Most recent 40 articles: Science Daily - Earth and Climate
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'Ice Bucket Challenge' Reveals That Bacteria Can Anticipate the Seasons - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Bacteria use their internal 24-hour clocks to anticipate the arrival of new seasons, according to research carried out with the assistance of an ‘ice bucket challenge.’
This discovery may have profound implications for understanding the role that circadian rhythms – a molecular version of a clock – play in adapting species to climate change, from migrating animals to flowering plants.
The team behind the findings gave populations of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) different artificial day lengths at a constant warm temperature. Samples on plates received either short days, equinox days (equal light and dark), or long days, for eight ... Read more ...
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'Marine Identity' Can Help Restore the Ocean - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · People's deep connection with the ocean -- their "marine identity" -- can help us reset society's relationship with the seas, new research led by Dr Pamela Buchan, from the University of Exeter, suggests.
A diverse, international group of marine researchers and practitioners met to discuss marine identity -- based on testimony and photos from multiple countries.
The group included Diz Glithero of the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition, Dr Emma McKinley of Cardiff University who helped deliver the workshop, and others from across Europe, Africa, Indonesia, North America, and Australasia.
They found many common themes, including traditions and customs; and dependency ... Read more ...
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A Better Understanding of Climate Change: Researchers Study Cloud Movement in the Arctic - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Special features of the Arctic climate, such as the strong reflection of the sun's rays off the light snow or the low position of the sun, amplify global warming in the Arctic. However, researchers are often faced with the challenge of modelling the underlying climatic processes in order to be able to provide reliable weather forecasts. Scientists from the HALO (AC)³ aircraft campaign have succeeded in precisely measuring the movement of air masses from and to the Arctic. This will contribute to a better understanding of the processes accelerating climate change in the region. Their research has been published in a European Geosciences Union paper.
"We want to make ... Read more ...
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A New Forecasting Model Based on Gene Activity Predicts When Japan's Cherry Buds Awake from Dormancy - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Japan in spring is famous for its cherry blossoms, or sakura, which begin flowering in the southern region of Kyushu and blaze upwards to the remote north of Hokkaido. The most abundant cherry tree cultivar, Somei Yoshino, is the iconic symbol of spring, as the cloned trees flower simultaneously at each site, creating a fleeting explosion of white-pink blossom that enraptures locals and tourists alike. The flowering forecasts of Somei Yoshino are poured over for months before flowering, as visitors plan their trips and locals organize festivals and celebrations. However, due to climate change, the flowering times of these cherry trees are shifting and becoming harder to ... Read more ...
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Agriculture Accelerated Human Genome Evolution to Capture Energy from Starchy Foods - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Over the past 12,000 years, humans in Europe have dramatically increased their ability to digest carbohydrates, expanding the number of genes they have for enzymes that break down starch from an average of eight to more than 11, according to a new study by researchers from the U.S., Italy and United Kingdom.
The rise in the number of genes that code for these enzymes tracks the spread of agriculture across Europe from the Middle East, and with it, an increasingly starchy human diet rich in high-carbohydrate staples such as wheat and other grains. Having more copies of a gene usually translates to higher levels of the protein the genes code for -- in this case, the enzyme ... Read more ...
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AI Can Slash Indoor Farming Energy Use - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Integrating artificial intelligence into today's environmental control systems could reduce energy consumption for indoor agriculture by 25% -- potentially helping to feed the world as its population rises, Cornell University engineers have found.
The world population is expected to grow to 9.7 billion people by 2050, according to the United Nations. This growth, combined with climate change and urbanization, requires fixes for the flaws in the world's current food production systems, the researchers said.
Indoor farming methods, such as plant factories with artificial lighting, are less vulnerable to climate change, but they're energy intensive and require careful ... Read more ...
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Air Pollution Exposure in Infancy May Limit Economic Mobility in Adulthood - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Higher exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) during infancy was associated with lower economic earnings in adulthood in a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and European University of Rome. The association was most pronounced in the midwestern and southern U.S.
"This study takes a big step toward filling the knowledge gap on the crucial link between environmental factors and long-term economic outcomes," said corresponding author Francesca Dominici, Clarence James Gamble Professor of Biostatistics, Population, and Data Science at Harvard Chan School and faculty director of ... Read more ...
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Antarctic Krill Can Lock Away Similar Levels of Carbon as Seagrass and Mangroves - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Small marine crustaceans are as valuable as key coastal habitats for storing carbon and should be similarly protected, according to new research.
The study shows that a single species, Antarctic krill, store similar amounts of carbon to key 'blue carbon' habitats such as mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrasses.
However, krill are also impacted by global heating and potential overfishing, so should be considered for similar protections as other important habitats, say the researchers.
Krill are eaten by larger animals in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica such as whales, seals and penguins, but are also fished for food and fishing bait, and for use in aquaculture ... Read more ...
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Arctic Warming May Fuel Ice Formation in Clouds - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · The Arctic frequently experiences temperatures that support the formation of mixed-phase clouds that contain supercooled liquid droplets and ice crystals. The composition of such clouds plays a crucial role in the region's energy balance and climate system. Clouds with more liquid last longer and reflect more sunlight than those with more ice crystals.
With Arctic warming, meteorologists have been interested in determining the effect of rising temperatures on cloud composition and its broader effect on the region. Climate models generally predict that as the Arctic warms, clouds in the region will contain more liquid water and less ice, since warmer temperatures typically ... Read more ...
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Bacteria Work Together in Difficult Conditions - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Though a founding concept of ecology suggests that the physical environment determines where organisms can survive, modern scientists have suspected there is more to the story of how microbial communities form in the soil.
In a new study, researchers have determined through both statistical analysis and in experiments that soil pH is a driver of microbial community composition -- but that the need to address toxicity released during nitrogen cycling ultimately shapes the final microbial community.
"The physical environment is affecting the nature of microbial interactions, and that affects the assembly of the community," said co-lead author Karna Gowda, assistant ... Read more ...
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Breakthrough Insights Into Carbon Dioxide Absorption Using Cement-Based Materials - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Cement-based materials provide a potential solution for mitigating climate change by trapping and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide as minerals, via a process known as carbonation. Despite extensive studies, however, the exact mechanism of this process is not yet understood. Now, researchers have conducted a comprehensive investigation of carbonation reaction using a new method, revealing the role of structural changes and water transport, paving the way for advanced carbon dioxide-absorbing building materials.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are currently one of the leading causes of global warming. Cement-based materials have shown promising applications in capturing and ... Read more ...
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Breakthrough Study Unveils Key Steps for Turning CO2 Into Valuable Chemicals - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · A groundbreaking study by the Interface Science Department at the Fritz Haber Institute and the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia has been published in the journal Nature Energy. The research takes advantage of advanced spectroscopic methods and theory to shed light on the intricate processes involved in converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable chemicals like ethylene and ethanol. This research holds significant promise for advancing sustainable practices in the chemical industry.
CO2 Reduction: A Pathway to Valuable Chemicals
The electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR) is a promising technology that uses renewable electricity to convert CO2 into ... Read more ...
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Climate-Change-Triggered 2023 Mega-Landslide Caused Earth to Vibrate for Nine Days - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · A landslide in a remote part of Greenland caused a mega-tsunami that sloshed back and forth across a fjord for nine days, generating vibrations throughout Earth, according to a new study involving UCL researchers.
The study, published in the journal Science, concluded that this movement of water was the cause of a mysterious, global seismic signal that lasted for nine days and puzzled seismologists in September 2023.
The initial event, not observed by human eye, was the collapse of a 1.2km-high mountain peak into the remote Dickson Fjord beneath, causing a backsplash of water 200 metres in the air, with a wave up to 110 metres high. This wave, extending across 10km of ... Read more ...
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Compact and Portable Nuclear Clocks - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Scientists use atomic clocks to measure 'second,' the smallest standard unit of time, with great precision. These clocks use natural oscillations of electrons in atoms, similar to how pendulums work in old grandfather clocks. The quest for an even more precise timekeeper led to the discovery of nuclear clocks, which use the transitions of atomic nuclei instead of electrons to keep time.
A rising contender for the development of ultra-precise nuclear optical clocks is the nuclear first-excited state of 229Th isotope. Its long half-life of 103 seconds and low excitation energy of a few electron volts make it ideal for excitation by VUV lasers, providing a precise reference ... Read more ...
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Contrail Avoidance Is Less Likely to Damage Climate by Mistake Than Previously Thought, Study Finds - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · A new study allays fears that rerouting flights to avoid forming climate-warming contrails could result in inadvertently making climate warming worse.
Contrail avoidance requires comparing the climate impacts of carbon dioxide and contrails, called CO2 equivalence. Different methods have been proposed, and the choice of which has been largely political. Scientists feared that some choices could be misleading, making avoidance seem beneficial for climate when it is in fact damaging.
The study, published today (Sunday, 15 September) in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, finds that for a large majority of North Atlantic flights, contrail avoidance would benefit climate ... Read more ...
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Critical Crops' Alternative Way to Succeed in Heat and Drought - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Scientists have discovered that certain plants can survive stressful, dry conditions by controlling water loss through their leaves without relying on their usual mechanism -- tiny pores known as 'stomata'.
Nonstomatal control of transpiration in maize, sorghum, and proso millet -- all C4 crops which are critical for global food security -- gives these plants an advantage in maintaining a beneficial microclimate for photosynthesis within their leaves.
This allows the plants to absorb carbon dioxide as part of the photosynthesis and growth process, despite raised temperatures and increased atmospheric demand for water without increasing the water ... Read more ...
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Crown-of-Thorns Sea Stars Thrive in Degraded Coral Habitats - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · This work, from Professor Maria Byrne at the University of Sydney and marine science researcher Dr Kennedy Wolfe, sheds light on the interactions between coral health and the population dynamics of COTS, offering critical insights for conservation efforts.
Professor Byrne from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney said: "This research reinforces our understanding that resilient species have the upper hand when adjusting to altered habitats. Unfortunately, in the case of the Great Barrier Reef, one of these resilient species -- the crown-of-thorns starfish -- is one of its most persistent coral predators."
Coral reefs, often referred to ... Read more ...
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Dams Built to Prevent Coastal Flooding Can Worsen It - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · The common practice of building dams to prevent flooding can actually contribute to more intense coastal flood events, according to a new study.
The study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, studied the effects of dams built in coastal estuaries, where rivers and ocean tides interact. Those massive infrastructure projects are surging in popularity globally, in part to help offset intensifying storms, salt intrusion and sea-level rise fueled by climate change.
By analyzing data and measurements from Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, dating back more than a century, researchers determined that coastal dams don't necessarily mitigate flooding. Dams ... Read more ...
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Dangerous Airborne Fungus Boosted by California Droughts - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Valley fever is an emerging fungal disease in the western United States that most often causes flu-like symptoms, but can also cause dangerous or even deadly complications. By analyzing data on reported cases of Valley fever in California, which have increased dramatically over the last two decades, researchers from University of California San Diego and University of California, Berkeley, have identified seasonal patterns that could help individuals and public health officials better prepare for future surges in Valley fever cases. The findings also have important implications for how the changing climate can exacerbate the threat of infectious diseases. The findings are published ... Read more ...
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Deserts' Biggest Threat? Flooding - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · A new study from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering researchers, along with researchers from the Institute de Physique du Globe de Paris at the University of Paris Cité, has found that the increase in soil erosion in coastal areas due to desertification is worsening flood impacts on Middle Eastern and North African port cities. The researchers focused their observations on the devastating 2023 floods in the city of Derna, Libya, which took the lives of more than 11,300 people and showed how the increase in soil erosion significantly contributed to the catastrophic toll of these unusual desert floods.
Over the past decade, the North African Sahara, an area larger than ... Read more ...
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Discovery Could Lead to Longer-Lasting EV Batteries, Hasten Energy Transition - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Batteries lose capacity over time, which is why older cellphones run out of power more quickly. This common phenomenon, however, is not completely understood.
Now, an international team of researchers, led by an engineer at the University of Colorado Boulder, has revealed the underlying mechanism behind such battery degradation. Their discovery could help scientists to develop better batteries, which would allow electric vehicles to run farther and last longer, while also advancing energy storage technologies that would accelerate the transition to clean energy.
The findings were published September 12 in the journal Science.
"We are helping to advance lithium-ion ... Read more ...
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Doctors and Patients Interested in Environmental Impact of Health Care Decisions, Study Finds - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Concerns about the environmental impact of healthcare decisions rarely enter into conversations between patients and physicians. However, evidence from a new study led by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, shows there's broad interest in changing that.
In a series of focus groups conducted in different areas of the United States, doctors and patients expressed openness to considering environmental factors when discussing treatment options. The findings, presented in a paper published online today by Nature Climate Change, suggest that educating physicians about the environmental costs of treatment -- and how those costs may be reduced while continuing to deliver ... Read more ...
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EarthCARE's Lidar Shows Particles in the Atmosphere in Detail - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · The atmospheric lidar ATLID, the last of four instruments on board the EarthCARE satellite launched in May, has now been successfully put into operation. The joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) is designed to measure clouds, aerosols and radiation more accurately than ever before. Researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) are making an important contribution by developing algorithms that derive the aerosol and cloud stratification from measurements made by the instrument. A large-scale measurement campaign involving around 50 ground stations from the European ACTRIS network, coordinated by TROPOS in ... Read more ...
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Engineering Researchers Discover an Effective and Environment-Friendly Disinfectant - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · A widely used disinfectant worldwide, chloroxylenol, has been associated with eco-toxicological threats in water environments due to its relatively high chemical stability and massive consumption. Researchers at the School of Engineering of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have discovered a promising alternative known as 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone (2,6-DCQ), which works more effectively in combating certain common bacteria, fungi and viruses, and can be rapidly degraded and detoxified in receiving waters.
This groundbreaking study is led by Prof. ZHANG Xiangru from HKUST's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, who has been studying ... Read more ...
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EV Charging Stations Boost Spending at Nearby Businesses - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Charging stations for electric vehicles are essential for cleaning up the transportation sector. A new study by MIT researchers suggests they're good for business, too.
The study found that, in California, opening a charging station boosted annual spending at each nearby business by an average of about $1,500 in 2019 and about $400 between January 2021 and June 2023. The spending bump amounts to thousands of extra dollars annually for nearby businesses, with the increase particularly pronounced for businesses in underresourced areas.
The study's authors hope the research paints a more holistic picture of the benefits of EV charging stations, beyond environmental factors. Read more ...
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Even Marine Animals in Untouched Habitats Are at Risk from Human Impacts - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Climate change and a range of other human impacts are putting marine animals at risk of extinction -- even those living in almost pristine marine habitats and diverse coastal regions -- reports a new study by Casey O'Hara of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis at the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA, and colleagues, published September 18, 2024 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.
Human activities on land and sea, in combination with climate change, are degrading coastal ecosystems, increasing the risk of extinction for multiple species and threatening important ecosystem services that humans depend on. To effectively address these threats, ... Read more ...
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Exceptional Warm Air Intrusions and Omnipresent Aerosol Layers in the Stratosphere - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Leipzig/Bremerhaven. Extremely clean air on the ground, warm air intrusions and sulphate aerosol at high altitudes -- a Leipzig research project has gained new insights into clouds in Antarctica. From January to December 2023, the vertical distribution of aerosol particles and clouds in the atmosphere above the German Neumayer Station III of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) was investigated from the ground for the first time. The height-resolved measurements were the first of their kind in Queen Maud Land, the area of the Antarctic that borders the Atlantic and covers an area larger than Greenland.
The observations were ... Read more ...
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Explaining Dramatic Planet-Wide Changes After World's Last 'Snowball Earth' Event - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Some of the most dramatic climatic events in our planet's history are "Snowball Earth" events that happened hundreds of millions of years ago, when almost the entire planet was encased in ice up to 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) thick.
These "Snowball Earth" events have happened only a handful of times and do not occur on regular cycles. Each lasts for millions of years or tens of millions of years and is followed by dramatic warming, but the details of these transitions are poorly understood.
The study recently published in Nature Communications focuses on ancient rocks known as "cap carbonates," thought to have formed as the glacial ice thawed. These rocks preserve clues to ... Read more ...
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Extreme Weather to Strengthen Rapidly Over Next Two Decades - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Nearly three quarters of the global population can expect strong and rapid changes in extreme temperatures and rainfall in the next 20 years unless greenhouse gas emissions are cut dramatically, according to a new study.
Led by scientists from the CICERO Center for International Climate Research and supported by the University of Reading, the research shows that 20 per cent of the population could face extreme weather risks if emissions are cut enough to reach the aims of the Paris Agreement, compared to 70% if limited action is taken.
The new paper, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, shows how global warming can combine with normal variations in the weather, to ... Read more ...
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Folded or Cut, This Lithium-Sulfur Battery Keeps Going - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Most rechargeable batteries that power portable devices, such as toys, handheld vacuums and e-bikes, use lithium-ion technology. But these batteries can have short lifetimes and may catch fire when damaged. To address stability and safety issues, researchers reporting in ACS Energy Letters have designed a lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery that features an improved iron sulfide cathode. One prototype remains highly stable over 300 charge-discharge cycles, and another provides power even after being folded or cut.
Sulfur has been suggested as a material for lithium-ion batteries because of its low cost and potential to hold more energy than lithium-metal oxides and other materials ... Read more ...
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Framing Climate Action as Patriotic and Status-Quo Friendly Increases Liberals' and Conservatives' Belief in Climate Change - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Conservatives and liberals may be at odds in their views on environmental issues, but a new psychology study shows that framing the need to address climate change as patriotic and as necessary to preserve the American "way of life" can increase belief in climate change and support for pro-environmental policies among both groups.
"Framing climate change action as a way to protect and preserve patriotic values and familiar ways of life can improve climate awareness and motivate action across the American political spectrum," says Katherine Mason, a New York University doctoral student and the lead author of the study, which appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of ... Read more ...
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Global South Cities Lack Cooling Green Spaces - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Cities in the Global South are more exposed to extreme heat because they lack cooling green spaces, new research shows.
The study found that Global South cities have just 70% of the "cooling capacity" provided by urban greenery in the Global North.
With temperatures rising, combined with the "urban heat island" effects that make cities hotter than rural areas, heat-related illness and death in cities are becoming more common.
Urban green spaces can help reduce this risk, cooling down outdoor environments and providing vital refuges.
"Urban greenery is a really effective way of tackling what can be fatal effects of extreme heat and humidity," said Professor ... Read more ...
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Global Warming's Economic Blow: Risks Rise More Rapidly for the Rich - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · In a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), researchers analysed how erratic weather events, increasingly intensified by global warming, affect global production and consumption across different income groups.
The results confirm previous studies that the poorest people worldwide bear the greatest economic risks from climate change. Surprisingly, the risk for the wealthy is growing the fastest. Economies in transition like Brazil or China are also highly vulnerable to severe impacts and negative trade effects. Across countries, these countriesface the highest risks due to severe impacts of volatile weather and adverse trade effects.
As the ... Read more ...
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Green Hydrogen: MXenes Shows Talent as Catalyst for Oxygen Evolution - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · The MXene class of materials has many talents. An international team led by HZB chemist Michelle Browne has now demonstrated that MXenes, properly functionalised, are excellent catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction in electrolytic water splitting. They are more stable and efficient than the best metal oxide catalysts currently available. The team is now extensively characterising these MXene catalysts for water splitting at the Berlin X-ray source BESSY II and Soleil Synchrotron in France.
Green hydrogen is seen as one of the energy storage solutions of the future. The gas can be produced in a climate-neutral way using electricity from the sun or wind by electrolytic ... Read more ...
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Groundwater Use Can Be Accurately Monitored With Satellites Using OPENet - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Drought is a widespread concern in the Western U.S., and water managers across the region are developing groundwater management plans to conserve the essential resource. Groundwater is often pumped to the surface to irrigate crops, and meters that measure the flow of pumped water have historically offered the best information on groundwater use. These meters are rare, however, so DRI scientists set out to determine whether OpenET, a platform that measures evapotranspiration using satellite data, could help fill this information gap.
The new study, published August 8th in a special issue of Agricultural Water Management, compared groundwater meter data with OpenET estimates for ... Read more ...
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Growing Key Biomethane Crop on Peat Emits 3 Times More CO2 Than Using Natural Gas - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · There has been a rapid expansion in growing crops such as maize to produce biomethane as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, to help reach Net Zero. But some of this increased cultivation, on drained peat, is emitting three times more carbon dioxide than it is avoiding by not using natural gas, according to a study by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH).
The analysis, funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), focuses on maize and the UK but the study team points out that any cultivation on deep drained peat will result in large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. Its significant findings highlight the need to consider soil carbon ... Read more ...
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Hijacking the Command Center of the Cell: Nuclear Parasites in Deep-Sea Mussels - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Most animals live in intimate relationships with bacteria. Some of these bacteria live inside the cells of their hosts, but only very few are able to live inside cell organelles (structures inside the cell, like organs in the body). One group of bacteria have figured out how to colonize the nuclei of their hosts, a remarkable feat given that the nucleus is the control center of the cell.
To date, nothing is known about the molecular and cellular processes that these intranuclear bacteria use to infect and reproduce in animal hosts. A group of scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, now presents the first in-depth analysis of an ... Read more ...
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How Earth's Most Intense Heat Wave Ever Impacted Life in Antarctica - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Summer 2024 is on track to be the hottest on record for hundreds of cities across the U.S. and globe. Even in Antarctica, during the peak of its winter, extreme heat pushed temperatures in parts of the continent more than 50°F above the July normal.
In a study published on July 31 in the journal Earth's Future, scientists, including researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, revealed how heat waves, especially those occurring in Antarctica's cold seasons, may impact the animals living there. The research illustrates how extreme weather events intensified by climate change could have profound implications for the continent's fragile ecosystems.
In March 2022, ... Read more ...
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How El Nino and Mega Ocean Warming Caused the Greatest-Ever Mass Extinction - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Mega ocean warming El Niño events were key in driving the largest extinction of life on planet Earth some 252 million years ago, according to new research.
The study, published today in Science and co-led by the University of Bristol and China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), has shed new light on why the effects of rapid climate change in the Permian-Triassic warming were so devastating for all forms of life in the sea and on land.
Scientists have long linked this mass extinction to vast volcanic eruptions in what is now Siberia. The resulting carbon dioxide emissions rapidly accelerated climate warming, resulting in widespread stagnation and the collapse of ... Read more ...
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How Gaps in the Canopy of a Floodplain Influence Microclimate and Soil Biological Activity - Science Daily - Earth and Climate (Sep 24) |
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Sep 24 · Canopy gaps in a mixed floodplain forest have a direct effect on forest soil temperature and moisture, but only have a minor impact on soil biological activity. This is the conclusion of a study by Leipzig University, the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig and the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, which was recently published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
Gaps in the forest stand, whether caused by silvicultural intervention or by the death of large trees, can play a central role in the microclimate and biological processes in the forest soil. In view of climate change, the question of how such gaps affect ... Read more ...
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