Omicron is trouncing the argument for “natural immunity” to COVID
Bad news if you're unvaccinated and think you have strong protection after omicron. Enlarge / A 13-year-old celebrates getting the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Hartford, Connecticut, on May 13, 2021. (credit: Getty | JOSEPH PR.....»»
Picky protection rules hamper Swiss mushrooming craze
After suffocating COVID-19 restrictions, many embraced the call of the wild and the joys of foraging, but tightening Swiss biodiversity protection measures are infuriating growing hordes of mushroom-picking enthusiasts......»»
Molecular insights into the dynamic dance of nanoplastics and natural organic matter
Nanoplastics, emerging as persistent environmental pollutants, pose significant threats due to their durability and wide distribution in water bodies. Their interactions with natural organic matter are critical, influencing pollutant retention, micro.....»»
New study reveals the effects of lockdowns in shaping socioeconomic behaviors
Monash University research has found that campus-wide lockdowns at universities based in Northern China during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted university students' value of trust, honesty, and creativity—behavioral traits that are crucial for positi.....»»
New study investigates insecticide contamination in Minnesota"s water
A new study by researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) found that specific insecticides, called neonicotinoids, were found at high concentrations in some ground.....»»
Five surprising ways that trees help prevent flooding
Think of flood prevention and you might imagine huge concrete dams, levees or the shiny Thames barrier. But some of the most powerful tools for reducing flood risk are far more natural and widely recognizable: woodlands and green spaces. Trees offer.....»»
Lignin molecular property discovery could help turn trees into affordable, greener industrial chemicals
Trees are the most abundant natural resource living on Earth's land masses, and North Carolina State University scientists and engineers are making headway in finding ways to use them as sustainable, environmentally benign alternatives to producing i.....»»
Forest fires are shifting north and intensifying—here"s what that means for the planet
Fires have long been a natural part of forest ecosystems, but something is changing. Our new study shows that forest fires have become more widespread and severe amid global heating, particularly in the high northern latitudes such as Canada and Sibe.....»»
Tech can help kids connect with nature and go outdoors—here are tips to make it work
Young children's lives are increasingly spent indoors. They have less access to green spaces, their parents are concerned about safety, and there's also the draw of digital entertainment. This shift away from the natural world has been evocatively na.....»»
Texas natural-gas pipeline eases bottlenecks, paves way for higher shale output
Texas natural-gas pipeline eases bottlenecks, paves way for higher shale output.....»»
Scientists create new overwintering sites for monarch butterflies on a warming planet
The migration of the monarch butterfly is one of the wonders of the natural world. Each autumn, a new generation of monarch butterflies is born in the northern United States and southern Canada. Hundreds of millions of these butterflies then fly to t.....»»
When hurricanes hit, online chatter can drown out safety messaging
When natural disasters strike, social networks like Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter) can be powerful tools for public communication—but often, rescue workers and government officials struggle to make themselves heard above the general hub.....»»
Philosopher finds glitch in worldwide patent laws
Dr. Mo Abolkheir, a philosopher specializing in inventions and patents, has identified a logical fallacy—a flawed argument that may appear valid but is based on faulty reasoning—within the law......»»
Environmental DNA and epidemics in wood frogs: Collaboration examines eDNA"s precision in population size estimation
Tracy Rittenhouse, associate professor of natural resources and the environment in UConn's College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), was doing an experiment to study ranavirus epidemics in wood frogs. When Meghan Parsley, then a P.....»»
"Getting high" in Paleolithic hunting: Elevated positions enhance javelin accuracy but reduce atlatl efficiency
A recent experimental study led by Kent State University and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History suggests that hunting from elevated positions significantly increases the performance of thrown javelins while potentially decreasing the effectivene.....»»
Chickpeas identified as key crop for future food security
Climate change has a negative impact on food security. An international research team led by Wolfram Weckwerth from the University of Vienna has now conducted a study to investigate the natural variation of different chickpea genotypes and their resi.....»»
MicroRNA, Protein Folding and Machine-Learning Work Win the Science Nobels
A roundup of the science Nobels, the latest COVID updates and the Europa Clipper launch delay......»»
New Nasal Vaccines Offer Stronger Protection from COVID, Flu, and More—No Needle Needed
Gentle nasal spray vaccines against COVID, the flu and RSV are coming. They may work better than shots in the arm.....»»
A unified theory for predicting pathogen competition: Exploring how emerging new strains replace previous ones
The COVID-19 pandemic showed that predicting the invasion of a novel pathogen into the human population and its evolutionary potential to generate new variants is crucial for preventing future outbreaks. New research conducted at Princeton University.....»»
The government spent twice what it needed to on economic support during COVID, modeling shows
The independent inquiry into the government's COVID response is due to report on October 25......»»
Social media as a teaching tool: South African teachers talk about the new reality
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a shift towards the use of social media platforms in teaching. The South African Department of Basic Education, for one, instructed all schools to adopt online teaching and learning to save the 2020 school year, disr.....»»