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......»»
AI tools help uncover enzyme mechanisms for lasso peptides
Lasso peptides are natural products made by bacteria. Their unusual lasso shape endows them with remarkable stability, protecting them from extreme conditions. In a new study, published in Nature Chemical Biology, researchers have constructed and tes.....»»
Moderate levels of exotic species invasions may help maintain biodiversity, study suggests
Globally, more than 13,000 plant species, equivalent to the entire native flora of Europe, have been naturalized outside their native ranges. A study, jointly conducted by scientists from China and the U.S., provides new insights about biodiversity,.....»»
Scientists seek a balance between crop production and protecting the environment
Scientists at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory (NPARL), in Sidney, Montana, completed a study that shows the use of continuous cropping systems can better sustain crop yields while reduc.....»»
How to prepare for a stormy "supercharged" September
The effects of climate change have become an ominous presence in our lives, and the dramatic media monikers that accompany them—bomb cyclones, atmospheric rivers, thundersnow, black swan events, heat domes, polar vortexes—sound almost biblical......»»
Low-noise amplifiers aboard the Arctic Weather Satellite
The Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS) of the European Space Agency (ESA) was sent on its journey to a polar orbit 600 km above the Earth on August 16, 2024. On board: four low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State.....»»
Urban sustainable development needs to secure basic human needs, finds study
Urban sustainable development (USD) plans and policies cover a wide range of issues, such as biodiversity protection, transportation, or poverty reduction. Yet, it is unclear what the USD policy preferences of residents are......»»
Bridging large riverine ecosystems for inter-basin exchanges
Many of the world's large rivers have been modified to support food security, hydropower production, navigation and trade. While these developments are necessary to support a growing human population, they also pose substantial risks to the structure.....»»
Road networks stretch into Congo Basin forests: Satellites and AI help to monitor
The Congo Basin rainforest is the second-largest tropical forest in the world, storing large volumes of carbon and hosting high levels of biodiversity. While these forests have historically stayed mostly intact, road development has recently become a.....»»
Researchers use training model to map planted and natural forests via satellite image
While planting trees may seem like an easy win to combat climate change, planted forests often encroach on natural forests, wetlands, and grasslands. This can reduce biodiversity, disturb the natural environment, and disrupt carbon and water cycling......»»
The stone-eaters that threaten Iran"s ancient Persepolis
Conservationists at Persepolis, Iran's most iconic ancient site, are waging a delicate battle against an unlikely adversary: tiny but persistent lichens eroding the millennia-old monuments......»»
Ethics of biobanking for conservation: Researchers adjust ethical assessment tool for the use of genome research banks
In the face of the global biodiversity crisis, more and more biobanks are being set up to safeguard and potentially restore genetic diversity. Preserved tissue or cells allow scientists and conservationists to overcome spatial and even temporal fragm.....»»
The roles played by Indigenous Peoples in biodiversity conservation
Indigenous Peoples play an indisputable and critical role in the conservation of the planet's biodiversity. Their lands and livelihoods sustain life in myriad forms. However, a study by researchers at the ICTA-UAB published in Nature concludes that t.....»»
Study shows urbanization has impacted the population genetic structure of the Eurasian red squirrel in Japan
Since many kinds of wildlife have started living in urban environments, urban environments have been recognized as places of biodiversity conservation. What kind of factors facilitate or prohibit wildlife from living in urban environments?.....»»
Study shows microbial diversity differences in volcanic cones and craters
Volcanic activity alters the Earth's surface and promotes the development of new ecosystems, providing valuable models for studying soil formation processes such as microbial composition and vegetation succession. Increasing evidence suggests that so.....»»
Benefits and best practices of leveraging AI for cybersecurity
AI has become a key player in protecting valuable organizational insights from threats. Thanks to AI-enabled data protection practices such as behavior monitoring, enterprises no longer have to be reactive to a cyberattack but can be proactive before.....»»
9 phenomena NASA astronauts will encounter at Moon"s south pole
NASA's Artemis campaign will send the first woman and the first person of color to the moon's south polar region, marking humanity's first return to the lunar surface in more than 50 years......»»
The olive tree"s blueprint: Key insights into high-quality oil production
A pivotal study has decoded the genetic basis of olive oil production, revealing a key regulatory mechanism that shapes oil biosynthesis. By mapping the olive tree's genome and metabolic pathways, researchers have identified how MYC2, a critical tran.....»»
High-Andean wetlands release more CO₂ under short-term warming, study suggests
The high-Andean wetlands of the Argentinean Puna region, called "vegas" by local inhabitants, although covering less than 1% of this arid mountain region, are important ecosystems as they support biodiversity and provide local people with fresh water.....»»
Corn-shaped seed pellets to boost habitat for monarchs, bees
Crop fields are low in biodiversity, but farmers may soon be part of the solution thanks to a Cornell innovation that allows growers to use corn or other crop seed planting machines to plant strips of milkweed or wildflowers next to their fields......»»
Study finds tire abrasion particles threaten fresh water habitats
A research team led by Prof. Dr. Markus Pfenninger from the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center Frankfurt (SBiK-F) has investigated the effects of tire-abrasion particles on freshwater ecosystems......»»