New study finds that the nutritional value of prey within a single species can widely vary, offering key insights for food web dynamics and ecosystem change The hunt is on and a predator finally zeroes in on its prey. The animal consumes the nutritious meal and moves on to forage for its next target. But how much prey does a predator need to consume? Following a period of massive starvation among animals living along the California coast, University of California…
Earthquakes in the American state of Utah, the Soultz-sous-Forêts region of France or in the Dutch province of Groningen should not be able to occur even if the subsurface has been exploited for decades. This is because the shallow subsurface behaves in such a way that faults there become stronger as soon as they start moving. At least that is what geology textbooks teach us. And so, in theory, it should not be possible for earthquakes to occur. So why…
Just in time for Halloween, researchers from the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), the Field Museum in Chicago, and Lawrence University in Wisconsin have announced the discovery of six new species of bats. These newly identified species, all found in the Philippines, belong to the group known as tube-nosed bats—a fascinating and diverse branch of the mammal family tree. Expanding the Tree of Life Formally recognized as new species through morphological and genetic analysis, this discovery expands the already impressive global…
In a recent study published today in the European Geosciences Union (EGU) journal Biogeosciences, scientists have confirmed that mercury pollution from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is contaminating food crops not through the soil, as previously believed, but directly from the air. Driven by the surging price of gold, which has increased by more than tenfold since 2000, the rapid expansion of unregulated mining in these regions raises urgent questions about food security, human health, and environmental justice The…
A new study from Iceland’s Surtsey island shows that birds carried most of the plants that colonised the island, challenging long-held beliefs that seed or fruit shape determines how plants spread — offering fresh insight into life’s adaptation to c When the volcanic island of Surtsey rose from the North Atlantic Ocean in 1963, it offered scientists a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe how life takes hold on a brand-new and barren land. For decades, ecologists believed that plants’ ability to…
An AWI study gives a potential explanation as to why the ocean around Antarctica is defying climate model projections and continuing to absorb CO2, despite the effects of climate change Climate models suggest that climate change could reduce the Southern Ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2). However, observational data actually shows that this ability has seen no significant decline in recent decades. In a recent study, researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute have discovered what may be causing this….
The finding, led by the Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), represents the oldest known record in the Southern Hemisphere of quironomids – a family of non-biting insects that play a key role in freshwater ecosystems An international team of scientists led by the Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC) has described a new species of fossilized insect from the Australian Jurassic period, estimated to be around 151 million years old. It represents the oldest known member in the Southern Hemisphere of the Chironomidae…
Melting ice sheets in North America played a far greater role in driving global sea-level rise at the end of the last ice age than scientists had thought, according to a Tulane University-led study published in Nature Geoscience. The findings overturn decades of conventional wisdom about how Earth emerged from its last great freeze and could reshape how scientists view the risks of climate change in today’s warming world. Between 8,000 and 9,000 years ago, retreating North American ice sheets…
Geoarchaeological survey uncovers how the iconic temple evolved from an island into a monumental center of Ancient Egypt Researchers have completed the most detailed geoarchaeological study ever conducted at Egypt’s Karnak Temple near Luxor—one of the largest temple complexes of the ancient world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts millions of visitors each year. The new study, published in Antiquity on 6 October, provides fresh evidence on the age and evolution of the temple, its links to ancient…
A new study published in Nature Communications reveals that marine heatwaves can significantly alter ocean food webs, reducing the ocean’s capacity to capture and store carbon. The findings highlight how these extreme events can slow down carbon transport to the deep sea—weakening one of Earth’s natural climate buffers. The research was conducted by an international team from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), University of Miami Rosenstiel School, Hakai Institute, Xiamen University, University of British Columbia, University of Southern…
Billions of years ago, Earth’s atmosphere looked very different from today. Oxygen levels were about a million times lower, forests and animals did not exist, and for many organisms, oxygen itself was toxic. A key question for scientists has long been: how did life survive and adapt during this oxygen-poor period? A team led by Fatima Li-Hau, then a graduate student at the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI), Institute of Science Tokyo, along with her supervisor Associate Professor Shawn McGlynn, explored…
Studying Earth’s earliest history is notoriously difficult. Events from billions of years ago left behind little direct evidence, forcing scientists to rely on indirect signals or computer models. Now, a research team led by ETH Professor Jordon Hemingway has uncovered a rare natural archive: microscopic, egg-shaped iron oxide stones known as ooids. These structures capture and preserve organic carbon from ancient oceans, providing a direct way to measure marine carbon reserves dating back up to 1.65 billion years. On the…
Researchers from Umeå University have discovered that ice can dissolve iron minerals more effectively than liquid water—a finding that challenges long-standing assumptions about frozen environments. The study, published in PNAS, shows that ice at –10°C releases more iron from minerals than water at 4°C. This breakthrough may explain why many Arctic rivers are turning rusty orange as thawing permafrost releases iron into waterways. “It may sound counterintuitive, but ice is not a passive frozen block,” says Jean-François Boily, Professor at…
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — One of ecology’s greatest challenges is to explain what sustains—or undermines—biodiversity within ecosystems. A new study published in Science introduces a model that uses tree census data and genomic information from multiple species to forecast future shifts in species abundance within forests. The research was led by James O’Dwyer, plant biology professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, alongside Andy Jones of Oregon State University and James Lutz of Utah State University. Why Predicting Species Abundance Matters…
As wildfires continue to intensify and spread across the Western United States, researchers from Colorado, Utah, and California are examining how wildfire smoke alters air quality and impacts human health. A new study published in Atmospheric Environment reveals that massive wildfires in states such as Colorado, Oregon, and California generate significant amounts of ozone in the atmosphere. This worsens respiratory health risks and further contributes to climate warming. Research Collaboration Across Universities The project was a joint effort led by…
New research from Curtin University has uncovered a remarkable connection between the large-scale structure of our galaxy and the long-term evolution of Earth’s crust. The study suggests that our planet’s development was shaped not only by internal geological processes but also by meteorite impacts triggered during the Solar System’s journey through the Milky Way. Published in Physical Review Research, the findings indicate that the chemical composition of ancient zircon crystals embedded in Earth’s crust reflects periodic meteorite bombardments that occurred…
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