Tropical dry forests disappearing rapidly around the globe
Dry tropical forests are important ecosystems, yet these forests are increasingly threatened, a new study discovers. An innovative approach to characterize how deforestation took place since 2000 showed that more than 71 million hectares of tropical.....»»
Only the Hardiest Trees Can Survive Today’s Urban Inferno
In a rapidly warming world, cities need more tree cover to stay cool—but only certain species can handle soaring temperatures, and often they aren’t native species......»»
British Columbia needs a unified response to respond to the biodiversity crisis, say researchers
From massive kelp forests to monumental old-growth on land, British Columbia's biodiversity—which is unrivaled in Canada—provides an array of cultural, economic, social and other benefits. B.C.'s wide-ranging ecological zones are home to over 70.....»»
Why Do We Sing? New Analysis of Folk Songs Finds Similarities around the World
Across the globe, singing traditions are vast and varied. Their commonalities may help explain how music evolved.....»»
This Year’s La Niña Could Worsen Atlantic Hurricane Season
Earth is shifting into a La Niña period, changing climate patterns all around the globe.....»»
The Cockroach’s Surprisingly Recent Path to Global Domination
A common species of cockroach hails from Asia, according to new research that tracks its spread around the globe.....»»
Artificial intelligence resolves conflicts impeding animal behavior research
Artificial intelligence software has been developed to rapidly analyze animal behavior so that behaviors can be more precisely linked to the activity of individual brain circuits and neurons, researchers in Seattle report......»»
Heavy water: How melting ice sheets and pumped groundwater can lower local sea levels—and boost them elsewhere
Imagine you're standing near the edge of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, gazing out over the ocean, when the ice near you starts to melt very rapidly. A surge of meltwater flows into the ocean. Surprisingly, you watch the sea level fall—not rise......»»
Saltmarshes do store carbon, but their climate impact may have been overestimated
Saltmarshes, or tidal marshes, are able to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and lock it away at a far higher rate than even forests on land. This has lead to them being championed as a nature-based solution to climate change. However, our r.....»»
The value of failure in conservation programs
Conservation programs need—and often incentivize—community involvement. For example, a program in Zanzibar, Tanzania, asked communities to protect their village forests in exchange for access to the carbon credits market. Despite community enthus.....»»
Silky shark makes record breaking migration in international waters of the Tropical Eastern Pacific
In a recent study, researchers have documented the most extensive migration ever recorded for a silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), revealing critical insights into the behavior of this severely overfished species and emphasizing the urgent need.....»»
Seaweed forests are an overlooked component of oceanic carbon storage, study finds
A new study by an international team of researchers has revealed seaweed forests are significant contributors to ocean carbon storage......»»
Omnidirectional color wavelength tuning method unlocks new possibilities for smart photonics
In the rapidly evolving field of photonics, an advancement has emerged from Korea, redefining the possibilities of structural color manipulation. Scientists have developed a pioneering technology capable of omnidirectional wavelength tuning, which pr.....»»
SpaceX’s Starlink internet service reaches milestone
Since launching a beta internet-from-space service in 2020, SpaceX's Starlink system has grown rapidly and now has more than 3 million customers globally......»»
Study explains regional differences in bird diversity in agroforestry systems
The diversity and ecological functionality of bird communities in tropical agroforestry systems are shaped by the surrounding landscape, in particular the extent and composition of the forest. An international research team led by the University of G.....»»
Collapse in migratory fish populations threatens health of millions and critical freshwater ecosystems
Populations of migratory freshwater fish species—including salmon, trout, eel, and sturgeon—continue to decline across the globe. This decline risks the food security and livelihoods of millions of people, the survival of countless other species,.....»»
Rise in sea urchins and related damage to kelp forests impacts Oregon"s gray whales and their food, study finds
A recent boom in the purple sea urchin population off the southern Oregon Coast appears to have had an indirect and negative impact on the gray whales that usually forage in the region, a new study shows......»»
Slowing climate change is possible—here"s how nations could make it happen
January 2024 marked the first year during which the globe's surface temperatures rose 1.5°C above average. Although it's unknown whether this trend will continue, it does mean that temperatures are nearing the limit agreed upon in 2015's Paris Agree.....»»
How cockroaches spread around the globe to become the pest we know today
They're six-legged, hairy home invaders that just won't die, no matter how hard you try......»»
New quantum dot approach can enhance electrical conductivity of solar cells
A team led by Professor Jongmin Choi of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering has developed a PbS quantum dot that can rapidly enhance the electrical conductivity of solar cells. The findings are published in the journal Small......»»
Summer 2023 was northern hemisphere"s hottest for 2,000 years, tree rings show
The summer of 2023 was the warmest in the non-tropical areas of the northern hemisphere for 2,000 years, a new study has shown......»»