When the International Maritime Organization enacted a mandatory cap on the sulfur content of marine fuels in 2020, with an eye toward reducing harmful environmental and health impacts, it left shipping companies with three main options.
Engineers Develop a Way to Mass Manufacture Nanoparticles That Deliver Cancer Drugs Directly to Tumors
Polymer-coated nanoparticles loaded with therapeutic drugs show significant promise for cancer treatment, including ovarian cancer.
In Guatemala, painted altar found at Tikal adds new context to mysterious Maya history
Just steps from the center of Tikal, a 2,400-year-old Maya city in the heart of modern-day Guatemala, a global team of researchers has unearthed a buried altar that could unlock the secrets of a mysterious time of upheaval in the ancient world. The altar, built around the late 300s A.D.,...
Researchers discover why plastic sheds dangerous fragments
The world is littered with trillions of micro- and nanoscopic pieces of plastic. These can be smaller than a virus -- just the right size to disrupt cells and even alter DNA. Researchers find them almost everywhere they've looked, from Antarctic snow to human blood. In a new study, scientists...
Termite stowaways: Study reveals boats as perfect vessels for global termite spread
A study reveals that termites are not simply spreading through natural processes, suggesting humans may be helping them 'conquer the world' by unknowingly transporting them aboard private boats.
Rain barrel basics: Conserving water but not mosquito habitats
Researchers surveyed residential rain barrels to determine how often mosquitoes took up residence in rain barrels and what preventative measures would most effectively keep mosquitoes out. Taking these preventative measures will reduce potential health risks and ensure that rain barrels remain a safe, effective, and environmentally sustainable tool for managing...
The lush past of the world’s largest desert
The vast desert of the Arabian Peninsula was not always an arid landscape. A recent study reveals that this region was once home to a vast lake and river system. These favorable conditions fostered grasslands and savannahs, enabling human migration -- until drought returned, forcing populations to move. This research...
Saturn’s moon Titan could harbor life, but only a tiny amount, study finds
Despite its uniquely rich inventory of organic molecules, Saturn's largest moon, Titan, may be able to support only a minuscule amount of biomass, if life exists on the moon, according to a study using bioenergetic modeling.
Warwick Astronomers Discover Doomed Pair of Spiralling Stars on Our Cosmic Doorstep
University of Warwick astronomers have discovered an extremely rare, high mass, compact binary star system only ~150 light years away.
Oxygen is Running Low in Inland Waters—and Humans Are to Blame
Rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs aren’t just scenic parts of our landscape—they’re also vital engines for life on Earth.