Protecting and regenerating tropical mangroves
Mangroves were once seen as inhospitable malarial swamps and were among the fastest disappearing habitats in the world. Now, with input from Bangor University, one community project in Kenya is working to restore mangroves in a project which benefits.....»»
Orchid mantises: Research discovers their petal-shaped femoral lobes may actually be used for gliding
In a study published in Current Biology, researchers from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with their collaborators, reveal a groundbreaking discovery: Morphology of the orchid mantis' pe.....»»
Study explores whether basic human water needs can be met while protecting surface and groundwater ecosystems
A Griffith-led study has assessed whether basic human water needs can be met without exceeding safe and just Earth system boundaries (ESBs) for surface and groundwater (blue water), defined to protect people and planet......»»
Earth"s magnetic field protects life on Earth from radiation, but it can move, and the magnetic poles can even flip
The Earth's magnetic field plays a big role in protecting people from hazardous radiation and geomagnetic activity that could affect satellite communication and the operation of power grids. And it moves......»»
Reservoir construction may be reducing carbon storage in ocean sediments
Carbon storage has been a key focus in recent years to draw down natural and anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide and help the fight against global warming, and particularly focuses on terrestrial forests and soils, as well as wetland mangroves an.....»»
Tropical forest loss from growing rubber trade is more substantial than previously thought, research finds
Over 4 million hectares of tree cover—an area equivalent to the size of Switzerland—may have been cleared to make space for rubber plantations since the 1990s. Out of all the rubber planted, 1 million hectares may have been established in key bio.....»»
Study shows tropical cyclones substantially raise the social cost of carbon
Extreme events like tropical cyclones have immediate impacts, but also long-term implications for societies. A new study published in the journal Nature Communications shows that accounting for the long-term impacts of these storms raises the global.....»»
Northern bees at risk from insecticide
James Cook University scientists say a common tropical bee species is vulnerable to widely-used insecticides—which will decrease their heat tolerance at the same time as the climate is warming......»»
Predicting the fate of shallow coastal ecosystems for the year 2100
A new study of shallow-water ecosystems estimates that, by 2100, climate change and coastal land usage could result in significant shrinkage of coral habitats, tidal marshes, and mangroves, while macroalgal beds remain stable and seagrass meadows pot.....»»
Quinoa research punctures 100-year-old theory of odd little "water balloons"
Quinoa and many other extremely resilient plants are covered with strange balloon-like "bladders" that for 127 years were believed to be responsible for protecting them from drought and salt......»»
Protecting delicate polar ecosystems by mapping biodiversity
Polar regions contain vast, undiscovered biodiversity but are both the most threatened and least-understood areas of the world......»»
Researcher: Big cats eat more monkeys in a damaged tropical forest, which threatens survival of primate populations
Monkeys are not usually a popular menu item for big cats. Primates are, after all, hard to catch: living in the canopies of large trees and rarely coming down to the ground. Jaguar and puma have varied diets and will normally hunt the species that ar.....»»
In the fight against malaria-carrying mosquitoes, just add soap
Could the solution to the decades-long battle against malaria be as simple as soap? In a new study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, scientists at The University of Texas at El Paso have made a compelling case for it......»»
Study highlights need for enhanced tropical cyclone identification and simulation in climate models
Tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific (WNP) stand as formidable natural forces, wreaking havoc on Earth and posing significant challenges to disaster preparedness. As we grapple with the uncertainties of future projections for WNP tropical c.....»»
Protecting native fauna from housecats
Fans of the musical "Cats" will know that the naming of cats is a difficult matter, and that cats have three different names. The same is true of cats in New Zealand—there are three types: companion or pet cats that live with people and rely on the.....»»
NOAA unveils new tool for exploring coral reef data
NOAA's National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) launched a new data visualization tool today, which will provide free and easy-to-access information on the status of U.S. coral reefs. It is the first tool focusing on shallow tropical coral reef.....»»
Natural coasts protect against tropical cyclones, but this protection is declining: Study
People living on the in low-lying coastal areas will be at even greater risk from cyclones in the future. Natural ecosystems offer protection, but this protection has decreased in recent years and is expected to continue to decline. This is a finding.....»»
Nuclear and oil & gas are major targets of ransomware groups in 2024
Resecurity, Inc. (USA) protecting major Fortune 100 and government agencies globally has identified an alarming rise in ransomware operators targeting the energy sector, including nuclear facilities and related research entities. Over the last year,.....»»
What"s behind the toxic levels of mercury in tropical birds? Gold mining, study shows
The tropics are home to more than 75% of all species and are projected to support 50% of the world's human population by mid-century, but little is known about mercury pollution in these life-filled regions......»»
AI outperforms conventional weather forecasting for the first time: Google study
AI models may soon enable more accurate forecasts with higher speed and lower cost. Enlarge / A file photo of Tropical Storm Fiona as seen in a satellite image from 2022. (credit: Getty Images) On Tuesday, the peer-revie.....»»
Forests could absorb much more carbon, but does it matter?
Protecting forests globally could vastly increase the amount of carbon they sequester, a new study finds, but given our current emissions track, does it really matter?.....»»