What does lightning actually do to a tree?
The huge storms many Australians have experienced recently have damaged or toppled old trees which had withstood the vagaries of our weather for the past century or more......»»
8 in 10 lizards could be at risk due to deforestation
In Colorado, people flock to the Rocky Mountains when the summer heat gets unbearable. Animals seek shelter too when temperatures become extreme, and forests serve as critical sanctuaries for small tree-dwelling animals like lizards......»»
An inside look at beech tree disease
Beech trees provide food for animals, timber for wood products, and sustenance for beech drop plants, but they are under threat from beech leaf disease (BLD). The disease, first documented in 2012 in the Midwest, is associated with the nematode Lityl.....»»
Brown bears digging up artificial forests, study shows
Brown bears foraging for food in the Shiretoko Peninsula of Hokkaido, Japan, have been disrupting tree growth in artificial conifer forests, according to a new study published in Ecology. Researchers compared soil and tree samples from human-forested.....»»
Researchers decipher mysterious growth habit of weeping peach trees
A basic premise of how plants grow is that shoots grow up and roots grow down. A new study, published in Plant Physiology, reveals the answer to a fascinating question: why do weeping tree varieties defy this natural growth pattern?.....»»
New discovery speeds scientists" push for Huanglongbing-tolerant citrus
It's one thing for a hybrid citrus tree to tolerate citrus greening disease (a.k.a. Huanglongbing) and quite another if it also produces orange-like fruit—especially if the juice makes for a delicious breakfast beverage. Now, that holy grail of tra.....»»
Where does lightning strike? New maps pinpoint 36.8 million yearly ground strike points in unprecedented detail
It's been a warm day, maybe even a little humid, and the tall clouds in the distance remind you of cauliflower. You hear a sharp crack, like the sound of a batter hitting a home run, or a low rumble reminiscent of a truck driving down the highway. A.....»»
Overcrowding increases tree mortality, perhaps explaining higher biodiversity in tropical forests
When a tree is surrounded by many similar individuals, its mortality increases, which is probably caused by specialized pathogens or herbivores. This effect occurs in forests all over the world, but is more pronounced in rare tropical tree species, w.....»»
If exoplanets have lightning, it"ll complicate the search for life
Discovering exoplanets is almost routine now. We've found over 5,500 exoplanets, and the next step is to study their atmospheres and look for biosignatures. The James Webb Space Telescope is leading the way in that effort. But in some exoplanet atmos.....»»
The Ford F-150 Lightning’s latest headache? A stop-ship order
The quality problem does not appear to affect EVs already at dealerships. Enlarge / On February 9, Ford suspended shipments of model-year 2024 F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks to dealerships. (credit: Ford) Ford ha.....»»
Ford halts 2024 F-150 Lightning shipments; delivery of gasoline trucks begins roughly two months after production
The Lightning stop-ship order went into effect Feb. 9, Ford said, and it's unclear when it will be lifted......»»
Study shows orchid family emerged in northern hemisphere and thrived alongside dinosaurs for 20 million years
In a new study published in New Phytologist, scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, along with partners in Latin America, Asia and Australia, present an updated family tree of orchids, tracing their origins to the northern hemisphere some 85 m.....»»
Upgrade to iPhone 15? You’ll need this cable for CarPlay
Apple changed the charging port from Lightning to USB-C with the iPhone 15. A USB-C charging cable comes in the box, but upgraders may need to purchase a separate cable to continue using CarPlay. more….....»»
Indigenous Colombians fret as sacred mountain glaciers melt
In the shade of a sacred tree, Indigenous wise men chew coca leaves as they mull the threats to their home among the melting, snow-capped peaks of Colombia's Sierra Nevada mountains......»»
New AirPods Max rumored to hit shelves in 2024 without giant feature changes
A new rumor suggests that Apple will be refreshing its AirPods Max before the year ends — but only to swap out its Lightning port.AirPods MaxApple released its high-end AirPods Max in 2020 and still hasn't released a second generation yet. However,.....»»
Australia"s shot-hole borer beetle invasion has begun, but we don"t need to chop down every tree under attack
A new pest attacking Perth's trees threatens to spread across Australia, damaging crops and native forests as well as our urban forest. To control its spread, the Western Australian government is chopping down hundreds of established trees. But these.....»»
Complex tree canopies found to help forests recover from moderate disturbances
Extreme events wipe out entire forests, dramatically eliminating complex ecosystems as well as local communities. Researchers have become quite familiar with such attention-grabbing events over the years. They know less, however, about the more commo.....»»
El Nino brings hunger, drought fears to Madagascar
In a small village in southern Madagascar, dozens of women shelter from the scorching sun under a tree as they wait to weigh their children......»»
West"s "hot drought" is unprecedented in more than 500 years
There's no precedent in at least five centuries for how hot and dry the West has been in the last two decades, new research asserts using analysis of tree rings......»»
Auto industry, steel buyers hail U.S. Steel deal that scares Washington
The positive view from the industry hasn’t stopped the deal from becoming a lightning rod in a U.S. election year, with opposition from the United Steelworkers union and several politicians......»»
Asian fishing cats caught snacking on chicks from tree-top nests
South Asian fishing cats were observed raiding bird nests in tall trees for the first time. This rare and highly unusual behavior was caught on motion cameras set up in tree canopies across northeast Bangladesh to survey bird colonies. Scientists hop.....»»