The number of trees that died in California spiked last year: Drought is mainly to blame
Roughly 36.3 million dead trees were counted across California last year, a dramatic increase from previous years that experts are blaming on drought, insects and disease, according to a report by the U.S. Forest Service......»»
Climate change is contributing to drought in the American West even without rainfall deficits, scientists find
Higher temperatures caused by anthropogenic climate change made an ordinary drought into an exceptional drought that parched the American West from 2020–2022. A study by UCLA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration climate scientists ha.....»»
9to5Mac Gift Guide: Zac’s bag of 2024 tech
Every great holiday gift guide deserves a punchy theme that captures your attention and inspires your gift giving season. My theme this year? Stuff I received to review but haven’t yet, and stuff I honestly use daily. What… the smart home gift gu.....»»
Making farming better for bees: Can we breed crops that produce more nectar and pollen?
Where once there were vast areas of forest and other natural habitats, farmland now covers much of Earth—including 70% of the UK. This transition has helped feed a growing number of people......»»
Mighty radio bursts linked to massive galaxies: New clues about how magnetars form
Since their discovery in 2007, fast radio bursts—extremely energetic pulses of radio-frequency light—have lit up the sky repeatedly, leading astronomers on a chase to uncover their origins. Currently, confirmed fast radio bursts, or FRBs, number.....»»
More families purchased school meals after federal nutrition policies enacted, research suggests
Families purchased more school lunches and breakfasts the year after the federal government toughened nutritional standards for school meals. A new University of California, Davis, study suggests that families turned to school lunches after the Obama.....»»
Making "stressed" potatoes more climate-resilient
Heat, dry spells and flooding—the whole of nature is under stress, and potatoes are no exception. As a food staple, there is particular interest in getting potatoes fit for the new climate reality. As part of the EU's four-year ADAPT project, an in.....»»
Food security in Africa: Managing water will be vital in a rapidly growing region
Sub-Saharan Africa's population is growing at 2.7% per year and is expected to reach two billion by the year 2050. The region's urban population is growing even faster: it was at 533 million in 2023, a 3.85% increase from 2022......»»
How honeybees can help us monitor pollution across Canada
Canada has more than 13,000 beekeepers with almost 1,000,000 beehives spread across every province. Together, they produce about 40,000,000 kilograms of honey each year. That is enough for roughly one kilogram of honey for every Canadian......»»
The extreme floods that devastated Spain are hitting more often. Is Australia ready for the next one?
Spain is still reeling from recent floods in the Valencia region. In some areas, a year's worth of rain fell in a single day. Sudden torrents raced through towns and cities. More than 200 people are dead. Rapid analysis suggests daily rainfall extrem.....»»
New bird flu outbreak confirmed in UK
The UK government warned bird keepers to remain vigilant after bird flu was detected at a commercial poultry farm in northern England, the second outbreak this year and first of the season......»»
Why this 3-year-old iOS feature is one of my favorite things about the iPhone
Apple has released numerous iPhone and iOS features over the last few years. Here's why Focus modes, launched in 2021, remains one of my favorites......»»
Braving sharks and hordes of urchins, scientists are growing kelp one forest at a time
The weathered UC Davis Marine Laboratory looms in thick fog on the edge of the ocean near Bodega Bay. Inside, an experiment is playing out that gives a badly-needed boost to Northern California's kelp forests—underwater cathedrals of green and gold.....»»
Washington coast avian flu outbreak devastated Caspian terns, jumped to seals
An epidemiological study found that 56% of a large breeding colony of Caspian terns died from a 2023 outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at Rat Island in Washington state. Since then, no birds have successfully bred on the island, raising c.....»»
It’s the end of the road for Sony’s pricey AirPeak S1 drone
Three years after it hit the market, Sony has announced it will discontinue the pricey AirPeak S1 drone next year......»»
Apple Watch users may Ten Year Celebration activity challenge
Code within the new iOS 18.2 beta suggests that Apple is planning to acknowledge the decade anniversary of the Apple Watch with a new activity achievement.Apple did not release a major redesign of the Apple Watch to mark its ten-year anniversary —.....»»
Mozilla Foundation lays off 30% of staff, ends advocacy work
In the same year that Mozilla laid off around 60 workers, its nonprofit Foundation is making around 30 redundant......»»
World’s first wooden satellite launched to space
The tiny wooden cubesat arrived at the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon ship and will be deployed to orbit before the end of this year......»»
Apple’s global head of accessibility to attend Web Summit Lisbon 2024
This year’s Web Summit Lisbon kicks off next week, and guests will have the chance to attend a talk by Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s current global head of accessibility. Unsurprisingly, the presentation will discuss how Apple considers accessibility.....»»
Make the most of your smart lights this holiday season with these expert tips
It's dark and dreary this time of year, but if you're using smart lights properly, it's easy to get through the winter. Here's how to optimize your setup......»»
M4 24-inch iMac vs M3 24-inch iMac compared -- Apple"s iconic Mac gets a speed boost
Apple's refreshed M4 24-inch iMac sports a fast chip, but that isn't the only reason to upgrade. Here's how the hot new model compares to the year-old M3 iMac that it replaces.Apple's M4 iMac hasn't changed all that much.Apple's launch of the new M4.....»»