UN climate talks chief pushes for rapid draft deal
The head of the UN climate summit pressed nations Friday to strike a deal as talks resumed after a break, with only four days left for negotiators to iron out differences over the fate of fossil fuels......»»
Asteroid will pass in front of bright star Betelgeuse to produce a rare eclipse visible to millions
One of the biggest and brightest stars in the night sky will momentarily vanish as an asteroid passes in front of it to produce a one-of-a-kind eclipse......»»
Researchers quantify the onset of turbulence in a pipe bent back on itself
How much stress do pipes undergo when a liquid flows through them, and how does it depend on the degree of curvature of the pipe?.....»»
Spinning up control: Propeller shape helps direct nanoparticles, researchers say
Self-propelled nanoparticles could potentially advance drug delivery and lab-on-a-chip systems—but they are prone to go rogue with random, directionless movements. Now, an international team of researchers has developed an approach to rein in the s.....»»
Researchers discover a mechanism that controls the identity of stem cells
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, discovered a mechanism that controls the identity of stem cells. When this mechanism fails, embryonic stem cells revert back in time and become totipotent......»»
How "listening" to archaeological sites could shed light on the past
Until recently, archaeologists have mostly relied on what they can see at the sites of ancient ruins to unlock the secrets of the past. But lately, new methods have started to allow researchers to use other senses to explore these sites in different.....»»
Nanoparticle flu vaccine design shows promise in early tests
Existing flu vaccines provide only limited, seasonal protection because they target highly changeable proteins on the virus. Scripps Research scientists have now designed a vaccine that should work broadly against influenza A strains—one of the two.....»»
Dryland biocrusts enhance soil carbon release in response to climate warming: Study
Biocrusts, comprised of diverse organisms such as mosses, lichens, and cyanobacteria, have an enormous influence on soil carbon dynamics. Therefore, understanding the function and response of biocrusts to environmental stressors is essential for ecos.....»»
How bird feeders help small species fight infection
Every day, throughout the world, people put huge quantities of food out at feeding stations for birds and other wild animals......»»
Orangutan male success not due to dominance alone, study finds
In primates, the biggest, bossiest males usually get to father the most offspring; and for a long time it was thought that this rule applied to orangutans too. Male orangutans openly compete; and it's the older males with hefty cheek pads, known as ".....»»
Six-million-year-old groundwater pool discovered deep under Sicilian mountains
A multi-institutional team of geoscientists has discovered a deep, ancient underground pool of fresh water underneath part of the Sicilian mountains. In their study, reported in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, the group used publicly.....»»
Study suggests climate played a crucial role in human migration from Africa
About 6 million years ago, in the deep forests of eastern Africa, something spectacular happened. Chimpanzees, our closest relative in the animal kingdom, evolved in one direction, while our earliest ancestors continued in another......»»
Improving thunderstorm prediction by watching lightning flashes from space
In a study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences (AAS) on Dec. 6, Prof. Ming Xue and his team from the University of Oklahoma spearhead research focusing on harnessing the power of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite "R-series".....»»
Adapting to hypoxia: Zooplankton influence efficiency of biological carbon pump in the Humboldt Current
Marine organisms play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. Phytoplankton absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and sequester it in organic matter that sinks to the deep ocean where it can be stored for long periods of time. Until now, this.....»»
Bimetallic alloy nanocatalyst boosts efficient ammonia production with potential for carbon-free energy
Ammonia (NH3) is regarded as a promising carbon-free energy carrier, but its energy-intensive production process still challenges global scientists. A research team led by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) recently engineered a bimetallic alloy as.....»»
Study of Philippine sea cucumber shows it may have biomedical applications
A small team of marine scientists and chemists at the University of the Philippines, The Marine Science Institute, has found that a type of sea cucumber found locally may have biomedical applications. In their study, reported in the open-access journ.....»»
Structure of a central component of the human immune system revealed
A central component of the human immune system, the NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important role in fighting off infections. However, its chronic activation is also implicated in a variety of common diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple.....»»
Rich nations need to ditch fossil fuels by 2040: scientists
Rich countries need to stop using coal by 2030 and oil and gas by 2040, with poorer nations following a decade behind, to give the world a chance of limiting warming to 1.5C, climate scientists told the UN Friday......»»
Research pieces ancient ecosystems together to reveal new details about the end-Triassic mass extinction
Startling new insights into the catastrophic impact of one of the most devastating events in Earth's history have been revealed by a team led by researchers with the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. More than deepening our understa.....»»
Researchers elucidate how IGF2"s secretory pathway mediates muscle stem cell differentiation
A research team led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) recently revealed how TMED10, a type of transmembrane protein, regulates muscle stem cell differentiation through mediating the secretion of insulin-like growth factor.....»»