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).....»»
Discovery about how porphyry-type copper deposits form could be crucial to "green economy"
Scientists have made a fascinating new discovery about the formation of mineral deposits crucial to our transition to a 'green economy'......»»
Small sulfate aerosol may have masked effects of climate change in 1970s
Small sulfate particles of diameters 0.4 µm or less from anthropogenic sources could have had a cooling effect on the climate in the 1970s, by triggering cloud formation and reflection radiation......»»
Astronomers are captivated by brightest flash ever seen
Astronomers have observed the brightest flash of light ever seen, from an event that occurred 2.4 billion light years from Earth and was likely triggered by the formation of a black hole......»»
"Eureka moments" in science are a myth according to new ebook
"Creativity for Scientists and Engineers: A practical guide" explores how scientists can enrich their individual and collective creativity, and so generate more, and better, ideas......»»
Webb captures truly strange set of rings built by massive stars
Over the past 120 years, stellar winds have built concentric circles of dust. Enlarge (credit: Image courtesy of University of Sydney) Today, Nature Astronomy released a paper that shows off the sorts of science the Webb Teles.....»»
Seed burial by wind is most difficult on a substrate consisting mainly of medium-sized particles, researchers say
A soil seed bank provides diaspores for plant population recruitment and is vital for species diversity maintenance and plant community assembly. The formation of a soil seed bank involves three key processes: seed dispersal, seed settlement and seed.....»»
Decoding how plants survive drought
National University of Singapore biologists have revealed how plants suppress the formation of stomata, the microscopic pores on their surface, to limit water loss during drought conditions......»»
Metal-organic frameworks behave like enzymes in catalysis
The construction of substrate-specific nanopockets in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with allosteric effects has been demonstrated to facilitate the formation of the transition state in catalytic reactions, as enzymes do......»»
How the new Dell XPS 13 spectacularly undercuts the MacBook Air
The M1 MacBook Air has been running circles around Windows laptops, but the XPS 13 just may have found a way to compete......»»
A 44-year perspective study: How money brings hunter-gatherers new choices
If you visit the Ju/'hoansi people of northeast Namibia and northwest Botswana, you will see families that make a living from a mixture of foraging, government aid, selling crafts and other ventures. Most people have some monetary income used to buy.....»»
Some everyday materials have memories, and now they can be erased
Some solid materials have a memory of how they have previously been stretched out, which impacts how they respond to these kinds of deformations in the future. A new Penn State study lends insight into memory formation in the foams and emulsions comm.....»»
Mechanical sensors help coordinate cell organization during eye development
In a surprising discovery with important implications for developmental biology and regenerative medicine, RIKEN biologists have learned how mechanical forces guide the formation of the eyes in chick embryos. Their research is published in Science Ad.....»»
Coronavirus formation is successfully modeled
A physicist at the University of California, Riverside, and her former graduate student have successfully modeled the formation of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that spreads COVID-19, for the first time......»»
Researchers identify mechanism responsible for temperature and salinity "staircases" in Arctic Ocean
Researchers at the University of Toronto have identified the mechanism responsible for the formation of temperature and salinity "staircases" in the Arctic Ocean, resolving a mystery that has confounded oceanographers and climatologists alike for mor.....»»
Extra Hard Space Diamonds May Have Formed in an Ancient Cosmic Collision
A new formation method for rare “lonsdaleite” diamonds may illuminate a better way to produce them on Earth.....»»
Termites love global warming, the pace of their wood munching gets significantly faster in hotter weather
When we consider termites, we may think of the danger they can pose to our houses once they settle in and start eating wood. But in fact, only about 4% of termite species worldwide are considered pests that might, at some point, eat your house......»»
Termites may have a larger role in future ecosystems
Most people think termites are a nuisance that consume wood in homes and businesses. But, these termites represent less than 4 percent of all termite species worldwide......»»
No evidence that dehorning black rhinos negatively impacts the species" reproduction or survival, study finds
There are no statistically significant differences in key factors of population growth—breeding, birth, survival, life span and death—between dehorned or horned black rhinos new research, conducted by the University of Bristol Vet School, Namibia.....»»
House of Darkness’ Neil LaBute on revitalizing the Dracula myth with his latest movie
In an interview with Digital Trends, director Neil LaBute and actress Gia Crovatin talk about their post #MeToo Dracula horror film, House of Darkness......»»
The medicine of ants: Rescue and treatment of injured individuals
The African Matabele ant (Megaponera analis) lives dangerously when hunting able-bodied termites. However, the animals do not simply give up their wounded. Depending on the degree of injury, they rescue and treat them. Injured individuals decide for.....»»