Nature"s checkup: Surveying biodiversity with environmental DNA sequencing
A thousand kilometers south of Tokyo, far into the largest ocean on Earth, lies a chain of small, volcanic islands—the Ogasawara Islands. Nature has been able to develop on its own terms here, far from both humans and the warm Kuroshio current, whi.....»»
Rainforest protection reduces the number of respiratory diseases, research suggests
Rainforest protection is not only good for biodiversity and the climate—it also noticeably improves the health of humans who live in the corresponding regions. This is the conclusion drawn by a current study by the University of Bonn and the Univer.....»»
Biodiversity in the city: Designing urban spaces for humans and animals
Animals and plants also live and thrive on public squares. This creates opportunities for greater biodiversity and well-being for the human population. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have studied at 103 locations in Munich ho.....»»
Nature pays price for war in Israel"s north
Across northern Israel's lush, green nature reserves, the ecological toll of the war between Israel and Hezbollah militants is laid bare: wild boar hit by shrapnel, trees reduced to ashes and swathes of charred vegetation......»»
Discovery of 2,586 orphan genes in Rosa chinensis reveals stress adaptation and flower development
Orphan genes, found only in specific lineages, are key drivers of new functions and phenotypic traits. This discovery lays a foundation for understanding how roses thrive under environmental challenges......»»
Apple tops list of retailers for removal of hazardous chemicals from stores
Apple's environmental credentials have been praised, as it has scored the highest among retailers in the U.S. and Canada for removing hazardous chemicals and plastics.Apple logo in trees - Image credit: AppleThe 2024 Retailer Report Card from Toxic-F.....»»
CMS develops new AI algorithm to detect anomalies at the Large Hadron Collider
In the quest to uncover the fundamental particles and forces of nature, one of the critical challenges facing high-energy experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is ensuring the quality of the vast amounts of data collected. To do this, data q.....»»
Researchers call for recognition of tire particles as a distinct environmental threat
A new study led by an international team of scientists highlights tire particles (TPs) as the leading contributor to microplastics and calls for urgent, targeted research to address their unique environmental and health risks......»»
Ocean warming and acidification threaten key ocean plankton groups, study warns
According to a recent study published in Nature, many planktonic foraminifera species may face unprecedented environmental conditions by the end of this century, potentially surpassing their survival thresholds. Planktonic foraminifera are single-cel.....»»
NZ"s food manufacturers are embracing the idea of a circular economy but are slow to implement it
Around the world, the growth of industry and consumption has escalated environmental damage through increased emissions, waste and pollution from landfills......»»
Prime time for cicadas: What a once-in-1,547-year bug population surge tells us about the nature of reality
It's a big year in America—for wildlife as well as for politics. I'm talking about periodical cicadas......»»
Fine-tuning ion exchange membranes for better energy storage
Researchers at Imperial College London, supported by colleagues at a range of other institutions, have published a study in Nature that will help fine-tune a new class of ion exchange membranes. The results should make it possible to build longer las.....»»
Scientists develop a phase-transformable membrane for efficient gas separation
Industrial gas separation, essential for clean energy and environmental protection, demands efficiency and adaptability. Current materials, however, lack the flexibility to selectively separate gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2) while.....»»
Archaeologists find ancient cheese makers used tree leaves to boost milk production
A study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution sheds light on the innovative practices of Central Europe's early cheese makers......»»
New type of weather radiosonde can find its way back to where it was launched
Some 80% of weather radiosondes—remote measurement instruments containing plastic, batteries and electronic parts—end up lost in nature after one flight. But a startup created by an EPFL master's student is set to change that with a new, ultra-li.....»»
Solving the bottleneck of conifer propagation: A molecular approach
Conifers are foundational to ecosystems globally, providing critical environmental and economic value. Yet, their long life cycles slow traditional breeding methods, positioning somatic embryogenesis (SE) as a more effective option for rapid propagat.....»»
New CRISPR system for gene silencing doesn"t rely on cutting DNA
Scientists from Vilnius University's (VU) Life Sciences Center (LSC) have discovered a unique way for cells to silence specific genes without cutting DNA. This research, led by Prof. Patrick Pausch and published in the journal Nature Communications,.....»»
New AI model improves prediction power for genomics related to disease
To understand the workings of DNA in relation to disease, scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed the first multimodal deep learning model of its kind, EPBDxDNABERT-2, capable of ascertaining the precise relationship between trans.....»»
Satellite data analysis shows wildland-urban interface areas have grown by 35% over past two decades
A trio of environmental scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, working with a colleague from China's Ministry of Education, has found evidence via satellite analysis that global.....»»
Microbial-based plastic shows potential for replacing PET bottles
Currently, the world is suffering from environmental problems caused by plastic waste. A KAIST research team has succeeded in producing a microbial-based plastic that is biodegradable and can replace existing PET bottles......»»
New DNA evidence rewrites long-told stories of people in ancient Pompeii
When a volcanic eruption buried the ancient city of Pompeii, the last desperate moments of its citizens were preserved in stone for centuries......»»