Ethical framework aims to counter risks of geoengineering research
As interest grows in geoengineering as a strategy for tackling global warming, the world’s largest association of Earth and space scientists has launched an ethical framework as a guide to responsible decision-making and inclusive dialogue. ⌘ Read more

Photocatalyst research uncovers better way to produce green hydrogen
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a material that shows a remarkable ability to convert sunlight and water into clean energy. ⌘ Read more

Typhoon Gaemi weakens as it leaves Taiwan for China
Typhoon Gaemi passed through Taiwan overnight and was headed towards eastern China on Thursday, leaving two dead as heavy rains and strong gusts continued to lash the island in its wake. ⌘ Read more

Forest fire reaches town in Canada’s Jasper National Park
A forest fire at a major national park in western Canada reached an evacuated town on Wednesday evening, with the army preparing to send in reinforcements. ⌘ Read more

Chemical analyses find hidden elements from renaissance astronomer Tycho Brahe’s alchemy laboratory
In the Middle Ages, alchemists were notoriously secretive and didn’t share their knowledge with others. Danish Tycho Brahe was no exception. Consequently, we don’t know precisely what he did in the alchemical laboratory located beneath his combined residence and observatory, Uraniborg, on the now Swedish island of Ven. ⌘ Read more

Study shows chickens use flushed skin and feather fluffing to display different emotions, levels of excitement
Hens fluff their head feathers and blush to express different emotions and levels of excitement, according to a study published July 24, 2024, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Cécile Arnould and colleagues from INRAE and CNRS, France. ⌘ Read more

Southern Ocean absorbing more CO₂ than previously thought, study finds
New research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) has found that the Southern Ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide (CO2) than previously thought. ⌘ Read more

New research underscores the close relationship between Saharan dust and hurricane rainfall
Giant plumes of Sahara Desert dust that gust across the Atlantic can suppress hurricane formation over the ocean and affect weather in North America. But thick dust plumes can also lead to heavier rainfall—and potentially more destruction—from landfalling storms, according to a study in Science Advances. ⌘ Read more

Weibo posts illuminate public response to China’s three-child policy measures
An analysis of comments on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo reveals trends in the public response to measures implemented to support China’s three-child policy, highlighting concerns about women’s rights and employment. Lijuan Peng of Zhejiang Gongshang University in Hangzhou, China, and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on July 24, 2024. ⌘ Read more

Komodo dragons have teeth coated in iron to kill prey, study finds
The fearsome Komodo dragon, native to Indonesia and the world’s largest living lizard, has a coat of iron on its razor-like teeth to help it kill its prey, scientists found in a study published Wednesday. ⌘ Read more

The flickering glow of summer’s fireflies: too important to lose, too small to notice them gone
On a muggy July evening, Delaware state biologist Jason Davis is doing what kids have done for ages: Trying to catch a firefly. It’s nowhere near as easy as the summer evenings of his own childhood, with only a few in this large wetland between a bay and the Atlantic Ocean. ⌘ Read more

Surprise blast of rock, water and steam in Yellowstone sends dozens running for safety
A surprise eruption in Yellowstone National Park shot steam, water and dark-colored rock and dirt high into the sky Tuesday and sent sightseers running for safety. ⌘ Read more

Scientists try to replicate ancient butchering methods to learn how Neanderthals ate birds
It’s hard to know what Neanderthals ate: food preparation, especially when it comes to smaller items like birds, can leave few archaeological traces. But understanding their diets is critical to understanding these incredibly adaptable hominins, who thrived for hundreds of thousands of years in wildly varied environments. To learn what food preparation could look like in the archaeological record … ⌘ Read more

Systematic monitoring: Gray wolf autopsy findings since the species’ comeback to Germany
At the turn of the millennium, gray wolves returned to Germany after 150 years and subsequently established territories in many parts of the country. But coexistence harbors challenges—for both humans and animals. Since 2006, almost all gray wolves found dead in Germany have been examined at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) in order to assess their health status and determine … ⌘ Read more

Machine learning method uses nonlinear optics and structured light to expand information network accuracy and capacity
Structured light can significantly enhance information capacity, due to its coupling of spatial dimensions and multiple degrees of freedom. In recent years, the combination of structured light patterns with image processing and machine intelligence has shown vigorous development potential in fields such as communication and detection. ⌘ Read more

Cocaine found in muscle and liver of sharpnose sharks off coast of Rio de Janeiro
A team of marine biologists and ecotoxicologists affiliated with several institutions in Brazil has found cocaine in muscle and liver samples collected from Brazilian Sharpnose sharks harvested off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. Their study, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, highlights the potential impact of the presence of illicit drugs in marine environments. ⌘ Read more

The experimental observation of a dissipative time crystal in a Rydberg gas
A dissipative time crystal is a phase of matter characterized by periodic oscillations over time, while a system is dissipating energy. In contrast with conventional time crystals, which can also occur in closed systems with no energy loss, dissipative time crystals are observed in open systems with energy freely flowing in and out of them. ⌘ Read more

Tunisia’s sandy beaches eaten away by coastal erosion
In Tunisia’s seaside town of Hammamet, bulldozers diligently shovel sand from a nearby desert onto a popular beach in an attempt to stop it from disappearing due to erosion. ⌘ Read more

Off Ecuador’s Galapagos, a former shark-poaching ship’s new mission
When Ecuador’s navy seized a Chinese-flagged ship off the Galapagos Islands in 2017, its hold brimmed with tons and tons of poached fish, many of them threatened species like hammerhead and thresher sharks. ⌘ Read more

Forging of joined-up approach at COP29 and COP16 vital for urgent action for climate and nature, say scientists
World leaders must take advantage of a pivotal window of opportunity for forging a much-needed joined-up approach to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, say scientists from ZSL and York University. Without this, work on tackling either crisis could inadvertently harm progress on the other. ⌘ Read more

Aluminum scandium nitride films: Enabling next-gen ferroelectric memory devices
Imagine a thin film, just nanometers thick, that could store gigabytes of data—enough for movies, video games, and videos. This is the exciting potential of ferroelectric materials for memory storage. These materials have a unique arrangement of ions, resulting in two distinct polarization states analogous to 0 and 1 in binary code, which can be used for digital memory storage. ⌘ Read more

Study investigates optical variability of blazar S5 0716+714
Using the TÜBİTAK National Observatory, astronomers from Turkey and India have observed a bright blazar known as S5 0716+714. Results of the observational campaign, published July 12 on the pre-print server arXiv, yield essential information regarding the optical variability of this blazar. ⌘ Read more

Giraffes bring peace to Kenyan communities once at odds
On a vast farm in Kenya’s Rift Valley, a veterinarian carefully takes aim before shooting a tranquiliser dart and sending another giraffe sinking slowly to the ground before it is roped and blindfolded. ⌘ Read more

New genetic test can help eliminate a form of inherited blindness in dogs
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a group of inherited diseases that causes progressive degeneration of the light sensitive cells at the back of the eye. Dogs with PRA have normal sight at birth, but by the age of four or five they will be totally blind. There is no treatment. ⌘ Read more

How racialized women can tackle backlash when advocating for change
Racialized women are often at the forefront in the struggle for social justice. Yet that advocacy often comes with significant backlash and threats. In the United States, congresswomen like Cori Bush, Ilhan Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have faced severe backlash for their outspoken stances on racial justice, police reform and foreign policy. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was censured by the House of Representatives for … ⌘ Read more

Insect infestation ravages North African prickly pear
Amor Nouira, a farmer in Tunisia’s Chebika village, has lost hope of saving his prickly pear cacti, ravaged by the cochineal insect spreading across North Africa. ⌘ Read more

Stepping stones for wildlife: How linking up isolated habitats can help nature thrive in our cities
Imagine you’re a fairywren living in a patch of scrub behind a schoolyard in the suburbs. It’s been pretty nice so far, but a recent increase in neighborhood cats and the council’s insect control tactics mean it’s time to look for somewhere safer to live. ⌘ Read more

Saturday Citations: Scientists study monkey faces and cat bellies; another intermediate black hole in the Milky Way
This is not a rerun of last week’s roundup; another group of astronomers found a second intermediate-mass black hole in the Milky Way and I can’t avoid highlighting it. They’re cool! They may have formed in the primordial universe, they comprise the seeds of supermassive black holes, and may be formed by the accretion of multiple stars in a cluster rather than through stellar co … ⌘ Read more

AI-powered optical detection to thwart counterfeit chips
The semiconductor industry has grown into a $500 billion global market over the last 60 years. However, it is grappling with dual challenges: a profound shortage of new chips and a surge of counterfeit chips, introducing substantial risks of malfunction and unwanted surveillance. In particular, the latter inadvertently gives rise to a $75 billion counterfeit chip market that jeopardizes safety and security across multiple sectors dependent … ⌘ Read more

Smallholder farmers, efficient ranching practices critical to meet restoration targets in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest
A new study led by King’s College London simulated the effects of various restoration policies to assess their impact on biodiversity and agricultural production. ⌘ Read more

New nanoparticle delivery method targets sickle cell mutations in bone marrow
Current gene therapies to treat sickle cell disease are complex, time-consuming, and are sometimes linked to serious side effects like infertility or blood cancer. To address these challenges, Johns Hopkins researchers have developed special nanoparticles that can send gene treatment directly to various types of cells in bone marrow to correct the disease-causing mutations. ⌘ Read more

The winner in China’s panda diplomacy: the pandas themselves
China’s panda diplomacy may have one true winner: the pandas themselves. Decades after Beijing began working with zoos in the U.S. and Europe to protect the species, the number of giant pandas in the wild has risen to 1,900, up from about 1,100 in the 1980s, and they are no longer considered “at risk” of extinction but have been given the safer status of “vulnerable.” ⌘ Read more

Early riser: The sun is already starting its next solar cycle—despite being halfway through its current one
The first rumblings of the sun’s next 11-year solar cycle have been detected in sound waves inside our home star—even though it is only halfway through its current one. ⌘ Read more

Bursting of underwater oil drops: How pollution may remain in water after oil spill cleanups
Oil drops from underwater oil spills can break into tinier droplets at the surface that remain suspended in the water, according to research from the University of Illinois Chicago. That means cleanups after disasters like the Deepwater Horizon spill may be removing less oil from the environment than was thought. ⌘ Read more

Scientists uncover the molecular mechanism behind pineapple peel coloration
Pineapple peel coloration, especially the red hue, significantly enhances its commercial and aesthetic value. However, the genetic mechanisms driving this trait are not well understood, complicating breeding efforts for red-skinned varieties. ⌘ Read more

Nature’s gender reveal: Key gene controls female flowers in Cucurbita pepo
Sex determination in cucurbits such as squash is influenced by a complex interplay of environmental, hormonal, and genetic factors, with ethylene being the primary hormone promoting female flower development. ⌘ Read more

Mathematicians team up with geophysicists to improve models that predict changes in sea ice
Dartmouth researchers are using computational mathematics and machine learning to develop models that better predict sea ice thickness in regions of the Arctic. ⌘ Read more

Observations detect a nearby hypervelocity stellar/substellar object
Using the Keck II telescope, astronomers have detected an object that may be a brown dwarf or a low-mass star, exhibiting a very high radial velocity. The object, designated CWISE J124909.08+362116.0 is located some 400 light years away. The finding was reported July 11 on the pre-print server arXiv. ⌘ Read more

‘Saint or devil’: return of wolf stirs debate in Europe
Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Well, quite a few European governments, it seems. ⌘ Read more

Pompeii skeleton discovery shows another natural disaster may have made Vesuvius eruption even more deadly
Almost 2,000 years ago, Pliny the Younger wrote letters describing the shaking ground as Vesuvius erupted. Now, a collaborative study led by researchers from the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) and Pompeii Archaeological Park has shed light on the effects of seismicity associated with the 79 CE eruption. ⌘ Read more

Wildfires in South Africa are set to increase: How legal action can help the country adapt better to climate change
As climate change drives temperature increases and lower precipitation in southern Africa, research has found that there is likely to be an increase in the number of wildfires in regions that are already hot, dry and water scarce. ⌘ Read more

Ten years of data preceding a rockfall in the French Alps suggest the need for more comprehensive monitoring systems
In August 2023, 14,000 cubic meters of sandstone and shale detached from a slope in the French Alps. This rockslide at La Praz closed a road and a major railway between France and Italy at least until the end of 2024. ⌘ Read more

AI method radically speeds predictions of materials’ thermal properties
It is estimated that about 70% of the energy generated worldwide ends up as waste heat. ⌘ Read more

Astronomers detect dozens of new pulsating white dwarfs
Using NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), astronomers have detected 32 new bright pulsating DA white dwarfs of the ZZ Ceti subclass. The finding was reported in a research paper published July 9 on the pre-print server arXiv. ⌘ Read more

Japanese honeybees slap nest-invading ants with their wings to knock them away
A trio of environmental specialists at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, in Japan, has found that Japanese honeybees sometimes resort to slapping ants with their wings to prevent their entry into their nest. ⌘ Read more

Elon Musk says he’s moving SpaceX, X headquarters from California to Texas
Billionaire Elon Musk says he’s moving the headquarters of SpaceX and social media company X to Texas from California. ⌘ Read more

Brazilian researchers discover dinosaur fossil after heavy rains in Rio Grande do Sul
A team of Brazilian scientists has discovered a fossilized skeleton of what they believe is one of the world’s oldest dinosaurs after heavy rains in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul accelerated the natural process of erosion. ⌘ Read more

Webcam monitors hundreds of rattlesnakes at a Colorado ‘mega den’ for citizen science
They creep, slither and slide over and around each other by the dozen and now there’s a webcam so that anybody can watch them online at any time, even at night. ⌘ Read more

Intensive farming could raise risk of new pandemics, researchers warn
Industrialized farming is often thought to reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases (those transmitted from animals to humans) because of better control, biosecurity and separation of livestock. ⌘ Read more

Additional taxes vs. water quotas: Study compares systems to manage water consumption in agriculture
Based on a mathematical programming model, a study finds that the proportional allocation of water, and not additional taxes on the resource, is more effective from the point of view of those engaged in agriculture. ⌘ Read more