A new paper published in Nature Communications reveals how the way tree species are arranged in a forest can help optimise ecosystem functioning and productivity.
Blog
Underestimated Sources of Marine Pollution
A study published in Nature reveals for the first time the extent to which nanoplastic pollutes the North Atlantic.
Thick Electrodes’ Chemistry Matters More Than Structure for Battery Performance
Thicker battery electrodes pack in more active materials, promising higher energy density.
North america’s oldest pterosaur unearthed in Arizona’s Triassic time capsule
In the remote reaches of Arizona s Petrified Forest National Park, scientists have unearthed North America's oldest known pterosaur a small, gull-sized flier that once soared above Triassic ecosystems. This exciting find, alongside ancient turtles and armored amphibians, sheds light on a key moment in Earth's history when older animal...
Hovering fish burn twice the energy—study shocks scientists
Hovering fish aren’t loafing—they burn twice resting energy to make micro-fin tweaks that counteract a natural tendency to tip, and body shape dictates just how costly the pause is. The discovery flips a long-held assumption about effortless neutral buoyancy and offers fresh blueprints for agile, instability-embracing underwater robots.
MIT scientists just supercharged the enzyme that powers all plant life
Scientists at MIT have turbocharged one of nature’s most sluggish but essential enzymes—rubisco—by applying a cutting-edge evolution technique in living cells. Normally prone to wasteful reactions with oxygen, this revamped bacterial rubisco evolved to work more efficiently in oxygen-rich environments. This leap in enzyme performance could pave the way for...
Study Shows How a Common Fertilizer Ingredient Benefits Plants
Lanthanides are a class of rare earth elements that in many countries are added to fertilizer as micronutrients to stimulate plant growth.
Trees and Hedges on Farmland Significantly Boost Butterfly Numbers, Study Finds
The study, carried out by the University of Oxford and national charity Butterfly Conservation, funded by The Woodland Trust, comes at a critical time for butterfly species.
How Plants Build the Microbiome They Need to Survive in a Tough Environment
New research from Northern Arizona University points to the idea that under some conditions, plants can “curate” their microbiomes—selecting good microbes and suppressing harmful ones—to adapt to their environments.
Revealing the Secret Behind Noctilucent Clouds
The researchers behind the UiT-led rocket project MaxiDusty-2 aim to uncover why noctilucent clouds are forming more frequently than before and whether this could eventually impact Earth's temperature.