Science In flow

Researchers have developed an efficient concept to turn carbon dioxide into clean, sustainable fuels, without any unwanted by-products or waste. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/tyCPmUW

By applying an algorithm akin to what social media sites use to make friend suggestions, researchers have identified communities of ancient life in the fossil record and tracked how their numbers changed through each of the planet's mass extinctions. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/9KfCUmO

Engineers suggest that flaring of natural gas at oil and gas fields in the United States, primarily in North Dakota and Texas, contributed to dozens of premature deaths in 2019. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/1vWuwhg

The almost 11 cm high figurine from Willendorf is one of the most important examples of early art in Europe. It is made of a rock called 'oolite' which is not found in or around Willendorf. Anthropologist, geologists and prehistorians have now found out, with the help of high-resolution tomographic images, that the material from which the Venus was carved likely comes from northern Italy. This sheds new light on the remarkable mobility of the first modern humans south and north of the Alps. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/MLYcqhJ

Geologists have discovered a link between recent ice mass loss, rapid rock uplift and a gap between tectonic plates that underlie Patagonia. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/8Cq2Qwg

An astounding new species of rare orchid has been discovered in the cloud rainforest of Northern Ecuador. Known from a restricted area in the province of Carchi, the plant is presumed to be a critically endangered species, as its rare populations already experience the ill-effects of climate change and human activity. The discovery was aided by a local commercial nursery, which was already cultivating these orchids. The study is published in the open-access journal PhytoKeys. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3sabXzx

In humans and other eukaryotes, two principal epigenetic marks are known. A team has discovered a third, novel epigenetic mark -- one formerly known only in bacteria -- in bdelloid rotifers, small freshwater animals. Epigenetic marks are modifications to DNA bases that don't change the underlying genetic code, but 'write' extra information on top of it that can be inherited along with your genome. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/TIAqv34

The central section of the great fault spanning California, thought to be creeping along harmlessly at the moment, has experienced big quakes in the past, says a new study. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/mXrL9zs

Lava domes form at the top of many volcanoes when viscous lava erupts. When they become unstable, they can collapse and cause a hazard. An international team of researchers has analyzed summit dome instabilities at Merapi Volcano, Indonesia. The researchers hope that by understanding the inner processes, volcano collapses can be better forecasted. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/HSNqoxy

There's a no-nonsense technique for navigating between stars and constellations and all it requires is putting your hand in the air, says Abigail Beall from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/i5lAeTR

Researchers find personalized antibiotic prescriptions can reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/I2EaoNG

Switching your brain off work mode at 5pm might sound appealing, but as this thriller on Apple TV+ demonstrates, it could be a very bad idea from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/xwqCYif

The K-Lander observatory -- where state-of-the-art technology meets science. A new study presents a unique time series collected by the K-Lander from two distinct methane seepage sites offshore western Svalbard, in the Arctic. This publication links cutting-edge technology with developments in our understanding of the environment and climate, highlighting and constraining uncertainties in current methane estimates from the seepage of methane from the seafloor. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/FSjOom5

The neglected Serapias, a rare orchid, has been found in a Corsican military base in very large numbers: more than 155,000 individuals! No comparable population is known anywhere in the world. A total of 552 plant species were discovered in an area of just 550 hectares, including 19 protected in France. This rich biodiversity confers a patrimonial responsibility on this military base. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Nwn59FZ

A new study explores large-scale relationships between vegetation and climatic characteristics using machine learning. The findings highlight the importance of climatic extremes in shaping the distribution of several major vegetation types. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/CzqpRxl

In a new paper, researchers lay out the similarities in biochemical function among PLpros (papain-like proteases) from SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and those of other SARS-like viruses already circulating among bats and other species. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/wyDofNH

From foraging for prey to evading predators and ship strikes, a dolphin's survival depends on speedy swimming, but burning all that energy can delete the metabolic reserves vital for growth, health and reproduction. A new study provides scientists with a new metric for estimating how much energy wild dolphins expend on swimming -- information that is essential for answering fundamental questions about their physiology and ecology, and for understanding the impacts of human disturbances on them. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/x0OIBW3

A recent study shows that certain immune cells can restore their normal functions when introduced back into the body, even after being multiplied in the laboratory to large numbers -- the results pave the way to new cell therapies. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/V6iGz2J

So-called PERC cells are used in mass production of silicon solar cells, they are considered the workhorses of photovoltaics, dominating the market. Now two teams have shown that such standard silicon cells are also suitable as a basis for tandem cells with perovskite top cells. Currently, the efficiency of the tandem cell is still below that of optimised PERC cells alone, but could be increased to up to 29.5% through targeted optimization. The research was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics as part of a joint project. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2ZSbxWd

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/PzlV9jB

Growing rice alongside aquatic animals can reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, as well as increase farmers' yields, shows a new study. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/wzpbXvi

After an E.coli outbreak in 2006 devastated the spinach industry, farmers were pressured to remove natural habitat to keep wildlife -- and the foodborne pathogens they can sometimes carry -- from visiting crops. A study of California strawberry farms found that birds were actually more likely to carry pathogens and eat berries when farms did not have surrounding natural habitat. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/LDYiQzF

Succinic acid is an important precursor for pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and also serves as a component in biodegradable plastics. It is currently derived mainly from petroleum-based processes. Researchers are using the marine bacterium Vibrio natriegens as a biocatalyst. This could permit the production of succinic acid in sustainable processes using renewable raw materials. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Gyni7sA

In the context of trade-offs between land use and biodiversity, geographers have simulated land saving potentials for agriculture. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Z24DqGh

The ability of cells to self-organize into specific patterns in tissues that serve a function is a universal feature of life. A well-known and much studied pattern is the compound eye of the fruit fly. Researchers now have discovered that the formation of the pattern involves mechanical forces, not just chemical signals transmitted between cells. Using first-of-its-kind live imaging, the researchers saw cells moving into position as the eye develops; the cells are not static as previously believed. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/XtcfLj6

For the first time, researchers demonstrate an artificial organic neuron, a nerve cell, that can be integrated with a living plant and an artificial organic synapse. Both the neuron and the synapse are made from printed organic electrochemical transistors. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/nTzSHiR

Researchers fabricated a 3D artificial cancer tissue that overcomes one of the biggest challenges in tissue engineering: replicating the body's smallest blood vessels. The breakthrough offers a possible alternative to animal drug testing. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/mAszcR3

No matter which of the widely accepted global circulation models ultimately comes closest to predicting the amount of warming caused by climate change, corn production will be reduced, according to a new study. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/geo1Bjm

It cakes our cars in yellow powder every spring and taunts allergy sufferers for months on end, but pollen is more than just plant sperm. New research has determined when pollen comes of age and begins expressing its own genome, a major life cycle transition in plants. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/RFloVB8

Researchers have used sound waves to turn stem cells into bone cells, in a tissue engineering advance that could one day help patients regrow bone lost to cancer or degenerative disease. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/9jQyzH2

Research has shown that introducing nature into large hospitals can humanize the institutional environment and reduce the stress of patients, visitors and healthcare providers. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2pczJ6a

Rats trained to leave 3.2 seconds between presses of a lever or to hold it down for this length of time seem able to judge whether they were accurate enough to have earned a reward from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/Hx5pGRX

The legal requirement for people in England with covid-19 to self-isolate will end this Thursday but will remain part of country's guidance. Widespread free PCR and lateral flow testing will stop in April from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/r4DkM1V

Bacteria have been modified to produce chemicals found in paint remover and hand sanitiser from carbon dioxide in the air, meaning they have negative emissions compared with traditional industrial methods from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/LrgXmQy

Social media profiles with deepfake photos and AI-generated text fooled most participants in a study, even when there were obvious errors from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/mlvBk6I

The latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/uGk9ZTP

Carbon capture and utilisation technologies, which aim to pull carbon dioxide from the air and use it for emissions-lowering processes, emit more carbon than they remove from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/6lDeRGZ

Researchers engineered a strain of bacteria to break down carbon dioxide (CO2), converting it into commonly used, expensive industrial chemicals. The carbon-negative approach removes CO2 from the atmosphere and bypasses using fossil fuels to generate these chemicals. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/RZKsuT5

In a new study, researchers set out to understand the air pollutant emissions impacts of electrifying motorcycle taxis in Kampala, Uganda. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/inrH0u2

Amphibian biodiversity is declining worldwide and collecting information about their habitats and populations via monitoring is vital for conservation efforts. However, it is difficult to accurately monitor amphibians using conventional methods. To address these issues, scientists have developed a novel technique to identify the amphibious species that live in an area through environmental DNA analysis. It is hoped that the new method will revolutionize species monitoring, as it will enable anyone to easily survey a habitat by collecting water samples. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/fiWGY7j

Roughly 35 million years ago, Earth cooled rapidly. At roughly the same time, the Drake Passage formed between South America and the Antarctic, paving the way for the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Thanks to these two factors, Antarctica was soon completely covered in ice. This massive glaciation was delayed in at least one region. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/cDa2Egu

Proteins need to interact in a complex manner for a so-called 'messenger RNA' (mRNA) to be created in human cells from a precursor molecule. mRNA provides a blueprint for proteins; the first vaccines against the coronavirus are also based on mRNAs. Scientists have now discovered how an essential final step in the production of mRNA precisely works. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/5HBRiSy

To create crowd-pleasing puds like chocolate fondants or hot balls of cornflake-covered ice cream, bring some fundamental physics to the table, says Sam Wong from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/IgqQN9H

Kirill Serebrennikov’s mischievous film about a fever-stricken comic book artist is an ode to Russian sci-fi and absurdist literature, finds Simon Ings from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/L9GFeCt

Climate experts and engineers have created a new model to predict the damage caused by adverse weather. This new framework for 'consequence forecasting' enables first responders to effectively target resources prior to an extreme weather event, such as Storm Eunice. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/xGaq1tQ

Researchers have found a new method to induce the piezoelectric effect in materials that are otherwise not piezoelectric. It can pave the way for new uses and more environmentally friendly materials. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Rbmkxjs

Researchers show how major disturbances occur in the gut microbiome of patients suffering from heart disease. Given this latest evidence from microbiome research, researchers now call for stronger and more focused public health initiatives to prevent or delay these common diseases that are a leading cause of premature death worldwide through encouraging a plant-based and energy-controlled diet, avoidance of smoking and compliance with daily exercise. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/PODv1bH

Why have some plant species changed pollinators in their evolution? An international team of researchers studied the reproductive systems of three sister species pairs, where one species is pollinated by insects and the other by hummingbirds. Mechanisms were discovered that explain the switch from insect to bird pollination. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/ZFU58X6

As the climate crisis becomes more immediate, carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology has been touted as part of the solution. The process involves harnessing carbon dioxide from emissions or the atmosphere and repurposing them. However, a recent review calls into question the viability of many of these methods to meet both the long-term and short-term emissions goals that follow from the Paris Agreement, and suggests focusing on technologies that use non-fossil carbon dioxide and store carbon permanently. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/xIPtCDe

A pathway critical for regulating a form of cell death known as necroptosis has been identified. The team's preclinical findings suggest that an inhibitor targeting this PPP13RG protein complex can help prevent or reduce deaths and severe tissue damage from heart attacks and other inflammation-associated diseases. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/QNwHGUE

Strict reservation of large land areas for animals and plants might save humankind from the collapse of species diversity in the next decades. However, in some countries, particularly in the global South, this might endanger food supply. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/GuEv4Bq

Legionellosis or Legionnaires' disease affected more than 1 800 people in France in 2019 and caused 160 deaths. This emerging disease is caused by Legionella pneumophila, an environmental bacterium that thrives in hot water systems. Researchers have discovered a mechanism that allows Legionella pneumophila to target the immune response of the cells it infects by secreting a small regulatory RNA. This mechanism, not described before, facilitates the survival and proliferation of Legionella pneumophila during infection. The work provides precious information on the strategies used by bacteria to manipulate their host cells. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/9twisr3

Scientists have uncovered a set of neurons in fruit flies that shut down in cold temperatures and slow reproduction, a system conserved in many insects, including mosquitoes, which could provide a target for pest control. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2FchNSV

Sediment cores taken from the Southern Ocean dating back 23 million years are providing insight into how ancient methane escaping from the seafloor could have led to regional or global climate and environmental changes, according to a new study. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/UrZ2R64

A team of researchers from music, chemistry and computer science is using sound to better understand biochemical processes such as the physical mechanisms of protein folding. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/0Q1eK7u

Researchers have uncovered a basic but surprising fact: your kitchen sponge is a better incubator for diverse bacterial communities than a laboratory Petri dish. But it's not just the trapped leftovers that make the cornucopia of microbes swarming around so happy and productive, it's the structure of the sponge itself. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/XGmhOFt

Synthetic biologists have developed a low-cost, easy-to-use, hand-held device that can let users know -- within mere minutes -- if their water is safe to drink. The new device works by using powerful and programmable genetic networks, which mimic electronic circuits, to perform a range of logic functions. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/oy15zGT

Researchers have used an ancient fish to reel in new insights about human biology and, in particular, how and why a widely used medication works to abort pregnancies (in people, not fish). from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/N5lihP9

Researchers have shown that solar cells can be used to achieve underwater wireless optical communication with high data rates. The new approach -- which used an array of series-connected solar cells as detectors -- could offer a cost-effective, low-energy way to transmit data underwater. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/QqOgwb9

How did Baroque period artists/sculputors go about their craft? For the first time, researchers have performed a forensic anthropological analysis of a marble skull carved by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The analysis of this re-discovered sculpture in Dresden, Germany, may help capture details of the working methods of great artists of the past, including details not recorded about their artistic approaches. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/uX7Ophr

A specific group of fungi residing in the intestines can protect against intestinal injury and influence social behavior, according to new preclinical research. The findings extend a growing body of work identifying a 'gut-immunity-brain axis,' a signaling system that may have a wide range of effects on physiology in both health and disease, influenced not only by the body's own cells but also the resident microbes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/JdD1FOM

A one-time infusion of stem cells from bone marrow improves the survival of mice with sepsis. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/iXjUZMr

Researchers have identified a case of a sudden evolutionary change. In a new study, the scientists describe a population of columbines that have lost their petals, including the characteristic nectar spurs. The finding adds weight to the idea that adaptation can occur in large jumps, rather than merely plodding along over extended timespans. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/pKnbvrc

KODA, an agrochemical produced in extremely low amounts, which helps plants cope with environmental stressors, has been the subject of extensive research. To bolster KODA production, researchers have developed a novel plant-based platform. Using biotechnology tools, they successfully expressed external genes that facilitate KODA production in test plant species, and further improved KODA yield through incubation over time. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/MZhzq2O

A region of cooling water in the North Atlantic Ocean near Iceland, nicknamed the 'Blue Blob,' has likely slowed the melting of the island's glaciers since 2011 and may continue to stymie ice loss until about 2050, according to new research. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/DHYEBpI

A computer modeling study shows how the emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide have increased from soils over the last century. The newly published research found the expansion of land devoted to agriculture since 1900 and intensive fertilizer inputs have predominantly driven an overall increase in nitrous oxide emissions from U.S. soils. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/YFB3ZCh

A modeling study raises questions about how far droplets, like those that carry the virus that causes COVID-19, can travel before becoming harmless. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/gDOLYyK

A new description of two well-preserved ancient fossil plant specimens in Washington state is prompting paleobotanists to rethink how plants might have been dispersed during the Late Cretaceous, between 66 and 100 million years ago. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/zj0wKY8

Researchers have successfully used CRISPR-Cas9 to edit the genomes of the black-legged tick. To accomplish this feat, they developed an embryo injection protocol that overcame a major barrier in the field. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/U8kBAWV

Nanomaterials have revolutionized the world of cancer therapy, and plant-derived nanoparticles have the added advantage of being cost-effective and easy to mass produce. Researchers have recently developed novel corn-derived bionanoparticles for targeting cancer cells directly, via an immune mechanism. The results are encouraging, and the technique has demonstrated efficacy in treating tumor-bearing laboratory mice. Moreover, no serious adverse effects have been reported in mice so far. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/zF6lDPA

Researchers have developed an automated technique that uses satellite imagery to determine when swine waste lagoons were constructed, allowing researchers to determine the extent to which these facilities may have affected environmental quality. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/4zrXwuI

Scientists have used genetic testing of ivory shipments seized by law enforcement to uncover the international criminal networks behind ivory trafficking out of Africa. The genetic connections across shipments that they've uncovered exposes an even higher degree of organization among ivory smuggling networks than previously known. The article incorporates results from DNA testing of more than 4,000 African elephant tusks from 49 different ivory seizures made in 12 African nations over a 17-year period. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/pAz0Hcy

Nuclear power generation can play a crucial role in helping the world reach a key goal of zero carbon emissions by the middle of the century, especially in countries with low wind resources, according to new work. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/xUsfcN2

Nitrogen fertilizers are critical for growing crops to feed the world, yet when applied in excess can pollute our water for decades. A new study provides six steps to address nitrogen pollution and improve water quality. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/U2QigA5

For over 100 years, Fusarium, one of the most important fungal plant pathogens, has affected banana production worldwide. In Viet Nam, predictions on its impact are dramatic: an estimated loss in banana production area of up to 71% within the next 25 years. To find out what individual species are causing the Fusarium wilt among Vietnamese bananas, an international research team used DNA analyses and morphological characterization. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/NishmC5

Within the next 30 years, a highly destructive Nankai Trough megathrust earthquake is predicted to hit southwest Japan. Understanding long-term slow slip events that occur along the plate interface between the subducting Philippine Sea plate and overriding Amurian plate under the Bungo Channel is essential for pinpointing when such an earthquake will happen. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/rML5P2Q

Hemoglobin is well known as the molecule in blood responsible for carrying oxygen around the body, but when fresh mouse blood is detected in the nose, the molecule also works as a chemosensory signal warning lactating mother mice to protect their young, researchers have found. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/losaOBc

It is time to do away with buying new products and binning them at the end of their lives and instead create a circular economy in which old goods can be reused, recycled, or can restore the environment from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/sATeBFa

Capture photos of wild plants and animals, identify species you come across and contribute to biodiversity and conservation research, suggests Layal Liverpool from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/fZl3sgi

We hack almost 100 billion tonnes of stuff from Earth’s surface every year, and most of it goes to waste. Changing that means a complete overhaul of how we live from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/OiJgAEs

A study tested the effects of prescribed fire on long-leaf pines grown under different conditions: drought, invasive plants, and a combination of the two. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3Np7H5I

Wildfire and post-fire recovery could lead to more carbon being stored than released in the long term in savannahs and grasslands, according to a new study. The findings suggest that there is far stronger potential for cycles of fire and recovery to increase soil carbon stocks in these areas than in forests. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/JD5PUpA

New research links notches on lion teeth with snare traps, revealing significantly more poaching in conservation areas than previously estimated. Researchers used photos of trophy-hunted lions and leopards -- especially of their teeth -- to do forensic work evaluating the effectiveness of conservation efforts in Zambia. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/S9LIR7H

More than eight million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year -- a serious danger for the environment and health. Biodegradable bioplastics could provide an alternative. A research team has now introduced a new method for the production of protein-based plastics that are easily processable, biodegradable, and biocompatible, as well as having favorable mechanical properties. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/CMWFb08

A new study used pollen data to evaluate the second plague pandemic's mortality at a regional scale across Europe. Results showed that the impacts of the Black Death varied substantially from region to region and demonstrated the importance of cross-disciplinary approaches for understanding past -- and present -- pandemics. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/8I37Cja

Finally, researchers have found a way to brew non-alcoholic beer that tastes just like regular beer. Even more, the method is far more sustainable than the existing brewing techniques. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/OhxMz68

Researchers have been exploring the genetic origins of the Scandinavian grey wolf population, which was founded by only three immigrating wolves. The scientists show that, after five generations of inbreeding, between 10 and 25 per cent of the original genetic variation has been eliminated. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/BuyhdvW

A new catalyst extracts hydrogen from hydrogen storage materials easily and efficiently. The process occurs at mild temperatures and under normal atmospheric conditions, without using metals or additives. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/6GhOJau

Many North American migratory birds are shrinking in size as temperatures have warmed over the past 40 years. But those with very big brains, relative to their body size, did not shrink as much as smaller-brained birds, according to new research. The study is the first to identify a direct link between cognition and animal response to human-made climate change. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/rvPc1Qd

The gut microbiome is an ecosystem of hundreds to thousands of microbial species living within the human body. These populations affect our health, fertility, and even our longevity. But how do they get there in the first place? New research reveals crucial details about how the bacterial communities that comprise each of our individual gut microbiomes are acquired. These findings have major implications for treatments such as fecal transplants and probiotic administration. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/HDZLOFh

Animal weapons can be a lot like plastic swords: impressive, but ultimately cheap. Some animals pretend to be bigger than they are by building weapons out of metabolically cheap inert materials, such as chitin and keratin. The prop weapons are also cheaper to maintain. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/SAkXb4W

According to a new study, thawing of permafrost due to climate change could expose the Arctic population to much greater concentrations of the invisible, lung cancer-causing gas Radon. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/ImsJZ3L

One year after winter storms crippled Texas' electricity grid, contributing to more than 200 deaths, an analysis recommends contracting improvements to reduce decentralized energy markets' vulnerability to rare events. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/pVb8TQt

What factors drive the health, growth and productivity of giant kelp? There are several, but according to researchers, what you see depends on the scale at which you're observing. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/DNOYmEQ

New research in mice for the first time draws a definitive causal connection between changes in the gut microbiome to behavioral and cognitive changes in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/POhCmYq

New research has shown that compounds used to fight fungal diseases in plants are likely causing resistance to antifungal medications used to treat people. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/7Fvk9nG

Researchers discover a 'switch' specific to transcription factors that induce the genes essential for blood vessel development in postnatal periods. Mouse models further showed that the modifiers responsible for the switch are critical for postnatal angiogenesis. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/KJrNhgq

Due to climate change, Arctic winters are getting warmer. An international study shows that Arctic warming causes temperature anomalies and cold damage thousands of kilometers away in East Asia. This in turn leads to reduced vegetation growth, later blossoming, smaller harvests and reduced CO2 absorption by the forests in the region. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/asFyDT4

Gabon's network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) provides a blueprint that could be used in many other countries, experts say. Since announcing a new MPA network in 2014, Gabon has created 20 protected areas -- increasing protection of Gabonese waters from less than 1% to 26%. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/FDwnRNs

During the Ice Age, giant mammals such as mammoths, sabre-toothed cats and woolly rhinoceroses once roamed Northern Europe and America. The cold oceans of the northern hemisphere were also home to giants like Steller's sea cow, which grew up to eight meters long and weighed up to ten tons, and has been extinct for around 250 years. Now an international research team has succeeded in deciphering the genome of this ice-age species from fossil bones. They also found an answer to the question of what the genome of this extinct species of sea cow reveals about present-day skin diseases. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/k4PzjpQ

Voluntary fasting, for example interval fasting, is beneficial to health for many people, depending on their individual condition. For example, controlled periods of starvation can prevent and improve diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Researchers have now found that the immune system plays an important role in ensuring the positive effects of fasting on our bodies. The new findings will help develop more effective therapies based on fasting. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/JBtEMke

More than 1,000 manatees died in 2021, due mostly to starvation. They consume about 100 pounds of seagrass a day, and this staple food is now scarce in Florida's Indian River Lagoon (IRL). A new study shows that about 7,400 acres of seagrasses were lost in the IRL between 1943 and 1994. Between 2011 and 2019, about 58 percent of seagrasses were lost. To help with recovery efforts, researchers are experimenting with growing seagrass in large tanks and then transplanting it into the IRL to try to restore some of the lost seagrass beds. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/H6Z2C5z

Massive sponge gardens thrive on top of seamounts in the Central Arctic Ocean, one of the most oligotrophic seas on Earth. They appear to feed on the remnants of an extinct fauna. Microorganisms support the sponges in exploiting this fluffy material as a source of food and energy. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/5d1AzQD

Research revises estimates of glacial ice volume, suggesting that there is less ice in the world's glaciers than previously thought. The findings have implications on freshwater and global sea level rise. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/9ZXSBpR

Researchers have observed chimpanzees in Gabon, West Africa applying insects to their wounds and the wounds of others. Scientists describe this wound-tending behavior and argue that it is evidence that chimpanzees have the capacity for prosocial behaviors that have been linked with empathy in humans. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/uQ8BiWz

A new study leaves large tooth marks in previous conclusions about the body shape of the Megalodon, one of the largest sharks that ever lived. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/WSXnNwI

Dogs’ urine and faeces bring large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus into suburban nature reserves, which could be harmful to plant biodiversity from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/bhpejLK

New research finds that dogs being walked in nature reserves contribute a significant amount of nutrients to the environment through their feces and urine, which researchers warn could negatively impact local biodiversity. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/LZ3c1KJ

Mice are typically used as models in advanced prostate cancer research, but the profound differences between them and humans has long bedeviled the translation of findings from the animal to success in people. Dogs however are the only other animal that suffers from a significant incidence of prostate cancer, and researchers are finding them much more enlightening subjects in identification of drugs that show promise for human patients. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/IwKuFBZ

Scientists have discovered new information about the tiny propellers used by single-cell organisms called archaea. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/L4o5VCW

An entirely new toxic compound found in an Australian tropical sea anemone is being analysed as a potential new drug therapy, after it was discovered by biomolecular scientists during investigation of the species' multiple venoms. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2qF4rMk

Wetland plants have a high tolerance against flooding due to the formation of 'lysigenous aerenchyma,' air channels that help transfer gases to the submerged roots. These channels also help the plant withstand drought and nutrient deficiency. Now, scientists investigate the underlying mechanism of aerenchyma formation to understand the phenomenon better, opening doors to the development of crops that are resilient against extreme weather changes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/JW4ebaz

How our brains interpret signals from within the body has a surprisingly big influence on the mind, an insight that is leading to new ways to tackle conditions like depression, anxiety and eating disorders from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/M98RkLH

The temperature swings of spring can prove fatal to young plants. A simple home-made device could be the answer, says Clare Wilson from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/AHtZLJ2

An analysis by epidemiologists, economists, ecologists and biologists at 21 institutions finds we could reduce the risks of future pandemics by investing as little as 1/20th of the losses incurred so far from COVID into conservation measures designed to stem the spread of zoonotic viruses from wildlife to humans in the first place. This includes funding programs to train more veterinarians, create a global database of virus genomics, and end tropical deforestation and wildlife trafficking. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/RnTBQDc

A new high-temperature polymer fuel cell that operates at 80-160 degrees Celsius, with a higher-rated power density than state-of-the-art fuel cells, solves the longstanding problem of overheating, one of the most significant technical barriers to using medium-and heavy-duty fuel cells in transportation vehicles such as trucks and buses. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/LJ1sAM9

The first unified vision of the world ocean biodiversity, based on analysis of DNA sequences from the surface to deep-ocean sediments, unveils the rich and unknown life in the abyssal realm, the last terra incognita of the Earth surface. This collective effort was made possible by 15 international deep-sea expeditions. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/UbLDcxE

A research team has investigated in detail how messenger substances signal inflammation during the removal of damaged cells in the body. Using high-resolution microscopy methods, the researchers were able to show that two proteins interact dynamically with each other and thus determine whether a dying cell triggers an inflammatory reaction in the body. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/XYqNhDn

Researchers have elucidated the structure of a central cellular inflammatory switch. Their work shows which site of the giant protein called NLRP3 inhibitors can bind to. This opens the way to develop new pharmaceuticals that could target inflammatory diseases such as gout, type 2 diabetes or even Alzheimer's disease. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/mKJi3Nv