Science & Technology
How to pull carbon dioxide out of seawater
Researchers may have found the key to a truly efficient and inexpensive mechanism for removing carbon dioxide from seawater. The method could be far more efficient than existing systems for removing the greenhouse gas from the air.
NIH RECOVER research identifies potential long COVID disparities
Black and Hispanic Americans appear to experience more symptoms and health problems related to long COVID, a lay term that captures an array of symptoms and health problems, than white people, but are not as likely to be diagnosed with the condition, a…
Feathered ‘fingerprints’ reveal potential motivation for migratory patterns of endangered seabirds
New research shows that the feathers of seabirds such as the Wandering Albatross can provide clues about their long-distance foraging, which could help protect these species from further decline.
Tadpole playing around black hole
A peculiar cloud of gas, nicknamed the Tadpole due to its shape, appears to be revolving around a space devoid of any bright objects. This suggests that the Tadpole is orbiting a dark object, most likely a black hole 100,000 times more massive than the…
Newly discovered virus can kill resistant bacteria
A Danish creek has surprised researchers by containing previously unknown virus species.
Climate: Lessons from the latest global warming
56 million years ago, the Earth experienced one of the largest and most rapid climate warming events in its history: the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), which has similarities to current and future warming. This episode saw global temperatures…
Tsunami in a water glass
A new experiment has made it possible to observe the effects of an electron in solution on the surrounding liquid.
New technology revolutionizes the analysis of old ice
Ice cores are a unique climate archive. Thanks to a new method, greenhouse gas concentrations in 1.5 million year old ice can be measured even more accurately.
Fiber discovery could shape better gut health
Changing the structure of a dietary fiber commonly found in a range of food products has been found to promote healthy gut bacteria and reduce gas formation, a finding that could help people with intolerances to fiber and irritable bowel conditions.
Using spiders as environmentally-friendly pest control
Groups of spiders could be used as an environmentally-friendly way to protect crops against agricultural pests. That’s according to new research which suggests that web-building groups of spiders can eat a devastating pest moth of commercially importan…
Arming vegetables with anti-inflammatory properties using plant pigments
Metabolic engineering is a field of plant biotechnology that seeks to genetically modify plant metabolic pathways to generate plant varieties with improved health benefits. Recently, scientists engineered potato and tomato plants to express the plant p…
Engineered wood grows stronger while trapping carbon dioxide
Scientists have figured out a way to engineer wood to trap carbon dioxide through a potentially scalable, energy-efficient process that also makes the material stronger for use in construction.
European summer droughts since 2015 were most severe over centuries — but multi-year droughts also happened in the past
The 2015–2018 summer droughts have been exceptional in large parts of Western and Central Europe over the last 400 years, in terms of the magnitude of drought conditions. This indicates an influence of human-made global warming. However, multi-year dr…
Does ice in the Universe contain the molecules making up the building blocks of life in planetary systems?
If you want to build a habitable planet, ice is a key ingredient. The ice can be found in enormous clouds in the Universe and it is the main carrier of the necessary elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur. These elements are pa…
Indicator of early form of Parkinson’s in stool sample
The so-called isolated REM-sleep behavior disorder is a condition that can provide an indication of Parkinson’s disease well in advance.
Software assembles complete genome sequences on-demand
Researchers have developed and released an innovative software tool to assemble truly complete (i.e., gapless) genome sequences from a variety of species.
A star is born: Nearby galaxies provide clues about star formation
Researchers have released their findings on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the interstellar medium of nearby galaxies.
Keeping drivers safe with a road that can melt snow, ice on its own
Slipping and sliding on snowy or icy roads is dangerous. Salt and sand help melt ice or provide traction, but excessive use is bad for the environment. And sometimes, a surprise storm can blow through before these materials can be applied. Now, researc…
Whales give up singing to fight for love
Male whales along Australia’s eastern seaboard are giving up singing to attract a mate, switching instead to fighting their male competition.