Washington state"s older forests capture carbon better than nearly any other
They tower and drip, their curtains of moss damp in windblown fog: rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, unique in all the world......»»
Study reveals flies more vulnerable than bees to climate change
Despite their reputation as buzzing nuisances, flies serve a critical role as some of the Earth's most prolific pollinators—and new research led by Penn State scientists suggests they are increasingly at risk due to rising global temperatures......»»
Environmental groups challenge update to California"s low-carbon transportation rules
A coalition of environmental groups challenged California's leading climate regulator on Wednesday, alleging that a recent update to a leading climate program will create additional pollution in the state's San Joaquin Valley......»»
Here’s what we learned driving Audi’s new Q6 and SQ6 electric SUVs
Audi's mid-sized electric SUV is now on sale in the US, and we've tested it. Audi provided flights from Washington, DC, to San Francisco and accommodation so Ars could drive the Q.....»»
Sugar solution matches antibiotics in treating cow infections
A concentrated sugar solution could be just as effective as antibiotics at treating a common infection in dairy cows, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State. The results were recently published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinar.....»»
Federal protection for monarch butterflies could help or harm this iconic species, depending on how it"s carried out
Monarch butterflies are among the most beloved insects in North America. They are brightly colored and unique, both as caterpillars and later as mature insects. Monarchs are found in every U.S. state except Alaska, so nearly everyone has seen a monar.....»»
Climate change could trigger more earthquakes, study suggests
A recent Colorado State University study published in the journal Geology demonstrates that climate change can affect the frequency of earthquakes, adding to a small but growing body of evidence showing that climate can alter the seismic cycle......»»
Biotic factors contribute more to aboveground biomass across scales
The aboveground biomass of vegetation is significant to the global carbon cycle and climate change mitigation. Both biotic factors, such as forest structure attributes, community-weighted mean of traits, and functional diversity, and abiotic factors,.....»»
Capybaras found dead from rabies on Brazilian island underline need to monitor virus
Three capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) died from rabies on Anchieta Island in the municipality of Ubatuba, São Paulo state, Brazil, between December 2019 and January 2020. One was found dead, and two exhibited hindlimb paralysis before dying. A.....»»
Rocket-inspired reaction yields carbon with record surface area
Using a chemical reaction inspired by rocket fuel ignition, Cornell researchers have engineered a nanoporous carbon with the highest surface area ever reported, a breakthrough that is already proving beneficial for carbon-dioxide capture and energy s.....»»
How one state"s repeal of a prison "pay-to-stay" law could guide national reform
Nearly every state requires incarcerated individuals to pay for room, board and basic services under so-called "pay-to-stay" laws. In 2019, Illinois became one of the first to repeal such a law—a move that prompted Brittany Friedman, assistant prof.....»»
Old moon, young crust: Violent volcanism may mean the moon is much older than previously thought
After its formation, the moon may have been the scene of such immense volcanic activity that its entire crust melted several times and was completely churned through. At that time, the moon orbited significantly closer to Earth than today. The result.....»»
Swedish oak forests study reveals unexpected patterns in biodiversity, poses challenge for conservation
A new study from Linnaeus University reports that plant and insect diversity in Swedish oak forests increases toward the north. This finding contrasts with established global biodiversity patterns and poses a challenge for the development of climate-.....»»
Physicists magnetize a material with light: Terahertz technique could improve memory chip design
MIT physicists have created a new and long-lasting magnetic state in a material, using only light......»»
25 years after Lothar: How the windstorm rebuilt Swiss forests
On the morning of December 26, 1999, the winter storm "Lothar" swept across Switzerland, knocking down around 14 million cubic meters of wood, three times the annual logging volume. WSL experts answer numerous questions about how the forest is doing.....»»
The social cost of carbon: Study finds current estimates omit key effects
The social cost of carbon—an important figure that global policymakers use to analyze the benefits of climate and energy policies—is too low, according to a study led by the University of California, Davis......»»
Ocean microbe"s unusual pair of enzymes may boost carbon storage
Stanford researchers have found a surprising genetic twist in a lineage of microbes that may play an important role in ocean carbon storage. The microbes, known as blue-green algae or cyanobacteria, have two different forms of a ubiquitous enzyme tha.....»»
Wildfire risk climbs as trees reclaim eastern US landscapes
The eastern U.S. has more trees and shrubs than three decades ago. This growth, driven by processes such as tree and understory infilling in unmanaged forests, is helping fuel wildfires, contributing to changing fire regimes in the eastern half of th.....»»
NASA telescopes capture a cosmic wreath for the holidays
Two NASA telescopes have worked together to capture a stunning view of a star cluster......»»
"Video game ecology" can help us understand the climate crisis in our forests
When we think of climate change we often think of extreme events like flooding rains and large bushfires. But climate change can also have slower, more subtle impacts on our landscapes......»»
Can deep learning techniques predict sudden state transitions in nonlinear dynamical systems?
Nonlinear dynamical systems are systems that can undergo sudden shifts not due to changes in their state or stability, but in response to the rate at which external conditions or parameters change. These sudden shifts, known as noise-induced and rate.....»»