Human societies didn’t just adapt to the planet—they learned to reshape it. From early fire use to today’s global supply chains, our cultural and social innovations have unlocked extraordinary power to transform Earth and improve human life. But that progress has come with serious costs, including climate change, pollution, and...
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Scientists develop dirt-powered fuel cell that could replace batteries
Scientists have developed a fuel cell that uses microbes in soil to produce electricity. The device can power underground sensors for tasks like monitoring moisture or detecting touch, without needing batteries or solar panels. It works in both dry and wet conditions and even lasts longer than similar technologies. This...
What caffeine does to ants could change pest control
Caffeine doesn’t just perk up humans—it can sharpen ants’ minds too. Invasive Argentine ants given caffeinated sugar learned to find food much more efficiently, taking straighter paths and reducing travel time by up to 38%. They weren’t faster, just more focused, indicating improved learning. This unexpected effect could make pest...
Greenland ice completely melted 7,000 years ago and could happen again
Scientists drilling deep beneath Greenland’s ice have uncovered a startling clue about its past—and future. Evidence shows that the Prudhoe Dome, a major high point of the ice sheet, completely melted around 7,000 years ago during a relatively mild natural warming period. That means this supposedly stable ice cap is...
Sharks and tuna are overheating and running out of options
Some of the ocean’s fastest and most fearsome predators—like great white sharks and tuna—are running hotter than expected, and it’s costing them dearly. New research shows these warm-bodied fish burn nearly four times more energy than cold-blooded species, forcing them to eat more while also struggling to shed excess heat....
A “lost world” beneath the North Sea was once full of forests
Long before rising seas swallowed Doggerland beneath the North Sea, this lost landscape may have been a surprisingly lush and life-friendly haven. New DNA evidence reveals that forests of oak, elm, and hazel were already thriving there more than 16,000 years ago—thousands of years earlier than scientists thought possible. Even...
Scientists warn of 3,100 “surging glaciers” that can trigger floods and avalanches
A hidden threat is emerging in the world’s glaciers: while most are shrinking, a rare group known as “surging glaciers” can suddenly accelerate, unleashing powerful and sometimes destructive events. Scientists have identified over 3,100 of these glaciers worldwide, with many clustered in high-risk regions like the Arctic and the Karakoram...
New Metric Identifies At-Risk Mangroves Before They Disappear
The tool flagged vulnerable mangrove patches a decade in advance, offering a path toward preventive conservation.
Simple Menu Tweak Shown to Boost Vegetarian Choices and Cuts Carbon
Replacing just one meat dish with a vegetarian option in workplace cafeterias can significantly shift what people eat - cutting both calories and carbon emissions - according to a new study from researchers at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford.
Researcher Digs into Soils of the Circumpolar North
A University of Alaska Fairbanks professor will dig into the importance of agricultural soils in Alaska and the circumpolar North in a webinar.