A research team has taken a crucial step towards resolving a long-standing controversy -- was syphilis introduced to Europe from the Americas at the end of the 15th century, or had it been there all along? Ancient pathogen genomes from skeletons that pre-date 1492 confirm its introduction from the Americas,...
Building a backbone: Scientists recreate the body’s ‘GPS system’ in the lab
Scientists have generated human stem cell models which contain notochord -- a tissue in the developing embryo that acts like a navigation system, directing cells where to build the spine and nervous system (the trunk).
New evidence on the relationship between moderate wine consumption and cardiovascular health
Light and moderate consumption of wine is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular complications, according to a multicenter study. The study is based on the analysis of a biomarker of wine intake -- specifically, tartaric acid, present in grapes. It was carried out in 1,232 participants in the PREDIMED...
Using drones, researchers assess the health of humpback whale mother-calf pairs across the Pacific Ocean
Biologists used drone imagery to understand how nursing humpback whale mothers and their calves fare as they cross the Pacific Ocean. Recent declines in North Pacific humpback whale reproduction and survival of calves highlight the need to understand how mother-calf pairs expend energy across their migratory cycle.
How loss of urban trees affects educational outcomes
Economists looked at test scores and school attendance for Chicago-area kids before and after a bug infestation wiped out the city's ash trees. Education outcomes for low-income students went down, highlighting how the impacts of ecosystem degradation are disproportionately felt by disadvantaged communities.
Wildfire surges in East, Southeast US fueled by new trees and shrubs
The eastern U.S. has more trees and shrubs than three decades ago. This growth, driven by processes such as tree and understory infilling in unmanaged forests, is helping fuel wildfires, contributing to changing fire regimes in the eastern half of the country, according to a new study.
The social cost of carbon, a crucial tool for setting climate policy, omits key effects
The social cost of carbon -- an important figure global policymakers use to analyze the benefits of climate and energy policies -- is too low, finds a new study.
Taking Flight: UC San Diego Shaping Future of Atmospheric River Forecasting
This year’s rainy season is underway, which means atmospheric rivers are set to dump rain and snow across California and the Pacific Northwest.
Scientists Aim to Reduce Emissions From Cows — by Changing Their Diet
On feedlots across the U.S., cows produce methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
Learning From History To Help Guide the Future of NYC’s Crucial Watershed
Increasing climate variability is threatening the water supply and exposing the fragility of the New York City watershed, which hosts the largest unfiltered water supply in the world.