Thanks to humans, Salish Sea waters are too noisy for resident orcas to hunt successfully
The Salish Sea—the inland coastal waters of Washington and British Columbia—is home to two unique populations of fish-eating orcas, the northern resident and the southern resident orcas. Human activity over much of the 20th century, including red.....»»
Drawing lines in the South China Sea: What Beijing"s new claims over a disputed coral reef mean
Earlier this month, China declared new "baselines" around Scarborough Reef, a large coral atoll topped by a handful of rocks barely above sea level in the South China Sea......»»
Sea anemone study shows how animals restore "shape" following major injury
Our bodies are remarkably skilled at adapting to changing environments. For example, whether amid summer heat or a winter freeze, our internal temperature remains steady at 37°C, thanks to a process called homeostasis. This hidden balancing act is v.....»»
Sea anemone study shows how animals restore "shape" following major injury
Our bodies are remarkably skilled at adapting to changing environments. For example, whether amid summer heat or a winter freeze, our internal temperature remains steady at 37°C, thanks to a process called homeostasis. This hidden balancing act is v.....»»
The Whole Story of How Humans Evolved From Great Apes
The picture of human evolution has changed repeatedly and dramatically over the past half century, shaped by waves of new fossil discovery, technology, and scientific techniques......»»
How queen bees and wasps set backyards abuzz in readiness for summer
As we transition to warmer weather in the austral summer, many changes take place. Domestic dogs and cats may shed winter coats. Fish such as bass and trout prepare fat reserves for migrations to deeper waters. And social insect queens emerge from hi.....»»
Unique killer whale pod may have acquired special skills to hunt whale sharks
Killer whales can feed on marine mammals, turtles, and fish. In the Gulf of California, a pod might have picked up new skills that help them hunt whale sharks—the world's largest fish, growing up to 18 meters long......»»
Smaller brains? Fewer friends? An evolutionary biologist asks how AI will change humanity"s future
What will humans be like generations from now in a world transformed by artificial intelligence (AI)? Plenty of thinkers have applied themselves to questions like this, considering how AI will alter lives—often for better, sometimes for worse......»»
Why the hunt for Thanksgiving"s favorite bird could get tougher
The turkey may be the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving dinner table now, but harvesting the iconic holiday bird could become harder in the holidays to come......»»
Traces of a giant landslide deep in the southern Baltic Sea—researchers investigate a potential tsunami
Off the coast of Blekinge, in southern Sweden, at a depth of around 50–60 meters, the bottom sediment has scars that are tens of kilometers long and appear to have been caused by a huge submarine landslide. However, what caused this landslide and e.....»»
Brains grew faster as humans evolved, study finds
Modern humans, Neanderthals, and other recent relatives on our human family tree evolved bigger brains much more rapidly than earlier species, a new study of human brain evolution has found......»»
China experiences reduction in food system inequality and carbon footprint alongside economic development
Humans have persistent food needs that trigger considerable greenhouse gas emissions, varying significantly by region. However, the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint and inequality in the food system are not well assessed within countries......»»
35 years ago, this sequel to a sci-fi masterpiece successfully predicted the future
35 years ago, Back to the Future Part II continued the story of Marty McFly. Learn how the film successfully predicted the future and became a cult classic......»»
Future of deep-sea mining stands at a crucial juncture
Torn between the defenders of the world's seabeds and industrialists eager to exploit the vast, untapped resources of the deep, the international community faces a crucial year that could decide the future of mining in the high seas......»»
Scientists successfully use harmless viruses to investigate the nervous system in frogs
Virus. When you hear the word, you probably shudder. But not all viruses are bad or cause disease. Some are even used for therapeutic applications or vaccination. In basic research, they are often employed to infect certain cells, genetically modify.....»»
Tick tubes help reduce the parasites on mice, but time and frequency matter
Ticks are a nuisance across many areas of the U.S., capable of spreading harmful pathogens to both animals and humans. A new study led by researchers at Penn State has analyzed the effectiveness of a simple, inexpensive strategy for controlling ticks.....»»
Scalable production of high-quality organoids: Innovative platform utilizes 3D engineered nanofiber membrane
A research team has successfully developed a platform capable of scalable, uniform production of organoids that mimic biological functions. Their research has recently been published in the journal Nature Communications......»»
You Asked: Noisy 4K Blu-rays and soundbars in corners
On today’s You Asked: Why do so many movies considered to have great transfers to 4K Blu-ray look so noisy? How many calibrations should a TV get?.....»»
Saturday Citations: Sweaty, remarkable humans; ocean level rise projections; closeup of a star in another galaxy
Since we last spoke, researchers at the University of Birmingham have defined the precise shape of a single photon (spoiler: roundish). Economists worry that Trump's grandiose deportation plans could lead to a recession. And astronomers report that t.....»»
Satellite data and algorithms reveal which ships emit excessive nitrogen
Ships are still emitting too much nitrogen oxide. Until now, it has been impossible to measure this at sea, but that is set to change. Solomiia Kurchaba combined satellite data and developed algorithms to identify which ships are emitting too much. K.....»»
Humpback whale nursery hotspot detected in Australian waters
Marine biologists from The University of Western Australia have recommended protection measures for a humpback whale nursery ground in the Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia's Pilbara region......»»