Credit: Pixabay Recently, over 70 wildfires burned simultaneously in Greece. In early 2024, Chile experienced its worst wildfire season ever, resulting in over 130 fatalities. Last year, Canada endured record-breaking wildfires from March to November, and in August, flames ravaged Maui in Hawaii. And the list continues. Watching the news, it seems like catastrophic wildfires are...
Credit: BETH ZAIKEN Four thousand years ago, the last woolly mammoth on an island off the coast of modern-day Siberia died. This isolation could have led to fatal inbreeding and population declines, contributing to the species' extinction. However, a new study reveals that while the Wrangel Island mammoths were indeed inbred, this alone did not...
According to the team, the oldest known fossil skin samples resemble the skin of modern crocodiles. Depositphotos Scientists have found the oldest skin fossils, which are from a time long before dinosaurs existed. These samples, discovered in a cave in Oklahoma, show that reptile scales have barely changed in 286 million years. Most fossils in museums...
The team used a lab device that beamed laser light at water to observe the evaporative effects of lightBryce Vickmark We commonly understand that water evaporates with rising temperatures, but researchers have unveiled another critical element. This revelation could unravel enduring atmospheric puzzles and pave the way for future technological strides. The breakthrough by the MIT...
The Solar Eclipse The 2024 Solar Eclipse is a rare and scientific opportunity that will provide a unique and awe-inspiring experience for millions of people across North America. This event occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, causing a momentary disruption of the Earth's natural rhythms. As the eclipse takes place,...
A volcanic eruption. Credit: Pixabay Contrary to previous assumptions regarding the migration of modern humans out of Africa, it is suggested that some movement may have been prompted not by 'green corridors,' but by hardship or deprivation. A recent analysis involving volcanic glass discovered in Ethiopia suggests that humans inhabited regions experiencing potential drought conditions in...
An unlogged tropical forest in Danum Valley, Malaysian Borneo. Credit: Pixaobay Recent research indicates that seedlings in natural rainforests have higher survival rates compared to areas previously subjected to logging, despite efforts of tree restoration projects. This study is featured in Global Change Biology. Researchers monitored over 5,000 seedlings for eighteen months in North Borneo. They...
Credit: Unsplash. In recent years, coconut oil has enjoyed a stellar reputation, championed for its perceived health benefits and versatile applications, ranging from dental hygiene to insect repellent. Once hailed as a dietary "superfood," the latest research is challenging the narrative promoted by the "clean eating" and "wellness" trends of the past few decades. Unveiling Potential...
Radiant Snares of the Predatory Fungus Arthrobotrys Oligospora. Credit: Hung-Che Lin CC-BY 4.0 Think fungi can't be carnivorous? Think again. Arthrobotrys oligospora, a worm-eating species of fungus discovered in 1850, has proven capable of sensing, trapping, and consuming small animals, shedding light on the molecular changes facilitating predatory behavior. Worms on the Menu While A. oligospora isn't the...
Credit: Yale E360 Researchers at UNSW Sydney, alongside collaborators, have pioneered an eco-friendly technique enabling ammonia production directly on farms, revolutionizing the traditional high-energy methods. The innovation, highlighted in a recent Applied Catalysis B: Environmental publication, drastically improves energy efficiency, scaling up green ammonia synthesis at an industrial level. Formerly reliant on energy-intensive processes contributing significantly...
