Phytoplankton shield ice shelves from summer heat
In spring, stretches of Antarctic sea ice melt to form pockets of open water called polynyas, which make perfect homes for phytoplankton. These marine microbes can become so abundant that they turn the water green......»»
In Patagonia, more snow could protect glaciers from melt—but only if greenhouse gas are curbed emissions soon
In an era of dwindling glaciers, Southern Patagonia has managed to hold on to a surprising amount of its ice. But, a new study in Scientific Reports from INSTAAR postdoc Matthias Troch suggests that this protective effect might be pushed up against i.....»»
Peaches spread across North America through Indigenous networks, radiocarbon dating and document analysis show
Spanish explorers may have brought the first peach pits to North America, but Indigenous communities helped the ubiquitous summer fruit really take root, according to a study led by a researcher at Penn State......»»
How does the Regen Shield work in Valorant?
Patch 9.10 of Valorant introduced a new type of armor called Regen Shields. But how does it even work? We'll explain what this armor does and if it's worth it......»»
Veil of fiery gas revealed around the disk of Milky Way
Scientists may have finally hit upon the possible mysterious sources that have pumped heat and kept alive the fiery hot gas that has recently been detected surrounding the Milky Way but has so far remained unexplained......»»
Quantum-inspired design boosts efficiency of heat-to-electricity conversion
Researchers at Rice University have found a new way to improve a key element of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems, which convert heat into electricity via light. Using an unconventional approach inspired by quantum physics, Rice engineer Gururaj Naik.....»»
NASA is stacking the Artemis II rocket, implying a simple heat shield fix
NASA expects it to take about four months to fully assemble the main parts of the SLS rocket. The Space Launch System rocket that will dispatch four astronauts on the first Moon m.....»»
Iron-clad defense: How microbes shield tomato crops from bacterial wilt
Ralstonia solanacearum is a soil-borne pathogen that devastates tomato and other Solanaceae crops globally. Traditional chemical controls have proven inadequate and environmentally damaging......»»
Canada"s first moon rover will soon have a name as it prepares to explore a hostile lunar region
The Canadian Space Agency announced a competition today to name Canada's first-ever rover mission to the moon. This unmanned mission will explore the south polar region of the moon to search for water ice and explore its unique geology......»»
Compound weather events found to have greater effect on wetland methane emissions than discrete weather extremes do
Human-caused climate change is driving an increase in extreme weather. Heat waves, droughts, and extreme precipitation are occurring more frequently, growing more intense, and directly affecting ecosystem function. For instance, the 2003 European hea.....»»
Neither desolate nor empty: Deep-sea floor teems with life
The Arctic deep sea harbors significant oil and natural gas reserves along with valuable resources such as rare earths and metals. Climate change and melting ice are facilitating access to these resources, which presents economic opportunities but al.....»»
Collaboration key to ultimate genotypes in plants and livestock, say researchers
University of Queensland researchers are setting the agenda for breeding high yield, heat tolerant and disease-resistant crops and low emission cattle with excellent feed conversion efficiency as they search for the ultimate genotype......»»
Emergent gravity may be a dead idea, but it’s not a bad one
Gravity may not emerge, but some interesting ideas did. Emergent gravity is a bold idea. It claims that the force of gravity is a mere illusion, more akin to friction or heat—a.....»»
Valve developers discuss why Half Life 2: Episode 3 was abandoned
Anniversary doc also includes footage of unused ice gun, blob enemies. After Ars spent Half-Life 2's 20th anniversary week looking back at the game's history and impact, Valve mar.....»»
The Galaxy S25 could add a new feature that’s perfect for mobile gaming
The Galaxy S25 could come with a new Game Assist mode that doubles the frame rate without affecting battery life or heat output......»»
Saber-toothed kitten preserved in ice for 35,000 years
Found encased in ice in 2020 along the Badyarikha River in the Republic of Sakha, a northeastern region of Russia that borders the East Siberian Sea of the Arctic Ocean, a well-preserved specimen offers a rare opportunity to examine an extinct predat.....»»
Antarctica may have once been covered by a jungle of trees, new study shows
Picture Antarctica—not as an endless expanse of snow and ice, but as a lush, green rainforest teeming with towering trees and mysterious plants. It sounds … The post Antarctica may have once been covered by a jungle of trees, new study shows.....»»
Selenoproteins open new strategies for treating certain cancers in children
Selenoproteins are crucial for several biological functions, including the breakdown of harmful substances, immune system support, and regulating metabolic processes. However, in specific contexts, these proteins can be misused and shield cancer cell.....»»
Extreme heat weakens land"s power to absorb carbon, analysis finds
A new European Space Agency-backed study shows that the extreme heat waves of 2023, which fueled huge wildfires and severe droughts, also undermined the land's capacity to soak up atmospheric carbon. This diminished carbon uptake drove atmospheric ca.....»»
Shanghai, Tokyo, New York, Houston spew most greenhouse gas of world cities
Cities in Asia and the United States emit the most heat-trapping gas that feeds climate change, with Shanghai the most polluting, according to new data that combines observations and artificial intelligence......»»
Study finds humidity diminishes daytime cooling gains in urban green spaces
Urban green spaces provide shade for city dwellers facing rising temperatures brought on by climate change, but how much relief from the heat island effect do they provide when humidity is factored in?.....»»