Tropical storms trigger Antarctic ice melt
New factors have been identified which contribute to record-high temperatures and ice melt over the eastern Antarctic Peninsula and Larsen C Ice Shelf......»»
A 22-million-year-old petrified mangrove forest found in the Panama Canal
A team of environmental and natural scientists from Universidad EAFIT in Colombia, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, and Boise State University in the U.S. has found evidence of an ancient petrified mangrove forest on an island i.....»»
Record heat in 2023 worsened global droughts, floods and wildfires
Record heat across the world profoundly impacted the global water cycle in 2023, contributing to severe storms, floods, megadroughts and bushfires, new research from The Australian National University (ANU) shows......»»
Aircraft observations point to near neutral carbon dioxide exchange in northern tropical Africa
The forests and grasslands of northern tropical Africa take in about as much carbon dioxide in the wet season as they release in the dry season, according to a new study based on observations from aircraft. The findings contradict earlier research th.....»»
Five dead in US storms, country girds for more fierce weather
Swaths of the United States braced for more snow and punishingly low temperatures Wednesday as millions in the east dug out from a previous round of severe winter weather that left at least five people dead......»»
Deadly storms buffet US, leave hundreds of thousands without power
Severe weather battered the United States Tuesday, spinning off tornadoes and reportedly killing three people in the South as high winds and blizzards buffeted the North and hundreds of thousands lost power......»»
Carnivorous plant traps help scientists explain the evolution of complex "composite" traits
An international team of researchers led by Dr. Ulrike Bauer from the University of Bristol investigated two tropical pitcher plant species separated by 4,000 km of open ocean: The Slender Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes gracilis) found in Borneo, and Nepen.....»»
Logging and climate change threaten montane birds
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have studied the effects of forest logging and climate change on bird communities in tropical mountains, by examining over 10 years of data......»»
Even far below freezing, ice"s surface begins melting as temperatures rise
Physics is filled with mysteries. To find a few worth exploring, look no further than an ice cube. At room temperature, of course, the cube will melt before your eyes. But even far below freezing, ice can shift in barely perceptible ways that scienti.....»»
Sierra Nevada snowpack at lowest level in 10 years: What it means for California"s water supply
California's statewide Sierra Nevada snowpack—the source of nearly one-third of the state's water supply—is at its lowest level in a decade, a major turnaround from last year when huge storms ended a three-year drought and buried ski resorts in m.....»»
Iron snow ebb and flow may cause magnetic fields to come and go
Just as snow crystals form in the upper atmosphere, then fall to lower, warmer elevations and melt, scientists believe a phenomenon called iron snow happens in the molten iron cores of some planetary bodies. Cooling near the core-mantle boundary crea.....»»
Larger and more frequent solar storms will make for potential disruptions and spectacular auroras on Earth
Bright auroras, with dancing lights in the sky, characterize the clear winter nights of northern Canada. Longer nights during the fall and winter also favor seeing more auroras, but the show is best outside of light-polluted cities. Impressive aurora.....»»
In quest to prevent debilitating traumatic brain injuries, new foam material rises to the top
From falls to football tackles, most blows to the head occur at odd angles. And those impacts trigger simultaneous linear and rotational head motions. The rotating movement in particular causes shear strain, which is especially damaging to the brain......»»
New species of Arum family reported from Myanmar
The Arum family (Araceae) consists of terrestrial or aquatic shrubs, vines, or herbs. Amorphophallus is a large genus of about 200 tropical and subtropical tuberous herbs of the Arum family. Fifteen Amorphophallus species have been reported from Myan.....»»
Avian influenza has killed millions of seabirds around the world: Antarctica could be next
Antarctica is often imagined as the last untouched wilderness. Unfortunately, avian influenza ("bird flu") is encroaching on the icy continent. The virus has already reached the sub-Antarctic islands between the Antarctic Peninsula and South America......»»
What octopus DNA tells us about Antarctic ice sheet collapse
If we want to understand the future, it's often useful to look at the past. And even more useful if you use octopus DNA to peer into worlds long gone......»»
Antarctic octopus DNA reveals ice sheet collapse closer than thought
Scientists investigating how Antarctica's ice sheets retreated in the deep past have turned to an innovative approach: studying the genes of octopuses that live in its chilly waters......»»
A new map shows all above-ground biomass in the Brazilian Amazon
Publication of a new map showing all the above-ground biomass in the Brazilian Amazon is good news in the context of the severe crisis afflicting the world's largest contiguous tropical rainforest. Using airborne laser scanning and satellite imagery.....»»
Number of people affected by tropical cyclones has increased sharply since 2002
The number of people affected by tropical cyclones has nearly doubled from 2002 to 2019, reaching nearly 800 million people in 2019, according to a new study......»»
NSF director: US Antarctic research has national impact
The NSF Director and a US Representative agree: Science's benefits are widespread. Enlarge (credit: Jean Varner, National Science Foundation) The US National Science Foundation is one of the US’s primary means of su.....»»
2023"s extreme storms, heat and wildfires broke records—a scientist explains how global warming fuels climate disasters
The year 2023 was marked by extraordinary heat, wildfires and weather disasters......»»