New insights on how bird flu crosses the species barrier
In recent years, public health measures, surveillance, and vaccination have helped bring about significant progress in reducing the impact of seasonal flu epidemics, caused by human influenza viruses A and B. However, a possible outbreak of avian inf.....»»
Genetic tracing at the Huanan Seafood market further supports COVID animal origins
A new international collaborative study provides a list of the wildlife species present at the market from which SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, most likely arose in late 2019. The study is based on a new analysis of meta.....»»
Scientists can now predict catastrophic river shifts that threaten millions worldwide
Indiana University researchers have uncovered key insights into the dangerous phenomenon of "river avulsion," offering a way to predict when and where rivers may suddenly and dramatically change course. Published in Nature, this breakthrough study sh.....»»
Moderate levels of exotic species invasions may help maintain biodiversity, study suggests
Globally, more than 13,000 plant species, equivalent to the entire native flora of Europe, have been naturalized outside their native ranges. A study, jointly conducted by scientists from China and the U.S., provides new insights about biodiversity,.....»»
New computational insights use Marcus theory to unlock the potential of photocatalysis
Dr. Albert Solé-Daura and Prof. Feliu Maseras have explored the application of the Marcus theory, traditionally used to model electron transfer, to estimate the free-energy barriers underlying energy transfer (EnT) processes. These results support t.....»»
Observations provide crucial insights into the nature of a white dwarf–brown dwarf binary
Using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), astronomers have performed spectrophotometric observations of an eclipsing white dwarf–brown dwarf binary known as WD1032+011. Results of their observational campaign, published September 10 on the preprint s.....»»
New technique zeros in on the genes that snakes use to produce venom
Only about 10% of the world's roughly 4,000 snake species have venom strong enough to seriously hurt a human, but that's enough for snake bites to be an important public health concern. To help better understand how snakes make their venom and how ve.....»»
Study identifies possible novel species in fish genus endemic to Neotropics
With 84 species currently described, Characidium may be the most diverse fish genus known to science. This is the conclusion reached by Brazilian scientists after analyzing more than 4,400 specimens of this genus of South American darters endemic to.....»»
Oh good, a new species of ‘horror wasp’ is invading the US
Oh good, a new species of ‘horror wasp’ is invading the US.....»»
Another new wasp species discovered by researchers
A newly identified wasp species, Chrysonotomyia susbelli, has been discovered in Houston, Texas, marking the 18th new species identified by Rice University's Scott Egan and his research team since 2014. The discovery, the fourth wasp species found on.....»»
Scientists have found evidence of past extreme solar storms—they could be disastrous for technology-based society
In September 1859, the same year that Darwin published "On the Origin of Species," telegraph systems across Europe and North America stopped working and started sparking, leading to fires in some cases......»»
"Emergency" declared over falling UK butterfly numbers
Conservationists on Wednesday voiced concern at a fall in the number of butterflies found in the UK, declaring a "butterfly emergency" and calling for greater protections for under-threat species......»»
Which plant species will survive the global change challenge?
In a temperate montane forest in southern Québec, all is quiet. But if you dig a little deeper, you'll see the landscape has a story to tell. Waterloo plant ecologist Dr. Julie Messier, alongside her collaborators from Sherbrooke, is uncovering vita.....»»
Walking the trees: Researchers trace how First Nations groups moved bunya pine and black bean trees
For millennia, Indigenous knowledge holders have passed down lore to the next generation. Much lore describes the relationships between people and Country, including custodial responsibilities to care for other species as kin......»»
Hybrid Chickadees Reveal How Species Boundaries Can Shift and Blur
When different chickadee species meet, they sometimes choose each other as mates—with surprising results.....»»
Public attention on the invasive lionfish helps monitor its ecological impact in real time
A new study from the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) has demonstrated that public interest in the lionfish (Pterois miles), an invasive species native to the Indo-Pacific, is aiding in monitoring its spread nearly in real time......»»
Q&A: Authors discuss addressing the crisis of species loss
No oncologist would wait for a patient's cancer to spread before treating it. Similarly, waiting to detect the potential loss of a species across all its known habitats means interventions are often too late to turn the tide of extinction, according.....»»
"Scuba-diving" lizards use bubble to breathe underwater and avoid predators
Presenting the world's smallest (and scrappiest) scuba diver: A species of semi-aquatic lizard produces a special bubble over its nostrils to breathe underwater and avoid predators, according to new research from Binghamton University, State Universi.....»»
Computational tool can pinpoint causal relationships from complex biological data
Researchers have developed a tool that provides new insights into cause-and-effect relationships between cells and how these change over time......»»
Analyzing economic activity in a growing city: Insights from 19th century Paris
Researchers have just published their findings on the analysis of economic activities over a century of urban growth in the city of Paris......»»
How crypto bros wrested Flappy Bird from its creator
Decadelong trademark fight culminates in new game hinting at "Web3 innovation." Enlarge / Imagine owning one of those funky birds as an NFT! (credit: Flappy Bird Twitter/X) Fans of ultra-viral mobile gaming hit Flappy Bi.....»»