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….

A calculation method enabling energy benchmarking in the pulp and paper industry: Adopting a methodology that bridge the research-policy implementation gap The pulp and paper industry consumes large amounts of energy. But despite stricter EU requirements for efficiency improvements, there has been no way to measure and compare energy consumption between different companies in a fair way. In collaboration with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, now present a solution that has great potential to be used…

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…

Community-managed forests in Guatemala support wildlife as well as protected areas, but subtle human impacts still shape where species roam PULLMAN, Wash. — Deep in Guatemala’s Maya rainforest, a team led by Washington State University researchers captured more than just photos of jaguars, tapirs and ocelots. They also captured a rare success story: a way for humans and wildlife to share a forest without destroying it. In a new study published in Conservation Biology, scientists from WSU and the Wildlife Conservation Society…

Understanding people’s attitudes to interactions with sharks could help halt the global decline of shark numbers, according to new research carried out on Ascension Island. In 2017, there were two non-fatal shark attacks at Ascension – a UK territory in the South Atlantic with a population of about 800 people. Large numbers of sharks – mostly silky and Galapagos sharks – have affected the island’s recreational fishers, who often lose tackle and hooked fish before they can be landed. The…

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…

PULLMAN, Wash. — Planting wheat earlier in the spring to avoid crop damage from ever-hotter summers may not keep harvests on pace with current levels. That’s a key finding from new research at Washington State University challenging assumptions that earlier planting could offset the effects of a warming climate. Researchers used computer modeling to show that moving crop plantings earlier in the season brings about other plant growth issues that could hinder productivity. The findings were published in Communications, Earth, and…

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…

SAN DIEGO (Oct. 1, 2025) – Recent studies led by an international consortium of researchers, including scientists from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, unveiled groundbreaking findings in biodiversity conservation through in situ DNA barcoding in the Peruvian Amazon. Measuring the earth’s biological richness in one of its most remote and biodiverse regions is no small task. The Peruvian Amazon is in imminent danger of losing species…

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…