Science & Technology
Climate scientists reconsider the meaning and implications of drought in light of a changing world
Maps of the American West have featured ever darker shades of red over the past two decades. The colors illustrate the unprecedented drought blighting the region. In some areas, conditions have blown past severe and extreme drought into exceptional dro…
Ready, set…GO! Scientists discover a brain circuit that triggers the execution of planned movement
Planned movement is essential to our daily lives, and it often requires delayed execution. As children, we stood crouched and ready but waited for the shout of ‘GO!’ before sprinting from the starting line. As adults, we wait until the traffic light tu…
Fast-melting alpine permafrost may contribute to rising global temperatures
Using lake sediment in the Tibetan Plateau, a team of researchers was able to show that permafrost at high elevations is more vulnerable than arctic permafrost under projected future climate conditions.
Cognitive decline key factor in predicting life expectancy in Alzheimer’s disease
Cognitive decline is the biggest factor in determining how long patients with Alzheimer’s disease will live after being diagnosed, according to a new study.
Comet 67P’s abundant oxygen more of an illusion, new study suggests
When the European Space Agency’s Rosetta spacecraft discovered abundant molecular oxygen bursting from comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P) in 2015, it puzzled scientists. They had never seen a comet emit oxygen, let alone in such abundance. But most …
How a Massachusetts salt marsh is changing what we know about New England’s coast
New research into the life and times of a New England salt marsh fundamentally changes our understanding of how salt marshes acquire the sediment that keeps them viable. This research has wide-ranging implications for managing New England’s coastline a…
Model predicts cross-species contamination risk for livestock
Biosecurity efforts focused on the top 3% of farms in a particular contact network may significantly cut back cross-species disease dissemination.
Malaria drug could combat chemotherapy-resistant head and neck cancers, research suggests
A new study suggests that the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine inhibits pathways that drive resistance to the chemotherapy agent cisplatin in head and neck cancers and restores tumor-killing effects of cisplatin in animal models.
Rapid changes to the Arctic seafloor noted as submerged permafrost thaws
A new study has documented how the thawing of permafrost submerged underwater at the edge of the Arctic Ocean is affecting the seafloor.
Models for molecules show unexpected physics
Engineers discover unusual properties in magnetized colloids that surprisingly adhere to the physics described by Kelvin’s equation, which models the thermodynamics of molecular systems.
Close the blinds during sleep to protect your health
Exposure to even moderate ambient lighting during nighttime sleep, compared to sleeping in a dimly lit room, harms your cardiovascular function during sleep and increases your insulin resistance the following morning, reports a new study. Just a single…