Snail mucus yields natural adhesive for wound healing
Land snails and their mucus were used in ancient times by Hippocrates and Pliny to treat pain associated with burns, abscesses and other wounds. Inspired by this ancient therapy, Prof. Wu Mingyi and his team at the Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB) o.....»»
Study examines which students fare worst when natural disasters close schools
Researchers have examined the impact of school closures due to natural disasters and found that these closures have similar impacts on student performance across economic groups. The researchers find white students and high-performing students are le.....»»
Coral exudates, not algae, linked to bacterial growth that threaten reefs
A study led by the University of Bremen suggests that on algae-dominated coral reefs, it is not the algae but the corals themselves that may contribute to the growth of harmful bacteria. This discovery suggests that a disturbance in the natural compo.....»»
Graphene-enhanced ceramic tiles make striking art
Adding a bit of graphene oxide to slurry and zapping with ultrasound for 10 minutes yields best tiles. In recent years, materials scientists experimenting with ceramics have start.....»»
A natural climate change laboratory in Japan reveals the adaptation dynamics of fishers
A new study published in the journal People and Nature reveals the complex relationship between the impacts of climate change and the adaptive responses of coastal fishers in one of the areas most affected by these environmental changes: the southern.....»»
From fireflies to drones: Researchers uncover strategy for synchronization efficiency
Researchers from The University of New Mexico School of Engineering looked to the natural world to explain how synchronized systems can work more efficiently and made a significant discovery. Their results were published in the journal Nature Communi.....»»
Natural compound found in flowers blocks activity of an enzyme involved in multiple sclerosis and cancer
Scientists have identified a natural compound that halts the process involved in the progression of certain forms of cancer and demyelinating conditions—those that damage the sheath, known as myelin, that surrounds neurons—such as multiple sclero.....»»
Molecular insights into the dynamic dance of nanoplastics and natural organic matter
Nanoplastics, emerging as persistent environmental pollutants, pose significant threats due to their durability and wide distribution in water bodies. Their interactions with natural organic matter are critical, influencing pollutant retention, micro.....»»
New study investigates insecticide contamination in Minnesota"s water
A new study by researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) found that specific insecticides, called neonicotinoids, were found at high concentrations in some ground.....»»
Five surprising ways that trees help prevent flooding
Think of flood prevention and you might imagine huge concrete dams, levees or the shiny Thames barrier. But some of the most powerful tools for reducing flood risk are far more natural and widely recognizable: woodlands and green spaces. Trees offer.....»»
Lignin molecular property discovery could help turn trees into affordable, greener industrial chemicals
Trees are the most abundant natural resource living on Earth's land masses, and North Carolina State University scientists and engineers are making headway in finding ways to use them as sustainable, environmentally benign alternatives to producing i.....»»
Forest fires are shifting north and intensifying—here"s what that means for the planet
Fires have long been a natural part of forest ecosystems, but something is changing. Our new study shows that forest fires have become more widespread and severe amid global heating, particularly in the high northern latitudes such as Canada and Sibe.....»»
Tech can help kids connect with nature and go outdoors—here are tips to make it work
Young children's lives are increasingly spent indoors. They have less access to green spaces, their parents are concerned about safety, and there's also the draw of digital entertainment. This shift away from the natural world has been evocatively na.....»»
Texas natural-gas pipeline eases bottlenecks, paves way for higher shale output
Texas natural-gas pipeline eases bottlenecks, paves way for higher shale output.....»»
Scientists create new overwintering sites for monarch butterflies on a warming planet
The migration of the monarch butterfly is one of the wonders of the natural world. Each autumn, a new generation of monarch butterflies is born in the northern United States and southern Canada. Hundreds of millions of these butterflies then fly to t.....»»
When hurricanes hit, online chatter can drown out safety messaging
When natural disasters strike, social networks like Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter) can be powerful tools for public communication—but often, rescue workers and government officials struggle to make themselves heard above the general hub.....»»
Visible light energy yields two-for-one deal when added to carbon dioxide recycling process
By combining visible light and electrochemistry, researchers have enhanced the conversion of carbon dioxide into valuable products and stumbled upon a surprising discovery. The team found that visible light significantly improved an important chemica.....»»
Environmental DNA and epidemics in wood frogs: Collaboration examines eDNA"s precision in population size estimation
Tracy Rittenhouse, associate professor of natural resources and the environment in UConn's College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), was doing an experiment to study ranavirus epidemics in wood frogs. When Meghan Parsley, then a P.....»»
"Getting high" in Paleolithic hunting: Elevated positions enhance javelin accuracy but reduce atlatl efficiency
A recent experimental study led by Kent State University and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History suggests that hunting from elevated positions significantly increases the performance of thrown javelins while potentially decreasing the effectivene.....»»
Chickpeas identified as key crop for future food security
Climate change has a negative impact on food security. An international research team led by Wolfram Weckwerth from the University of Vienna has now conducted a study to investigate the natural variation of different chickpea genotypes and their resi.....»»
Nano-nutrients can blunt effects of soil contamination, boost crop yields
One of the pressing problems that the world faces in the era of climate change is how to grow enough healthy food to meet the increasing global population, even as soil contamination rises. Research recently published in Nature Food by an internation.....»»