Sika deer overpopulation endangers beech forests in Southern Kyushu, Japan
Kyushu University researchers have found that Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) in the forests of southern Kyushu have seen reduced growth, due to soil erosion caused by the overpopulation of sika deer (Cervus nippon). Their findings, which were publish.....»»
Satellites reveal ecosystems most vulnerable to drought
More severe droughts that will also last longer: this will primarily be a problem for irrigated croplands, as discovered by environmental scientist Qi Chen. Mixed forests with a variety of plant species will be the least vulnerable. Chen compared the.....»»
Japan"s space agency ends Moon probe operation
Japan's space agency said on Monday it had ended its Moon lander operation after losing communication with the uncrewed spaceship last week......»»
Whaling: why the practice will not go away
The detention in Greenland of anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson pending possible extradition to Japan has turned the spotlight on the widely condemned practice of hunting whales......»»
Carbon emissions from forest soil will likely grow with rising temperatures
The soils of northern forests are key reservoirs that help keep the carbon dioxide that trees inhale and use for photosynthesis from making it back into the atmosphere. But a unique experiment led by Peter Reich of the University of Michigan is showi.....»»
Researchers discover dual epicenters in New Year"s Day Noto earthquake
The first seven months of 2024 have been so eventful, it's easy to forget that the year started off with a magnitude 7.5 earthquake centered beneath Japan's Noto Peninsula on New Year's Day. The earthquake killed more than 280 people and damaged more.....»»
Repurposing pencil lead as an optical material using plasma
Optical materials are essential in many modern applications, but controlling the way a material reflects light on its surface is costly and difficult. Now, in a recent study, researchers from Japan found a simple and low-cost way of tuning the reflec.....»»
Antarctica vulnerable to invasive species hitching rides on plastic and organic debris, oceanographic model shows
Antarctica's unique ecosystems could be threatened by the arrival of non-native marine species and marine pollution from Southern Hemisphere landmasses, new oceanographic modeling shows......»»
Modeling study suggests heat-related deaths in Europe could triple by century"s end under current climate policies
Deaths from heat could triple in Europe by 2100 under current climate policies, mostly among people living in southern parts of the continent, according to a study published in The Lancet Public Health journal......»»
First visualization of valence electrons reveals fundamental nature of chemical bonding
The distribution of outermost shell electrons, known as valence electrons, of organic molecules was experimentally observed for the first time by a team led by Nagoya University in Japan. As the interactions between atoms are governed by the valence.....»»
Saving the vanishing forests of Iraq"s Kurdistan
In a plant nursery in northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, hundreds of pine, eucalyptus, olive and pomegranate saplings grow under awnings protecting them from the fierce summer sun......»»
Heterogeneous occurrence of evergreen broad-leaved forests revealed by plant fossils in East Asia
Evergreen broad-leaved forests (EBLFs) are the most characteristic biomes in East Asia. They assume a fundamental role in the biodiversity function and ecosystem services of the East Asiatic floristic kingdom. Hence, understanding the historical dyna.....»»
Researchers develop post-wildfire landslide susceptibility model
In June 2016, the San Gabriel Complex Fire raged through southern California. As it burned, the fire caused damage that negatively affected the surrounding area long after the flames died down. In 2019, three years after the fires had been extinguish.....»»
Study suggests video game playing may have mental health benefits under some conditions
A team of mental health, human behavior and economic specialists affiliated with several institutions in Japan has found that under the right conditions, playing video games may be good for mental health......»»
Original Ford Probe concept burns up after Pebble Beach appearance
The Ford Probe I, the first of several Italian-made concepts that eventually led to the production car in 1988, caught fire while being towed back to Southern California......»»
The application of Sapindus mukurossi extract in sebum-control shampoos
Sapindus mukurossi, a fruit from a deciduous tree in the Sapindaceae family, is widely cultivated in Southern China. Before the advent of modern synthetic detergents, its peel was commonly used to make soap due to its high saponin content......»»
Study finds gun violence in rural America rises as deer hunting season begins
Across rural America, the increased presence of loaded guns in homes and vehicles could lead to a spike in gun injuries and homicides at the start of every deer hunting season, a new study warns......»»
Red colobus are Africa"s most endangered monkeys—protecting them will also safeguard forests
Many people have never heard of a red colobus, yet they are Africa's most imperiled group of monkeys......»»
DNA study challenges thinking on ancestry of people in Japan
A genetic study led by researchers from RIKEN's Center for Integrative Medical Sciences has uncovered evidence that people in Japan descend from three ancestral groups......»»
Tiny South American deer debuts at New York City zoo
A tiny South American deer that will weigh only as much as a watermelon when fully grown is making its debut at the Queens Zoo in New York City......»»
As human activities expand in Antarctica, scientists identify crucial conservation sites
A team of scientists led by the University of Colorado Boulder has identified 30 new areas critical for conserving biodiversity in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. In a study published Aug. 15 in the journal Conservation Biology, the resear.....»»