The Paris Agreement says that we should reduce the emission of greenhouse gases to limit the rise in global temperature to 2 degrees Celsius. But do we have the measurement methods needed to achieve this? This is the question posed by researchers. Their answer is disheartening.
Blog
Endangered Devils Hole pupfish is one of the most inbred animals known
Researchers have compiled the first genome sequences of desert pupfish from the American Southwest, including the unique Devils Hole pupfish. The genomes of the 8 Devils Hole pupfish sequenced contained an amazing number of identical stretches of DNA, amounting to 58% of the genome -- among the most inbred of...
Researchers seek to understand why vaccine responses vary from person to person
New findings from a meta-analysis examine the biological mechanisms responsible for why some people's immune systems respond differently to vaccinations, which could have global implications for the development and administration of vaccines.
Fecal microbial transplants show lack of predictability when no prior antibiotic treatment is given to recipient
Fecal microbial transplants have been given to alter a recipient's metabolism to reduce obesity or alter immunity to fight cancer, and in those transplants recipients are not given suppressive antibiotics to eliminate the microbial community prior to the transplant. Researchers now report there is a lack of predictability for fecal...
Wheat Prices Up Amid War, Expanding Drought
Wheat prices are high, and weather and market factors could make the crop an attractive option for Texas growers coming out of a severe drought, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.
Fire in the Amazon is Associated More with Agricultural Burning and Deforestation Than With Drought
A Brazilian study shows that the number of fires detected in the entire Amazon region between 2003 and 2020 was influenced more by uncontrolled human use of fire than by drought.
Smoky Skies in Northern India
In November, satellites often observe large clouds of smoke and heightened fire activity in northwestern India as farmers burn excess paddy straw after the rice harvest—a practice called stubble burning. November 2022 followed this pattern.
Extreme temperatures take deadly toll on people in Texas prisons, study finds
A research team found higher death rates among people in prisons without air conditioning compared to those in climate-controlled institutions.
Potential secret to viral resistance unearthed
Scientists have unearthed a secret that may explain why some people are able to resist viral infections, having screened the immune systems of women exposed to hepatitis C (HCV) through contaminated anti-D transfusions given over 40 years ago in Ireland. The extraordinary work has wide-ranging implications from improving our fundamental...
A new weapon against antibiotic-resistant bacteria
The unreasonable use of antibiotics has pushed bacteria to develop resistance mechanisms to this type of treatment. This phenomenon, known as antibiotic resistance, is now considered by the WHO as one of the greatest threats to health. The lack of treatment against multi-resistant bacteria could bring us back to a...