Scientific definition of a planet says it must orbit our sun: A new proposal would change that
Planetary scientists are proposing a new definition of a planet to replace one that many researchers view as sun-centric and outdated. The current definition—established in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the organization that o.....»»
Research predicts rise in tropical hydraulic failure
Hydraulic failure in tropical environments is expected to increase, according to new research published in New Phytologist. As weather patterns change and temperatures rise, plants will need to adapt in order to survive. Hydraulic failure occurs when.....»»
General Motors partners with Chicago-based company in a project that could "change the world" — here"s how
General Motors partners with Chicago-based company in a project that could "change the world" — here"s how.....»»
Droughts likely to be even longer in the future due to climate change
Major climate reports may be underselling the risks of rising emissions. (credit: USGS) Droughts in the coming decades could be longer than projected by current climate models, a new study published Wednesday in Nature w.....»»
Love island: Bird"s refusal to leave resort life leads to genetic change
A little yellow-and-white bird that prefers to date its mates in an idyllic island lifestyle rather than fly to the mainland to mingle is an example of avian species evolution in action, according to new Australian research......»»
Scientists can now predict catastrophic river shifts that threaten millions worldwide
Indiana University researchers have uncovered key insights into the dangerous phenomenon of "river avulsion," offering a way to predict when and where rivers may suddenly and dramatically change course. Published in Nature, this breakthrough study sh.....»»
Detailed model suggests organic matter on Mars was formed from atmospheric formaldehyde
Although Mars is currently a cold, dry planet, geological evidence suggests that liquid water existed there around 3 to 4 billion years ago. Where there is water, there is usually life. In their quest to answer the burning question about life on Mars.....»»
Global assessment: How to make climate adaptation a success
Climate change is forcing people to adapt to changing environmental conditions. But what really makes the difference is how they do it. The recently published "Hamburg Climate Futures Outlook 2024" by 73 authors shows that, in the long run, only sust.....»»
Study reveals that future climate change may reduce the Amazon rainforest"s ability to act as a carbon sink
The Amazon, often called the "lungs of the planet," is the world's largest tropical forest, playing a crucial role in the global climate system due to its vast carbon storage. While it is typically warm and humid all year round, continued climate cha.....»»
Explaining dramatic planetwide changes after world"s last "Snowball Earth" event
Some of the most dramatic climatic events in our planet's history are "Snowball Earth" events that happened hundreds of millions of years ago, when almost the entire planet was encased in ice up to 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) thick......»»
Plant pathogen battle: A tomato protein"s dual role in defense and susceptibility
Tomatoes, a staple crop worldwide, are increasingly threatened by biotic stressors such as viruses, fungi, and bacteria, with the effects worsening under climate change. These challenges lead to reduced yields and compromised nutritional quality, hig.....»»
Could interstellar quantum communications involve Earth or solve the Fermi paradox?
Thus far, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) has used strategies based on classical science—listening for radio waves, telescopes watching for optical signals, telescopes in orbit scouring light from the atmospheres of exoplanets,.....»»
Vast France building project sunk by sea level rise fears
An ambitious housing project in the northwestern French city of Caen has run aground over worries that rising waters driven by climate change could make the area unlivable within the century......»»
Reducing floodplain development doesn"t need to be complex, say researchers
A paper, titled "How local governments avoid floodplain development through consistent implementation of routine municipal ordinances, plans, and programs," published in Oxford Open Climate Change uncovers evidence suggesting that, contrary to expect.....»»
How to change iPhone app colors and theme in iOS 18
For more than a decade, it’s taken jailbreaking or other workarounds to customize iPhone apps with a unique look. Now, iOS 18 includes the ability to change iPhone app colors and more natively. Here’s how it works. more….....»»
Greenhouse gains: Cucumbers genetic upgrade through innovative pollen tech
Genetic modification in horticultural crops, particularly within the Cucurbitaceae family, is often hindered by complex tissue culture requirements and environmental pressures such as climate change. Traditional transformation techniques, like Agroba.....»»
What the jet stream and climate change had to do with the hottest summer on record
Summer 2024 was officially the Northern Hemisphere's hottest on record. In the United States, fierce heat waves seemed to hit somewhere almost every day......»»
Which plant species will survive the global change challenge?
In a temperate montane forest in southern Québec, all is quiet. But if you dig a little deeper, you'll see the landscape has a story to tell. Waterloo plant ecologist Dr. Julie Messier, alongside her collaborators from Sherbrooke, is uncovering vita.....»»
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......»»
Vote for Kamala Harris to Support Science, Health and the Environment
Kamala Harris has plans to improve health, boost the economy and mitigate climate change. Donald Trump has threats and a dangerous record.....»»
Meet the Advocates and Researchers Revolutionizing Sickle Cell Care
These sickle cell researchers and advocates are driving change from labs to global stages, transforming lives in the process......»»