Which population structures maximize evolutionary fitness?
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute in Plön have shown that population structures that enhance the effect of selection do not necessarily also lead to higher fitness. Instead, it is crucial for maximizing fitness that detrimental mutations are pr.....»»
Atlas of the Human Planet: 50 years of population growth and urbanization trends uncovered
The new Atlas of the Human Planet reveals 50 years of global population growth and urbanization trends, providing insights into how cities and rural areas have evolved. This data offers vital tools for addressing future climate, social, and economic.....»»
Accelerating 3D nanofabrication using a sensitive cationic photoresist
Two-photon laser direct writing lithography or TPL is a cutting-edge technique used for creating nanoscale structures. It works by leveraging specific materials known as photoresists, which change their chemical properties when exposed to light. Thes.....»»
Novel polypeptide-based molecules could pave the way for enhanced polymer design
A research study describes a systematic high-throughput design approach for virtual screening and creation of novel polypeptide-based molecules that form regular secondary structures that can be used in biology or materials science research. The stud.....»»
How researchers can maximize biological insights using animal-tracking devices
Biologgers allow us to see with unprecedented precision how animals move and behave in the wild. But that's only part of the picture, according to a UC Santa Cruz ecologist renowned for using biologging data to tell a deeper story about the lives of.....»»
Tattoos to confront the terror of death: Researchers examine rise of memorial tattoos in Israel
The October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel resulted in widespread trauma, impacting not only the direct victims but also the broader population. Many experienced posttraumatic symptoms. This collective trauma blurred the lines between witnesses and.....»»
Solar-powered animal cells: Combining chloroplasts from algae with hamster cells
Energy-making chloroplasts from algae have been inserted into hamster cells, enabling the cells to photosynthesize light, according to new research in Japan. It was previously thought that combining chloroplasts (chlorophyll containing structures in.....»»
A Lost Mayan City Has Been Found With Laser Mapping
Archaeologists have revealed an ancient lost Mayan city using advanced laser mapping technology, unearthing monumental structures such as pyramids and plazas. Named Valeriana, the city is believed to have been founded before 150 AD......»»
“Impact printing” is a cement-free alternative to 3D-printed structures
Impact printing uses a high-velocity jet of material, fusing it into a structure. Recently, construction company ICON announced that it is close to completing the world’s larges.....»»
The faces of disaster: Social vulnerability spotlighted in dataset
Natural hazards like hurricanes can take a higher than average toll on life and property on certain population groups, such as the elderly. A dataset that highlights vulnerable populations in hazard mitigation plans was awarded a 2024 DesignSafe Data.....»»
Team observes how iron atoms alter grain boundary structures in titanium
Using state-of-the-art microscopy and simulation techniques, an international research team has systematically observed how iron atoms alter the structure of grain boundaries in titanium. Their findings were published in the journal Science on Octobe.....»»
Researchers find Weddell seals avoid extreme dives at midday
Erebus Bay, Antarctica, is home to the southernmost population of the world's southernmost living mammal—the Weddell seal. These seals may look like couch potatoes when they are resting on the ice, but Weddell seals go to great lengths to make a li.....»»
Why donors should ask local communities what matters to them while deciding what success looks like
Have you ever asked a teacher whether something will be on an upcoming test to decide whether to closely pay attention to a particular lesson? Taken the long way back from a lunch break to get enough exercise to meet a goal monitored by a fitness app.....»»
Have we found all the major Maya cities? Not even close, new research suggests
Archaeologists have analyzed lidar data from a completely unstudied corner of the Maya world in Campeche, Mexico, revealing 6,674 undiscovered Maya structures, including pyramids like those at the famous sites of Chichén Itzá or Tikal......»»
Giant clam declared critically endangered after assessment
The giant clam, known for its colorful cape-like mantle, wavy shell and astonishing size, is in danger of going extinct after its population plunged by more than 80% over the last century, according to a new assessment by a CU Boulder biologist and c.....»»
Protecting endangered bats with biomaterials
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers are using a new bioderived material to 3D print custom roosting structures for endangered bats......»»
Where did kissing come from? Study introduces the "groomer"s final kiss hypothesis"
A team at the University of Warwick is suggesting that human kissing evolved from grooming behaviors observed in ancestral great apes. In a study, "The Evolutionary Origin of Human Kissing," published in Evolutionary Anthropology, the researchers int.....»»
Study reveals the twists and turns of mammal evolution from a sprawling to upright posture
Mammals, including humans, stand out with their distinctively upright posture, a key trait that fueled their spectacular evolutionary success. Yet, the earliest known ancestors of modern mammals more resembled reptiles, with limbs stuck out to their.....»»
Red-cockaded woodpeckers" recovery in southeast leads to status change from endangered to threatened
The red-cockaded woodpecker, an iconic bird in southeastern forests, has recovered enough of its population to be downlisted from an endangered species to a threatened one, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday......»»
Study finds cheating boosts male sparrow fitness
Cheating pays. Or at least it does for male sparrows, according to new research......»»
Millions in the US may rely on groundwater contaminated with PFAS for drinking water supplies
Approximately 71 to 95 million people in the Lower 48 states—more than 20% of the country's population—may rely on groundwater that contains detectable concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, for their drinking.....»»