s fairy circles isn’t due to termites
Plants are "ecosystem engineers" that survive by forming optimal geometric patterns. Enlarge / Drone image of car driving through the NamibRand Nature Reserve, one of the fairy-circle regions in Namibia. (credit: Stephan Getzin).....»»
Secrets of Namibia"s fairy circles demystified: Plants self-organize
Scientists have puzzled over the origin of Namibia's fairy circles for nearly half a century. It boiled down to two main theories: either termites were responsible, or plants were somehow self-organizing. Now, researchers from the University of Gött.....»»
Busting the anti-work myth: Most people actually like their bosses
Do you work for a five-star boss? If quiet quitting—a demonstration of work-to-rule where employees do no more than the minimum work required by their contract—is really a thing, I'd expect more employees to be vocal about disliking their bosses......»»
Despite the myth, deer are not an ecological substitute for moa and should be part of NZ"s predator-free plan
The impact of deer on Aotearoa New Zealand's natural environment is never far from the headlines. Most recently, the Southland Conservation Board highlighted the damage the introduced species was doing to native forest on Rakiura Stewart Island......»»
Why some fairy-wrens can be more "aggressive" in the wild
Contrary to their pretty name and appearance, some Australian superb fairy-wrens can be "aggressive" in the wild—which may be important for their survival......»»