Wildfire smoke may lead to less rain in the western US
As wildfires and heatwaves stress the western United States, concern over drought is rising: Dry landscapes burn more readily, and rain can help quell fires already raging. But wildfire smoke may keep that essential rain from falling......»»
US water reservoirs are shrinking and becoming less reliable, new study finds
Major water reservoirs across the continental United States are experiencing longer, more severe, and more variable periods of low storage than several decades ago, a new study reports. The problems are most severe in the western and central United S.....»»
Nitrogen deposition also reduces biodiversity on a larger scale, research shows
It has long been known that nitrogen deposition, where nitrogen is released from the atmosphere into soil or water, can lead to biodiversity loss on a small scale. New research shows that this effect can also be seen in larger areas of several kilome.....»»
Repurposing pencil lead as an optical material using plasma
Optical materials are essential in many modern applications, but controlling the way a material reflects light on its surface is costly and difficult. Now, in a recent study, researchers from Japan found a simple and low-cost way of tuning the reflec.....»»
Portugal seeks EU help as wildfire threatens UNESCO-listed forest
Portugal on Wednesday appealed to EU partners for assistance in fighting a wildfire on the Atlantic island of Madeira that has raged for a week and threatened a UNESCO-listed forest......»»
AI exhibits racial bias in mortgage underwriting decisions, researchers find
Putting AI to use in mortgage lending decisions could lead to discrimination against Black applicants, according to new research. But researchers say there may be a surprisingly simple solution to mitigate this potential bias......»»
Tissue fluidization during skin repair is crucial for wound healing, study reveals
The ability to repair tissue following injuries is essential for the survival of all animals. Following wounding, the skin is repaired by activating, migrating, and dividing skin stem cells. Defects of wound healing in humans lead to chronic wounds t.....»»
Brazilians "struggling to breathe" as Amazon burns
Residents of Porto Velho in the Brazilian Amazon have barely seen sunlight in days as a thick cloud of smoke from forest fires envelops their city......»»
Researchers develop post-wildfire landslide susceptibility model
In June 2016, the San Gabriel Complex Fire raged through southern California. As it burned, the fire caused damage that negatively affected the surrounding area long after the flames died down. In 2019, three years after the fires had been extinguish.....»»
Ambitious people aren"t born leaders, research suggests
Do ambitious people make good leaders? Ambition can lead people to strive for leadership roles. But could there be a mismatch between qualities that motivate people to strive for leadership and qualities that make people good leaders?.....»»
Genomic research focuses on medical potential for scorpion venom
Scientists at Arkansas Tech University and University of Arkansas have produced a high-quality genome assembly for a scorpion. The genome could lead to the development of new medically relevant pain treatments. The work is published in the journal G3.....»»
Coming through wildfire: Professor"s campus is a living lab
Flames surrounded West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund's crews. Firefighters had dug in to protect the $75-million Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant from the 2023 McDougall Creek wildfire......»»
Concerned about your early reader? Why "wait and see" isn"t advised for reading struggles
At Western University's Mary J. Wright Child and Youth Development Clinic, I work on a team training future school psychologists. In our work, we encounter parents concerned about their children's learning on an almost daily basis......»»
Pioneering research discovers PFOS chemical pollution in platypuses
Research from Western Sydney University has discovered PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) chemical contamination in the livers of deceased platypuses across eastern New South Wales......»»
AMD signs $4.9 billion deal to challenge Nvidia’s AI infrastructure lead
Company hopes acquisition of ZT Systems will accelerate adoption of its data center chips. Enlarge (credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images) AMD has agreed to buy artificial intelligence infrastructure group ZT.....»»
Crystal Lake, Peacock’s Friday the 13th prequel series, finds new showrunner
Crystal Lake, A24's upcoming prequel series to Friday the 13th for Peacock, has found its new creative lead in Brad Caleb Kane......»»
Study finds gun violence in rural America rises as deer hunting season begins
Across rural America, the increased presence of loaded guns in homes and vehicles could lead to a spike in gun injuries and homicides at the start of every deer hunting season, a new study warns......»»
Ultrathin quantum light sources: Scientists show excitonic interactions boost efficiency of entangled photon generation
Scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have shown that excitonic resonances and transitions between excitons can significantly increase the efficiency of generating entangled photon pairs. This could lead to the development of eff.....»»
Controversial bill to abolish California fire hazard rankings dies in Legislature
A bill that sought to overhaul California's system for wildfire hazard mapping has died in the state Assembly......»»
Will climate change lead to the extinction of a newly discovered tarantula species?
A new species of tarantula spider, Aphonopelma jacobii, has been discovered from the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona. This small, black and gray tarantula species has fiery red hairs on its abdomen and can be found in the high-elevation.....»»
How a mix of old and new techniques produced a superior maize harvest in a dry part of South Africa
New research into rural small-scale farms in South Africa's North West province has found that climate-smart farming techniques lead to a better maize yield, a more regular supply of food for the farmers, and a wider variety of crops......»»