Wetlands offer greater cumulative benefit for flood control: Study
Adding multiple smaller wetlands to the landscape can make large reservoirs more effective at flood control, according to a new study from Tulane University published in Environmental Research Letters......»»
Engineers create a chip-based tractor beam for biological particles
MIT researchers have developed a miniature, chip-based "tractor beam," like the one that captures the Millennium Falcon in the film "Star Wars," that could someday help biologists and clinicians study DNA, classify cells, and investigate the mechanis.....»»
Outdoor businesses and venues could benefit from boosting birdsong sound biodiversity
Visitors to vineyards enjoyed their tours more when they heard enhanced sounds of diverse birdsong, new research has found. The findings from the University of East Anglia suggest that outdoor businesses could improve their customer experience by inv.....»»
Study sheds light on limitations of zooplankton for inactivating pathogen contaminated water
Scientists at The University of Texas at El Paso and Stanford University were recently surprised to find that the natural community of zooplankton—tiny, aquatic animals known to graze on bacteria—present in freshwater and saltwater do not clean w.....»»
Miami-Dade study questions reliability of land surface temperature for heat risk assessment
A study published in the journal PLOS Climate on October 2, 2024, examines the effectiveness of using land surface temperatures (LSTs) as proxies for surface air temperatures (SATs) in subtropical, seasonally wet regions......»»
People infer the past better than the future, study finds
If you started watching a movie from the middle without knowing its plot, you'd likely be better at inferring what had happened earlier than predicting what will happen next, according to a new Dartmouth-led study published in Nature Communications......»»
Study: Wildfires will make the land absorb much less carbon, even if warming is kept below 1.5°C
One of the aims of the Paris Agreement was to "pursue efforts" to keep global warming below 1.5°C, but even this ambitious target would not stop the land's ability to absorb carbon weakening as wildfires become fiercer and more frequent, according t.....»»
Oura Ring 4 makes the smart ring slimmer, comfier, and more accurate
A new version of Oura’s smart ring has been announced, the Oura Ring 4. The new model is slimmer, has recessed sensors for greater comfort, and uses new algorithms to provide more complete and accurate measurements. The 4th-gen smart ring is als.....»»
iPhone 16 designers share the thinking behind the Camera Control button
Two of the iPhone 16 designers have spoken on the Cool Hunting Design Tangents podcast, sharing some of the thinking behind the development of the new Camera Control button. Senior product designer Rich Dinh said that he’s worked on the iPhone s.....»»
iPhone contact privacy change is good for developers, not bad
Some developers yesterday argued that a change to iPhone contact privacy in iOS 18 made it harder for new social media apps to compete. But I think they’re wrong, and that the more granular privacy control offered in iOS 18 actually makes it mor.....»»
2024 Nobels offer glimmer of hope as global crises mount
Next week's Nobel Prize announcements will crown achievements that made the world a better place, a glimmer of optimism amid a spiraling Middle East conflict, war in Ukraine, famine in Sudan and a collapsing climate......»»
Study reveals oyster reefs once thrived along Europe"s coasts—now they"re gone
Oysters once formed extensive reefs along much of Europe's coastline—but these complex ecosystems were destroyed over a century ago, new research shows. The paper, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, is titled "Records reveal the vast h.....»»
Decades-long research reveals new understanding of how climate change may impact caches of Arctic soil carbon
Utilizing one of the longest-running ecosystem experiments in the Arctic, a Colorado State University-led team of researchers has developed a better understanding of the interplay among plants, microbes and soil nutrients—findings that offer new in.....»»
Google Home for iPhone adding Favorites homescreen widget
After coming to Android earlier this year, Google Home now offers widgets that let you quickly control smart devices from your homescreen on iPhone and iPad. more….....»»
Methane emissions from dairy farms higher than thought—but conversion to biogas could reduce emissions
New research has found methane emissions from slurry stores on dairy farms may be up to five times greater than official statistics suggest—and highlights the huge potential for turning them into a renewable energy source......»»
Meta smart glasses can be used to dox anyone in seconds, study finds
Linking Meta smart glasses to a face search engine can ID strangers in a glance. Two Harvard students recently revealed that it's possible to combine Meta smart glasses with face.....»»
AI-generated college admissions essays tend to sound male and privileged, study finds
In an examination of thousands of human-written college admissions essays and those generated by AI, researchers found that the AI-generated essays are most similar to essays authored by students who are males, with higher socioeconomic status and hi.....»»
As temperatures rise, researchers identify mechanisms behind plant response to warming
Microscopic pores on the surface of leaves called stomata help plants "breathe" by controlling how much water they lose due to evaporation. These stomatal pores also enable and control carbon dioxide intake for photosynthesis and growth......»»
AI models identify marine biodiversity hotspots in Mozambique
A new study led by staff from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in East Africa has used a predictive artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to confirm the location of previously-unmapped high marine biodiversity areas along Mozambique's extensi.....»»
Study reveals invasive Apple Snail could spread further in Africa
New research reveals that the invasive Apple Snail—which threatens rice crops—could spread further in Africa. The study is published in the journal CABI Agriculture and Bioscience......»»
Wildlife care varies by species, Finnish study finds
A joint study carried out at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, and SEY Animal Welfare Finland investigated the treatment of injured and sick wildlife as well as associated factors. The care of wild animals is a significant e.....»»