The high and mighty Himalayas: A biodiversity hotbed facing significant challenges
The Himalayas are home to a vast diversity of species, consisting of 10,000 vascular plants, 979 birds and 300 mammals, including the snow leopard, the red panda, the Himalayan tahr and the Himalayan monal......»»
Molecular "pinball": Superfast collisions predict supercritical fluid properties
Neither gas nor liquid, supercritical fluids exhibit a unique mashup of the properties of both and arise when fluids are pushed to very high temperatures and pressures. Their properties make them ideal for a wide variety of chemical, pharmaceutical a.....»»
Novel MOF combines adsorption and dissolution for energy-efficient oxygen separation from argon
Efficient gas separation is vital in various industries, from medical applications to energy production. However, isolating oxygen from mixtures presents a significant technological challenge. Because many gases, including argon and oxygen, share sim.....»»
Study reveals how global connections boost city economies
As city population grows, so does violent crime, contagious diseases, and per-capita GDP. A significant body of research has investigated what drives this scaling relationship, examining factors within a city......»»
Researchers develop edible biofilm for extending fruit shelf life
With significant improvements in transportation technology, the accessibility of fresh food has considerably increased. However, this progress has been accompanied by escalating concerns about food waste during transportation and storage. Globally, a.....»»
Nature"s instructions: How fungi make a key medicinal molecule
For roughly a century, ever since Alexander Fleming's accidental discovery of penicillin in 1928, fungi have proven to be a goldmine for medicines. They've provided treatments for a wide range of diseases, from infections and high cholesterol to orga.....»»
New radar algorithm reveals hidden dance of ionospheric plasma
At night, charged particles from the sun caught by Earth's magnetosphere rain down into the atmosphere. The impacting particles rip electrons from atoms in the atmosphere, creating both beauty and chaos. These high-energy interactions cause the north.....»»
UN experts urge three "transformations" for nature
Human societies need a radical overhaul to stop the destruction of the planet, according to the UN biodiversity expert panel's "transformative change" report released Wednesday......»»
Researchers address material challenges to make commercial fusion power a reality
Imagine if we could take the energy of the sun, put it in a container, and use it to provide green, sustainable power for the world. Creating commercial fusion power plants would essentially make this idea a reality. However, there are several scient.....»»
Thousands of SonicWall VPN devices are facing worrying security threats
Many SonicWall VPNs are running outdated and vulnerable software versions......»»
Flying this holiday season? Here"s why air travel makes us so cranky—and what to do about it
The holidays are coming, airports are packed and emotions are running high. You've probably seen it or even been part of it: that tense moment when a passenger snaps at a flight attendant, or a near-meltdown over a seat reclining too far. Why does fl.....»»
How bad will it get? Political scientists have a pessimism bias, study finds
The past decade has seen historic challenges for U.S. democracy and an intense focus by scholars on events that seem to signal democratic decline. But new research released Dec. 17 finds that a bias toward pessimism among U.S. political scientists of.....»»
Report: Ecological crises are interconnected and must be tackled in a coordinated way
Maria J. Santos, a professor at the University of Zurich, is one of the main authors of the comprehensive scientific analysis published this week by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). At a pr.....»»
Western meritocracy traps people in emotions of envy, shame and fear, philosophers say
The rich are getting richer, and poverty is rapidly increasing in Western countries with market economies. This growing inequality has a significant impact on the well-being of citizens......»»
Swedish oak forests study reveals unexpected patterns in biodiversity, poses challenge for conservation
A new study from Linnaeus University reports that plant and insect diversity in Swedish oak forests increases toward the north. This finding contrasts with established global biodiversity patterns and poses a challenge for the development of climate-.....»»
Syphilis had its roots in the Americas, archaeological bone study suggests
In spring 1495, the Italian campaign of Charles VIII of France was interrupted by an intense outbreak of an apparently unknown illness—a disease of high mortality that quickly engulfed the whole of Europe and left its survivors with life-changing i.....»»
Dormant massive black hole in the early universe challenges existing models
Scientists have spotted a massive black hole in the early universe that is "napping" after stuffing itself with too much food. Like a bear gorging itself on salmon before hibernating for the winter, or a much-needed nap after Christmas dinner, this b.....»»
Small habitats, big consequences: Connectivity loss in pond networks threatens microbial biodiversity
In the midst of the ongoing global biodiversity crisis, even the smallest habitats like ponds demand our attention. Fragmentation of these habitats—driven by human activities like urbanization, agriculture, and land-use changes—poses a significan.....»»
Topographic complexity: A blueprint for biodiversity conservation
In the intricate landscapes of karst regions, the subtle interplay of slopes, soils, and microclimates is shaping the survival of plant species. A new study published in Forest Ecosystems has revealed how the unique structure of dolines—topographic.....»»
US may ban the most popular home router over Chinese security fears
The Chinese-made TP-Link router used by Amazon, hundreds of ISPs, and 65% of the US market, is facing an investigation that could see it banned by the government.A TP-Link routerUnspecified sources say that the Commerce Department under President Bid.....»»
No parachute needed: New typhoon observation device demonstrates high accuracy in field test
Researchers in Japan have demonstrated the high accuracy of their newly developed typhoon observation device, which is designed to drop from an aircraft into the eye of a typhoon. The results are published in the journal Scientific Online Letters on.....»»