Researchers used laser-guided imaging to uncover vast unexplored Maya settlements in Campeche, Mexico, revealing more than 6,500 pre-Hispanic structures, including a previously unknown large city with stone pyramids. Their study enhances our understanding of the ancient civilization's extent and complexity in an area largely overlooked by archaeologists.
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Weddell seals in the Antarctic strategically time their most extreme dives to maximize foraging
Weddell seals in Erebus Bay, Antarctica, may look like couch potatoes when they are resting on ice. However, these seals, which are the southernmost population of the southernmost living mammals, are exceptional divers that can reach depths of more than 900 meters and recorded dives lasting 96 minutes, which is...
Optimal standing positions and ventilation in airport smoking lounges
New research shows that not all standing positions in airport smoking lounges are created equal. Scientists found that the thermal environment and positioning of smokers influences how particles settle in the room. Additionally, smokers seated farther from ventilation inlets experience the lowest levels of pollution in the room. The researchers...
What animal societies can teach us about aging
Red deer may become less sociable as they grow old to reduce the risk of picking up diseases, while older house sparrows seem to have fewer social interactions as their peers die off, according to new research which shows humans are not the only animals to change our social behaviour...
Researchers’ new outreach strategy succeeds, sets blueprint for detecting invasive species in Florida
Researchers are showcasing how a focused outreach initiative in Palm Beach County has led to a successful increase in reports of invasive reptiles in Florida.
When is a heat wave just a heat wave, and when is it climate change?
A new study used the 2023 heat wave in Texas and Louisiana as a test case for establishing processes that tease out whether particular weather events are climate change related.
RSV vaccines effective, but more people need to get them
Doctors detail what we learned after the first season following the approval of RSV vaccines. The vaccine effectively prevented severe illness in older, but only 24 percent of eligible US adults received the vaccine, compared to 50 percent for flu shots. Better public awareness and improved vaccine access are needed...
Scientists can reverse brain aging in fruit flies by preventing buildup of a common protein
Buildup of a protein called filamentous actin, or F-actin, in the brain inhibits the removal of cellular wastes, including DNA, lipids, proteins and organelles. The resulting accumulation of waste diminishes neuronal functions and contributes to cognitive decline. By tweaking a few very specific genes in the neurons of aging fruit...
Invasive plants drive homogenization of soil microbial communities across U.S.
A new study reveals that invasive plants are reshaping soil microbial communities across the U.S., making them more uniform and altering how ecosystems function.
Giant clam declared critically endangered after the latest assessment
Once abundant, the massive, colorful clam is now locally extinct in many regions, with a critical drop in population due to overfishing and climate change.