Tireless ecosystem engineers or nuisance animals? Beavers" presence felt in Boise River
Some of the trees along the Boise Greenbelt at the southeast end of the city are wrapped at their bases with chicken wire. These are not Christmas trees, and this ornamentation, strung by the city of Boise in conjunction with volunteer groups, is not.....»»
Only 3% of South Africans can name all five national animals and plants. Why these symbols matter
Alongside a national flag, anthem and coat of arms, most countries have one or more plant and animal species that they designate as national symbols. The national animal of China, for example, is the giant panda, a nation-wide source of pride and dip.....»»
Biochemists create protocells to explore how lipids may have led to first cell membranes
A team of biochemists at the University of California, San Diego, working with a group of biochemical engineers from the University of California, Los Angeles, has found that the development of short lipids might have led to the development of the fi.....»»
UN summit approves fund to share benefits of nature"s sequenced genetic data
A UN nature summit agreed in Colombia Saturday on the creation of a fund to share the profits of digitally sequenced genetic data taken from animals and plants with the communities they come from......»»
Missing fire police captain found dead in Susquehanna River; Lancaster Co. Coroner
Missing fire police captain found dead in Susquehanna River; Lancaster Co. Coroner.....»»
Massive fire damaged steel beams, deck on Daniel Carter Beard Bridge over Ohio River
Massive fire damaged steel beams, deck on Daniel Carter Beard Bridge over Ohio River.....»»
Not too big, not too small: Why modern humans are the ideal size for speed
The fastest animal on land is the cheetah, capable of reaching top speeds of 104 kilometers per hour. In the water, the fastest animals are yellowfin tuna and wahoo, which can reach speeds of 75 and 77 km per hour respectively. In the air, the title.....»»
New digital light manufacturing approach resolves common problems associated with 3D printing
A team of materials scientists, medical researchers and engineers affiliated with a large number of institutions across Australia has developed a new way to conduct digital light manufacturing that overcomes problems with current methods. In their pa.....»»
African Sahara "greening" can alter Northern Hemisphere climate, modeling study finds
Africa's Sahara Desert may be considered a vast expanse of barren sand with limited vegetation, an extreme environment for plants and animals to thrive, but life always finds a way. Indeed, vegetation growth in the desert has waxed and waned over mil.....»»
Massive fire closes Ohio River bridge near Cincinnati and damages its steel structure
Massive fire closes Ohio River bridge near Cincinnati and damages its steel structure.....»»
A comparison of bat and bird wings reveals their evolutionary paths are vastly different
Bats are incredibly diverse animals: They can climb onto other animals to drink their blood, pluck insects from leaves or hover to drink nectar from tropical flowers, all of which require distinctive wing designs......»»
California"s Salton Sea receding at greater rate according to balloon mapping study
The Salton Sea, California's largest lake by surface area, is experiencing an increasing rate of shoreline retreat following a policy change that shifted more water from the Colorado River to San Diego, according to a newly published study. The resul.....»»
If Trump dismantles the NOAA, it will affect wildfires and food prices
Taking away NOAA weather and climate data could raise food prices, among other things. As the Popo Agie River wends its way down from the glaciers atop Wyoming’s Wind River Moun.....»»
Nigeria"s last elephants: What must be done to save them?
Nigeria has a unique elephant population, made up of both forest-dwelling (Loxodonta cyclotis) and savanna-dwelling (Loxodonta africana) elephant species. But the animals are facing unprecedented threats to their survival. In about 30 years, Nigeria'.....»»
Experiments demonstrate precise delivery of nanoparticles to lung via caveolae pumping system
In recent years, bio-medical engineers have been developing promising techniques that could help diagnose diseases or precisely target specific regions inside the human body. Among these promising therapeutic strategies are methods that rely on the u.....»»
We now know the secret to why Roman concrete lasts thousands of years
Ancient Rome was full of master builders and engineers. The fruits of their labors can still be seen in the aqueducts they built—which still function … The post We now know the secret to why Roman concrete lasts thousands of years appeared fi.....»»
How researchers can maximize biological insights using animal-tracking devices
Biologgers allow us to see with unprecedented precision how animals move and behave in the wild. But that's only part of the picture, according to a UC Santa Cruz ecologist renowned for using biologging data to tell a deeper story about the lives of.....»»
Algae-jellyfish relationship provides insight on immune health
Marine animals like jellyfish, corals and sea anemones often live with algae inside their cells in a symbiotic relationship. The animals give the algae nutrients and a place to live; in return, algae give the animals some of the food they make from s.....»»
Study finds comb jellies can reverse age
A new article published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals the unprecedented ability for reverse development in a ctenophore, also called comb jelly. The findings suggest that life cycle plasticity in animals might be more com.....»»
Precise layering in catalysts offers an improved way for building sustainable chemicals
Motivated to turn greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into high value chemicals like methanol, EPFL chemical engineers have developed a new method to make catalysts. Catalysts are major tools in the chemical industry and are largely made to make pet.....»»
These hornets break down alcohol so fast that they can’t get drunk
"No signs of intoxication or illness, even after chronically consuming huge amounts of alcohol." Many animals, including humans, have developed a taste for alcohol in some form, b.....»»