With rapidly increasing heat and drought, can plants adapt?
At a time when climate change is making many areas of the planet hotter and drier, it's sobering to think that deserts are relatively new biomes that have grown considerably over the past 30 million years. Widespread arid regions, like the deserts th.....»»
Study finds humidity diminishes daytime cooling gains in urban green spaces
Urban green spaces provide shade for city dwellers facing rising temperatures brought on by climate change, but how much relief from the heat island effect do they provide when humidity is factored in?.....»»
Trump’s Election Threatens Heat Protections for Workers
A Biden administration proposal that would require employers to provide cooling measures under extreme heat conditions may be scuttled by the incoming Trump administration.....»»
Q&A: Holobiont biology, a new concept for exploring how microbiome shapes evolution of visible life
Microorganisms—bacteria, viruses and other tiny life forms—may drive biological variation in visible life as much, if not more, than genetic mutations, creating new lineages and even new species of animals and plants, according to Seth Bordenstei.....»»
Experiments show backyard birds learn from their new neighbors when moving house
Scientists have found a trigger for social learning in wild animals. An experiment on great tits has pinpointed a single factor—immigration—that can cause birds to pay close attention to others, leading them to rapidly adopt useful behaviors......»»
Lawsuit by US workers accuses Apple chipmaker TSMC of ‘anti-American discrimination’
TSMC’s Arizona plants will enable Apple chips for older devices to be made in the US for the first time, but things haven’t exactly been going to plan. The latest development is that a group of the company’s US workers have filed a lawsuit a.....»»
Google Gemini Live takes on Siri via a standalone iOS app
Google is increasing the competition with Siri and Apple Intelligence on iPhone, by releasing a standalone iOS app for Gemini.Google GeminiGoogle's Gemini has been available to use for some time on the iPhone, but as part of the main Google app. Now,.....»»
New York drought conditions fan flames, spur water saving
New York has urged its 8.5 million residents to save water as America's biggest city endures an unprecedented period without significant rainfall, creating potentially dangerous drought conditions and fanning the flames of deadly wildfires......»»
How cybersecurity failures are draining business budgets
Security leaders feel under increasing pressure to provide assurances around cybersecurity, exposing them to greater personal risk – yet many lack the data and resources to accurately report and close cybersecurity gaps, according to Panaseer. The.....»»
Colorado River basins could face tipping point, drought study warns
Water from Colorado's West Slope basins plays a vital role in supporting the economy and natural environment across seven western U.S. states, but a new study finds that even under modest climate projections, the basins face a potential tipping point.....»»
Metal-organic framework materials to remove dye contaminants for cleaner water
The future of MOFs, metal-organic framework materials, looks bright. A review in the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management has looked at how a specific class of these sponge-like materials might find increasing use in removing dye.....»»
Bluesky reaches 15 million users as more people look for alternatives to X
Bluesky, one of the many microblogging platforms, has now officially reached the milestone of 15 million registered users. A month ago, Bluesky still had 13 million followers, which shows that the social network is growing rapidly as more people look.....»»
The public implications of private substitutes for electric grid reliability
Climate change events have, in recent years, placed increasing strain on public electrical grids in the United States. In response to this vulnerability, some consumers are turning to private alternatives to the electric utility, like generators and.....»»
Financial anxiety leads to unnecessary Christmas shopping, say researchers
Christmas is approaching, and for many, economic stress is increasing. Paradoxically, this can lead us to purchase even more gifts. Recent research from the University of Skövde shows that financial anxiety and stress trigger impulsive buying. The.....»»
3D leaf edge reconstruction method enhances plant morphology analysis
Leaves, essential for photosynthesis and other physiological functions, exhibit diverse shapes that help plants adapt to their environments. Traditional methods for measuring leaf morphology have relied heavily on 2D imaging, which fails to capture t.....»»
Team reveals how current sheets in turbulent plasma form in Earth"s magnetosheath
Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental physical process in plasmas, through which the magnetic energy is converted into plasma kinetic energy and thermal energy rapidly. Current sheets in turbulent plasma are the key trigger for magnetic reconnection.....»»
Student fees set to rise in UK but at what cost to graduates" mental health?
After months of discussion and speculation about how British universities will fill budget deficits, the UK government confirmed that tuition fees will be increasing to £9,535 a year in England in 2025. The impact of this price rise on graduates' me.....»»
Heat hardiness: Scientists identify key phase for tomato heat tolerance
By studying tomato varieties that produce fruit in exceptionally hot growing seasons, biologists at Brown University identified the growth cycle phase when tomatoes are most vulnerable to extreme heat, as well as the molecular mechanisms that make th.....»»
Everything you need to know before buying a space heater
Space heaters are a popular way to heat up your home, but they come with serious risks. Here's what to know before adding one to your home......»»
Chemists find easier way to produce biodiesel from waste oil
UC Santa Cruz chemists have discovered a new way to produce biodiesel from waste oil that both simplifies the process and requires relatively mild heat. This discovery has the potential to make the alternative fuel source much more appealing to the m.....»»
Cracked earth in Greece"s saffron heartland as drought takes toll
At a field outside Kozani, northern Greece, the strikingly blue-and-purple petals of saffron give off an intoxicating scent that underscores the value of one of the country's most lucrative crops......»»