Renaturing insects in urban backyards
Insects in our environment are unsung heroes. These 'mini-beasts' are often inconspicuous, but they may have a huge impact on the health of ecosystems that sustain humanity......»»
This Apple Watch alternative is on sale for $35 at Walmart
The Amazfit Bip 3 Urban Edition smartwatch, which is already cheap at its original price of $60, is even cheaper from Walmart at just $35, but not for long......»»
Using historical radar data to map changes in urban environments
Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a type of remote sensing from satellites that uses the reflection of radio waves to relay information about the surface of the earth. This reflection, or backscatter, is responsive to physical properties, such as rou.....»»
Plants offer fruit to insects to disperse dust-like seeds, botanist discovers
Fruit exist to invite animals to disperse the swallowed seeds. A Kobe University research team found that plants targeting insects rather than birds or mammals for this service are more common than previously thought. These plants produce dust-like s.....»»
Planning the urban climate of the future
What a tree needs to grow and how it affects its surroundings vary from species to species. This makes it increasingly important for cities to adapt the urban tree cover to local conditions......»»
An overlooked side-effect of the housing crisis may be putting Californians at increased risk from climate disasters
In a new article appearing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, UC Santa Cruz researchers have laid out the foundation for their highly-anticipated upcoming study of how lack of affordable housing in urban areas of Californ.....»»
Streetlights running all night makes leaves so tough that insects can"t eat them, threatening the food chain
Light pollution disrupts circadian rhythms and ecosystems worldwide—but for plants, dependent on light for photosynthesis, its effects could be profound. Now scientists writing in Frontiers in Plant Science have found that exposure to high levels o.....»»
New research sheds light on relationships between plants and insects in forest ecosystems
U.S. Forest Service researchers and partners published new findings on how leaf-eating insects affect forest ecosystems worldwide......»»
Predicting soil liquefaction risk using artificial intelligence
Soil liquefaction that results in infrastructure damage has long been a point of contention for urban planners and engineers. Accurately predicting the soil liquefaction risk of a region could help overcome this challenge......»»
New model uses satellite imagery, machine learning to map flooding in urban environments
As climate change causes storms to intensify, new tools are needed to map where flooding occurs in under-studied areas......»»
Smell reports reveal the need to expand urban air quality monitoring, say researchers
Ever wondered if your neighborhood odor could be impacting your health? University of British Columbia researchers have uncovered surprising insights into the Vancouver region's "smellscape" using data from the Smell Vancouver app. Analyzing 549 repo.....»»
Scent research inspires bed bug trap
Scientists at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) spinout Arctech Innovation have used their in-depth knowledge of insects, chemistry and odor to develop a new trap for bed bugs......»»
In defense of midges
As summer arrives, many people are escaping to the remote and tranquil corners of the UK for their holidays. However, in certain parts of the country, your peaceful retreat often comes with a familiar guest in the form of midges, tiny insects that ga.....»»
Air pollution makes it harder for bees to smell flowers
Contaminants can alter plant odors and warp insects’ senses, disrupting the process of pollination. Scientists are uncovering various ways that air pollution can interfere with the ability of insects to pollinate plants. (credi.....»»
Can high-altitude balloons help predict wildfires?
Schmid College of Science and Technology Associate Professor Joshua Fisher is a co-investigator on a groundbreaking three-year project, which, led by the stratospheric and remote sensing company Urban Sky, aims to predict and manage wildfires......»»
Inspired by cicada wings, researchers study the insects" antimicrobial properties to develop antibacterial surfaces
Trillions of periodical cicadas—several species of the genus Magicicada that emerge every 13 or 17 years—broke soil across the Eastern U.S. this summer. News outlets likened the event to Armageddon, an apocalypse or an invasion. But what about us.....»»
Seasonal menace: Protecting livestock against external parasites
While rain followed by sunshine produces the eye-catching sight of a rainbow, it can also mark the need for livestock owners to confront the insects and parasites that thrive in the summer season......»»
UK study finds urban residents score the lowest in social and economic satisfaction and well-being
A study conducted by the Center for Urban Mental Health at the University of Amsterdam finds that, in a sample of 156,000 UK residents aged 40 and up, urban living is linked to lower levels of well-being, social satisfaction, and economic satisfactio.....»»
Rural belts around cities could reduce urban temperatures by up to 0.5°C, study suggests
The key to cooling 'urban heat islands' may lie in the countryside, according to a new study, published in the journal Nature Cities, from scientists at the University of Surrey and Southeast University (China)......»»
Our cities" secret gardens: We connect with nature in neglected green spaces just as much as in parks
Access to nature is essential for our health and well-being. However, as our cities become increasingly crowded, it becomes more and more challenging to find ways to connect with nature in urban spaces......»»
Study examines urban forests across the United States
In recent years, tree-planting campaigns have been underway in the United States, especially in cities, as part of climate mitigation efforts......»»