Nitrogen found to affect soil invertebrates and insects
Higher levels of nitrogen in the environment (coming from fertilizers and livestock, for example) not only affect plants but also soil invertebrates and insects. The diversity of roundworms declines in areas with high input of nitrogen, and numbers o.....»»
Tardigrades are less cosmopolitan and more diverse than believed, researchers show
Tardigrades are microscopic invertebrates measuring between 0.2 mm and 1.1 mm in length. They are close relatives of arthropods (spiders, insects, crustaceans), and can live in a wide variety of environments. Yet little is known about them......»»
Insect and spider biodiversity increases organic nutrient availability across ecosystems, large-scale study shows
Insects and spiders are important elements in the food webs of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. With declines in their biodiversity, the food supply for birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals is not only becoming scarcer, but also poo.....»»
Compost produced from organic solid waste could replace 21% of industrial fertilizers in urban agriculture
The organic solid waste that citizens deposit in brown recycling bins could currently produce the amount of compost needed to satisfy 8% of the nutrients demanded by urban and peri-urban agriculture, reducing environmental impacts such as soil eutrop.....»»
Why a lot more used EVs are about to become eligible for a tax credit. Older ones are a mixed bag
First-generation EVs have design flaws and technological quirks that render them a mixed bag in terms of value. Late-model-year used vehicles are typically more reliable, though different climates or histories can affect battery health......»»
Availability of parental leave may affect social norms on gender division of childcare
In research published in the British Journal of Social Psychology, investigators have examined the relationship between countries' parental leave policies and young adults' perceptions of social norms for the division of childcare duties between moth.....»»
The Abrams tank built to fight the Soviets appears to be at war on Russian soil
The Abrams tank built to fight the Soviets appears to be at war on Russian soil.....»»
TSMC alerts U.S. to possible AI chip sanctions breach by Huawei
TSMC has advised the U.S. that there was an attempt by Huawei to violate sanctions against China restricting the export of AI chips to China, as the probe that could affect Apple chip production rolls on.Dies on wafers - Image credit: TSMCThe United.....»»
Scientists uncover how transcription drives motion within the genome
A team of scientists has discovered surprising connections among gene activity, genome packing, and genome-wide motions, revealing aspects of the genome's organization that directly affect gene regulation and expression......»»
Nitrogen-fixing plant diversity declines with over-fertilization, study finds
Anthropogenic nitrogen deposition and climate change can reduce the competitive advantage of nitrogen-fixing plants, leading to reduced diversity of these plants in a community. Surprisingly, changes in temperature and aridity do not contribute to th.....»»
Loss of "nitrogen fixers" threatens biodiversity, ecosystems, say biologists
Mississippi State University is part of a European-American collaboration studying how human activities, like fertilizer use and pollution, are impacting nitrogen-fixing plants which are crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems by adding nitrogen t.....»»
Study evaluates overall soil arthropod diversity at different geographic scales
Soil arthropods contribute to terrestrial ecosystem functions and services. Previous studies have mainly focused on specific arthropod and non-arthropod taxonomic groups at various geographic scales. However, the patterns of overall soil arthropod co.....»»
Bumblebee queens choose to hibernate in pesticide-contaminated soil, scientists discover
An alarming discovery from University of Guelph researchers raises concerns for bumblebee health, survival and reproduction. U of G environmental sciences researchers Drs. Nigel Raine and Sabrina Rondeau have found that bumblebee queens are more like.....»»
City microbes surviving on disinfectants, research reveals
New research shows microbes in our cities are evolving to resist the very cleaners we use to eliminate them. It also identifies novel strains living in Hong Kong that were previously only found in Antarctic desert soil......»»
Are you tasty to mosquitoes? Study offers clues into when and why they bite
As mosquitoes and mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue fever spread across the world, researchers say that a key strategy to prevent these illnesses may be dissuading the insects from biting their victims in the first place. But while scientists have.....»»
What is Implicit Bias, and how Might it Affect Your Next Medical Visit?
We talk to Cristina Gonzalez, a physician at New York University, who runs a lab that uses simulations to help medical professionals check their implicit bias at the exam room door......»»
FCC Republican opposes regulation of data caps with analogy to coffee refills
Republican commissioner: You wouldn't require free coffee refills, would you? The Federal Communications Commission is taking a closer look at how broadband data caps affect consu.....»»
Arthropods dominate plant litter decomposition in drylands
Researchers have shown that larger insects such as woodlice and beetles play as much of a crucial role in leaf litter decomposition across different habitats and seasons as microbes and smaller invertebrates......»»
Nano-nutrients can blunt effects of soil contamination, boost crop yields
One of the pressing problems that the world faces in the era of climate change is how to grow enough healthy food to meet the increasing global population, even as soil contamination rises. Research recently published in Nature Food by an internation.....»»
Testing effects of perennial cover crops on soil health and corn production
Corn crops have a voracious appetite for nitrogen. Purdue University scientists are investigating whether mulching Kura clover, a perennial legume, can provide sufficient nitrogen for corn, thus reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers while enhan.....»»
Can meeting by Zoom affect a first impression? Study examines difference between in-person and videochat perceptions
Researchers at UBC's Okanagan campus have good news for anyone who has suffered from Zoom fatigue or has anxiety about meeting someone for the first time via videoconferencing......»»