These freeze-drying algae can awaken from cryostasis, and could help spaceflights go farther
Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valleys contain some of Earth's coldest and driest deserts. The environment there is so extreme that the Dry Valleys have been used as Mars analogs to test prototype equipment for future Mars exploration......»»
Earth"s land is drying as it warms, but it is not clear how dry is too dry
When soil moisture is low, evaporation is limited. The conditions of this moisture-limited regime can exacerbate extreme weather events, including droughts and heat waves. In a new study, Hsin Hsu and colleagues quantify how global warming affects so.....»»
Aquatic plants are essential to the ecosystem, but need good management, say researchers
Submerged macrophytes are declining in many shallow lakes around the world, with more algae and free-floating plants taking their place. But an opposite trend is also emerging: water bodies with improved water quality are increasingly experiencing a.....»»
Short-lived solutions for tall trees in Chile"s megadrought
For more than a decade, forests across much of Chile have been experiencing a megadrought, its effects overprinted on an already warming and drying climate. High in the Andes, stands of giant Nothofagus obliqua trees, also known as roble or southern.....»»
Virgin Galactic resumes spaceflights after two year pause
Virgin Galactic successfully carried out its first spaceflight in nearly two years Thursday, the company said, after an "enhancement period" to make safety upgrades to its fleet......»»
What"s behind the toxic algae producing killer shellfish in Alaska?
Most people probably associate algal blooms with red tides in Florida that can lead to skin irritation, burning eyes and rashes in exposed individuals......»»
Publication of the first global macrogenetic map of marine habitat-forming species
Species known as marine habitat-forming species —gorgonians, corals, algae, seaweeds, marine phanerogams, etc.— are organisms that help generate and structure the underwater landscapes. These are natural refuges for other species, and provide bio.....»»
Algae combined with visible light may create ink for cultured meat
A few years ago, a French daily newspaper published an article titled "Korea's Utilization of Algae as a food ingredient for the Earth." The article highlighted the ecological potential of algae, which Westerners typically find unappealing due to its.....»»
Corals mark friendly algae for ingestion—revealing possible conservation target
New research led by Carnegie's Yixian Zhen and Minjie Hu reveals how coral cells tag friendly algae before ingesting them, initiating a mutually beneficial relationship. This information could guide next-level coral conservation efforts......»»
Many of world’s biggest lakes in peril due to warming, drying climate
A new global study shows water levels falling and finds a global warming fingerprint. Enlarge / Aerial view of an abandoned boat on a desert at the site of former Lake Poopó, near Punaca Tinta Maria, Bolivia, taken on October 15.....»»
Why so many electric car chargers in America don"t work
Parts break, information screens freeze, payment systems malfunction. Copper thieves steal the cords. Vandals damage charging plugs. In the U.S., nascent networks mean that if the machines at one station aren’t working, there may not be another nea.....»»
Virgin to launch commercial spaceflights in June
Space tourism company Virgin Galactic announced Monday that it is resuming flights with a mission this month, its first in nearly two years, and the launch of commercial trips in June......»»
Watch Apple’s iPhone recycling robot Daisy punch out screws, freeze batteries, and more
Last year, we got a close look at the iPhone recycling robot Daisy. With over 2 billion iPhones sold worldwide, figuring out how to scale recycling smartphones efficiently is a major part of Apple’s plan to be carbon neutral by 2030. Now a new beh.....»»
Researchers capture elusive missing step in the final act of photosynthesis
Photosynthesis plays a crucial role in shaping and sustaining life on Earth, yet many aspects of the process remain a mystery. One such mystery is how photosystem II, a protein complex in plants, algae and cyanobacteria, harvests energy from sunlight.....»»
Indo-Pacific corals found to be more resilient to climate change than Atlantic corals
In the face of global warming and other environmental changes, corals in the Atlantic Ocean have declined precipitously in recent years, while corals in the Pacific and Indian Oceans are faring better. By describing several species of symbiotic algae.....»»
Phosphorus runoff studies show importance of stable banks, cover crops
Spring rains are great for flowers and kayakers, but the season also prompts concern about algae bloom-causing phosphorus runoff into drinking water sources......»»
Soybean crops can take advantage of climate change to increase productivity
As the climate continues to warm, atmospheric drying—the reduction of the amount of water the air can hold—is becoming a major concern for crop producers around the world. Atmospheric drying is typically associated with crop productivity declines.....»»
An artificial intelligence method for rapid plant phenotyping under complex conditions
During photosynthesis, the green pigment chlorophyll in algae and plants absorbs most of the energy from incoming light. Chlorophyll gets excited and transfers this energy to the energy-harvesting protein complexes photosystem I (PSI) and II (PSII)......»»
How the humble protist could shore up the world"s food supply
Protists, a broad class of generally single-celled organisms that includes algae and amoebae, have long been regarded as a "catch-all" category for diverse microorganisms. Because of their diversity and prevalence, protists play vital roles in virtua.....»»
Elizabeth Holmes gets bail extension one day before prison term start
Holmes' last-ditch appeal triggered an automatic freeze on her previous bail denial. Enlarge / Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, alongside her partner Billy Evans, leaves a hearing at the Robert E. Peckham US Courthouse on Ma.....»»
Algae in Swedish lakes provide insights to how complex life on Earth developed
By studying green algae in Swedish lakes, a research team, led by Lund University in Sweden, has succeeded in identifying which environmental conditions promote multicellularity. Published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, the results give u.....»»