Many studies have focused on how climate change leads to biodiversity loss—but MIT researchers have now shown that the reverse is also true: declining biodiversity can undermine one of the planet’s strongest natural defenses against climate change. In a paper published in PNAS, the team found that naturally regenerating tropical forests with thriving populations of […]
Why Animals Are Vital To Forests’ Carbon Storage Capacity Read More »
Animals that generate their own light through internal chemical reactions are one of nature’s marvels—and scientists have long sought to replicate this for human applications. Now, researchers at Mass General Brigham have made a major leap by tweaking the chemistry behind the glow, creating a bioluminescence diagnostic tool that’s 515 times brighter and lasts eight
New Bioluminescent Virus Sensor Is 515 Times More Efficient Than Earlier Techniques Read More »
Global carbon cycle models usually consider plants, microbes, soil, and the atmosphere but often overlook animals. From earthworms to elephants, these creatures can play a crucial, yet understudied, role in carbon capture and storage within ecosystems. In a new theoretical framework published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences by Matteo Rizzuto and colleagues, a
Researchers Push for Animal Inclusion in Carbon Cycle Models Read More »
A recent investigation indicates that the electrical discharge from an electric eel is potent enough to facilitate the transfer of genetic material from the surroundings into the cells of neighboring animals. In laboratory conditions, electroporation refers to applying an electric field to cells to enhance the permeability of their cell membrane. This enables the introduction
Electric Eel Shocks Transfer Genes to Nearby Animals Read More »