New phenomenon: Forest mammals eavesdrop on messy monkeys
Eavesdropping doesn't just belong in the playbooks of police officers and spies. It is also a phenomenon that plays out among animals. Previous studies have shown that certain species, especially birds, listen to each other for warnings of nearby pre.....»»
Wildfire smoke has a silver lining: It can protect vulnerable tree seedlings
Forest scientists at Oregon State University studying tree regeneration have found that wildfire smoke comes with an unexpected benefit: It has a cooling capacity that can make life easier for vulnerable seedlings......»»
Impacts of extreme drought on forest ecosystems reveal species-specific adaptation differences in Northeast China
A recent study from China has shed light on the profound impacts of extreme droughts on forest ecosystems, particularly in water-limited regions. The findings revealed significant differences in how various tree species respond to such stressors......»»
The return of Bladerunner the humpback and Spilt Fin the killer whale—a cautionary tale about seafaring vessels
In the past few days, two well known survivors of the battle between marine mammals and vessels have been spotted in Australian waters. I'm talking about Bladerunner the humpback and Split Fin the killer whale. Both have become famous for the massive.....»»
Social contagion research explores how ant colonies regulate group behaviors
In the world of social creatures, from humans to ants, the spread of behaviors through a group—known as social contagion—is a well-documented phenomenon. This process, driven by social imitation and pressure, causes individuals to adopt behaviors.....»»
Forest carbon storage has declined across much of the Western U.S., likely due to drought and fire
Forests have been embraced as a natural climate solution, due to their ability to soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow, locking it up in their trunks, branches, leaves, and roots. But a new study confirms widespread doubts about th.....»»
A stealth fungus has decimated North American bats, but scientists may be a step closer to treating white-nose syndrome
An invasive fungus that colonizes the skin of hibernating bats with deadly consequences is a stealthy invader that uses multiple strategies to slip into the small mammals' skin cells and quietly manipulate them to aid its own survival. The fungus, wh.....»»
New experiment investigates light-induced Meissner effect in optically driven superconductor
Superconductivity is a fascinating phenomenon, which allows a material to sustain an electrical current without any loss. This collective quantum behavior of matter only appears in certain conductors at temperatures far below ambient......»»
Researchers demonstrate anomalous Brewster effect in metamaterials
The Brewster reflectionless effect stands out as one of the simplest yet pivotal discoveries in manipulating waves. Initial investigations were limited to isotropic materials, but later, thanks to the advent of metamaterials, the phenomenon was found.....»»
Feds who forced Ukrainian investor to sell rocket company backtrack years later
"I hope you now are happy. History will judge all of you guys." Enlarge / Firefly Aerospace's board of directors in the late 2010s: Tom Markusic, Max Polyakov, and Mark Watt. (credit: Firefly) A long, messy affair betwe.....»»
Egg cell maintenance: Long-lived proteins may be essential for fertility
Female mammals—including humans—are born with all of their egg cells. Of a woman's one to two million egg cells, about 400 mature before menopause and can be fertilized. Some egg cells therefore survive for several decades—and need to remain fu.....»»
Features of H5N1 influenza viruses in dairy cows may facilitate infection, transmission in mammals
A series of experiments with highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI H5N1) viruses circulating in infected U.S. dairy cattle found that viruses derived from lactating dairy cattle induced severe disease in mice and ferrets when administered via.....»»
Exploring the possibility of probing fundamental spacetime symmetries via gravitational wave memory
As predicted by the theory of general relativity, the passage of gravitational waves can leave a measurable change in the relative positions of objects. This physical phenomenon, known as gravitational wave memory, could potentially be leveraged to s.....»»
Satellite images show deforestation toll of Indonesia mines
More than 700,000 hectares of forest in Indonesia have been cleared for mining since 2001, including large tracts of primary forest, a new analysis using satellite data has found......»»
Study finds early-onset El Niño means warmer winters in East Asia, and vice versa
The phenomenon known as El Niño can cause abnormal and extreme climate around the world due to it dramatically altering the normal flow of the atmosphere. In Japan, historical data has shown that El Niño years tend to lead to warmer winters. This c.....»»
Pooping on the Moon Is a Messy Business
If humans are to return to the moon, space agencies and governments need to figure out the legal, ethical, and practical dimensions of extraterrestrial waste management......»»
Pregnant fish can also get "baby brain," but not the way that mammals do
New research reveals that pregnancy-related brain impairment is present in live-bearing fish, but instead of affecting learning and memory as expected from similar research on mammals, it appears to have a stronger impact on decision-making and senso.....»»
Clues to mysterious disappearance of North America"s large mammals 50,000 years ago found within ancient bone collagen
50,000 years ago, North America was ruled by megafauna. Lumbering mammoths roamed the tundra, while forests were home to towering mastodons, fierce saber-toothed tigers and enormous wolves. Bison and extraordinarily tall camels moved in herds across.....»»
Chandra X-ray Observatory"s clear, sharp photos help astrophysicist study energetic black holes
When a star is born or dies, or when any other very energetic phenomenon occurs in the universe, it emits X-rays, which are high-energy light particles that aren't visible to the naked eye. These X-rays are the same kind that doctors use to take pict.....»»
Study shows unbalanced air quality improvements can increase forest fires
If we want cleaner air, fewer forest fires, and less severe climate change, a new UC Riverside study shows we must reduce aerosol pollution and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide at the same time......»»
New study unveils how water dynamics slow down at low temperatures
A scientist at the Institute for Molecular Science has published a study that provides insight into the puzzling phenomenon of dynamic slowdown in supercooled water, an essential step toward understanding the glass transition in liquids......»»