University of Queensland research has shown unpredictable environmental events help maintain plant, animal and microbial populations, challenging the belief stability is the key to survival.
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Arctic Peatlands Expanding as Climate Warms
Peatlands across the Arctic are expanding as the climate warms, new research shows.
Thinking AI models emit 50x more CO2—and often for nothing
Every query typed into a large language model (LLM), such as ChatGPT, requires energy and produces CO2 emissions. Emissions, however, depend on the model, the subject matter, and the user. Researchers have now compared 14 models and found that complex answers cause more emissions than simple answers, and that models...
Microscopic heist: How lung bacteria forge weapons to steal iron and survive
Researchers investigating the enigmatic and antibiotic-resistant Pandoraea bacteria have uncovered a surprising twist: these pathogens don't just pose risks they also produce powerful natural compounds. By studying a newly discovered gene cluster called pan, scientists identified two novel molecules Pandorabactin A and B that allow the bacteria to steal iron...
The AI that writes climate-friendly cement recipes in seconds
AI researchers in Switzerland have found a way to dramatically cut cement s carbon footprint by redesigning its recipe. Their system simulates thousands of ingredient combinations, pinpointing those that keep cement strong while emitting far less CO2 all in seconds.
Sea Ice Plays Important Role in Variability of Carbon Uptake by Southern Ocean
New research reveals the importance of winter sea ice in the year-to-year variability of the amount of atmospheric CO2 absorbed by a region of the Southern Ocean.
How Ubiquitous Small Particles Turn Harmful Inside Plants
A new UC Riverside-led study reveals how common small particles produced by nature as well as human activities can transform upon entering plant cells and weaken plants’ ability to turn sunlight into food.
Climate Change May Make Prescribed Fires Rarer – but Increase Their Air Quality Impacts
Prescribed burns are important for land management and preventing wildfires, but a new study finds these managed fires are also significant contributors to air pollution in the southeastern United States – particularly in areas with large minority and low-income populations.
Climate Change Cuts Global Crop Yields, Even When Farmers Adapt
The global food system faces growing risks from climate change, even as farmers seek to adapt, according to a June 18 study in Nature.
New Research Maps Optimal Locations for Climate-Fighting Reforestation
New research from the Future Ecosystems for Africa program at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, has created the most accurate maps yet of where reforestation can effectively combat climate change.